How To Raise Your Own Salary
by Rod Low

Everyone have to work. It was estimated that 40 - 50 years of your life will be spend working, yet there are many people who spend three quarter of that time figuring how to increase their own salary.

I often heard about this phrase: "Our cost of living rise, our transportation fee rise, our taxes rise but our salary never rise." I often thought, "why, of course your salary don't rise, because you do not know what it takes to raise it."

Please don't misunderstand; the trait 'Hard work' is good. But purely laboring for hours and hours everyday and hoping for a raise is no longer valid. What you really need is more than working hard. You need to learn how to work smart too. And the fortunate thing is, it's a skill, it can be learn by anyone who has the desire.

Know where you want to go - This should always be on top of your list. Yes, in anything you do, in any decision you make, this principle will play an important part. Most people have no idea where they want to go in their career. What they want to do, who they want to become. They are not contented with their current career situation yet they are not bothered to find out what they really want to go.

It's just like driving aimlessly around town. Without a destination, you will only arrive at nowhere.

Specialize knowledge - Have you have any idea how much a specialist is paid? Ask a surgeon, a professional soccer player, a professional singer or even a professional trader. Everyone who comes into this category called 'specialist' commands a salary that could blow your mind. But how did they become' specialist' in the first place?

I believe they did not 'wander' into that category. They are there because they decided to be there. Surgeons become surgeons by studying the art of being a good surgeon. A professional traders who become such because they studied the art of trading. What I am really saying is, in order to command a higher salary, you need to be specializing your area of competence and determine to improve it regularly.

Go for courses, read the books available and start to acquire your areas of specialize knowledge.
Be professional - Be responsible with your job. Be professional. When you work, commit to work, not making unnecessary calls. When you are told to follow up, do it. When you are given a task, finish it. Professional people know the importance of working time and leisure time. They don't mix them up.

Positive Attitude - This is an important traits in every successful executive. You need to have the right kind of attitude. Positive attitude means that, when something crop up, you will think of a solution instead blaming. Positive attitude also suggest that when you are working, all you show is your smiles and commitment.

Positive mental attitude may not solve all your problems at work, but they can dramatically increase your chances compared to negative mental attitude.

Self-Improvement - Besides acquire specialize knowledge; one overlooked area is personal development. Personal development consist of 'soft skills'' such as Time Management, Character Development, Communication Skills, Grooming, Leadership Skills.

Have you realize that most people's biggest problem is not enough time? Why not take a short course or read a book on how to better handle your time? Leadership is another important skill. If one learns how to lead well, one is without a doubt, on his way to success.

Communication skill is also a buzzword. How do you negotiate for a raise? How do you get someone to do your job and willingly? A study was done many years ago and they discover that those who got promoted are not the smartest, nor are they the great in their field. Those who got to the top are actually the ones who are good in communication skills.

Become indispensable - I was told that no one is indispensable. Well, if that is true, then at least make yourself difficult to replace. If you are difficult to replace, chances are, your employer will increase your pay or promote you just for the sake of retaining you. Most companies are looking for talents. In the corporate world, talent means the ability to get results, fast. The better you are at getting great results, the better your chance of promotion.

Take for example a talented salesperson. Do you think you will pay him well if he can bring in high volume of sales consistently? Would you try your very best to retain him if he can train other salespeople to do the same?

To become indispensable, do the following. Know more than you need to know about your job. And also, do the job better than others.

Take Initiative - Most people I realize doesn't like to take the initiative to do things. They did rather wait to be told what to do than taking the initiative and do it. Sometimes, they may just forget all about it. I am convinced that taking initiative consistently can put you in a position where people at the top can see. For example, I took the initiative to create a folder of newspaper articles for future use. I would often cut the articles, put it up on the bulletin and transfer that into a folder a week later. I wasn't told to do it, but I figured that articles in the newspaper are a great source of teaching material.

It doesn't take long for my superior to notice what I have done, and now, I am doing something that I like. That is to help out in the magazine department.

Take the initiative to find out what can be improved around your company. And do them. In no time, you will be given greater responsibilities that come with higher price.

Surround yourself with the right people - I love a story that illustrated this point. A man who wanted to buy an Ass went to market, and, coming across a likely looking beast, arranged with the owner that he should be allowed to take him home on trial to see what he was like. When he reached home, he put him into his stable along with the other asses. The newcomer took a look round, and immediately went and chose a place next to the laziest and greediest beast in the stable. When the master saw this he put a halter on him at once, and led him off and handed him over to his owner again. The latter was a good deal surprised to seem him back so soon, and said, "Why, do you mean to say you have tested him already?" "I don't want to put him through any more tests," replied the man. "I could see what sort of beast he is from the companion he chose for himself."

Surround yourself with the right people. It was suggested that a big part of how your life turns out to be is from the choice of friends you made. Make the right choice, because once the choice is made, it make you.

Go the extra (S)mile - The reason I put the letter S in front of mile is this: You need to do it with a positive mental attitude. Study some of the best salespeople you know, you will find that the very best often give great service. But this trait doesn't not apply to just the selling occupation, it can be applied by any occupation. A telephone operator could learn to smile when speaking on the phone. She could learn to do her very best to help her clients get the information he needs. A clerk could do his best to make sure the documents are in order. He could make sure that all the files are in orderly manner and easily found.

Almost any occupation can apply this philosophy. Always think about how you can do the thing faster and better and do it with a smile.

Most people don't realize that they are the one who write their own paycheck. True, someone is signing it, but they are not the ones who write down the amount.
Pick one or two traits and start applying them with consistency. Watch the results. Keep doing it until it becomes a part of you, only when it becomes apart of you can you truly benefit.