|
Article Directory
|
+ Authors
+ Articles
|
|
|
|
Get the Raise You Deserve
Copyright (c) 2006-2012 Bruce Elkin
"If I don't get more money, I'm going to quit this stupid job."
That's how a client described one of her important goals to me.
When I asked her if this was a new goal, she replied, "No. I
always say that, but I never get the raise I want. It's not
fair."
Fuzzy Goals Lead to Fuzzy Results
Client's often set goals such as, "get more money," "get a
promotion," or "get a better job." But such statements have
little power because they contain no clear criteria for success.
Unless goals are clear and compelling, they will not motivate or
guide you to work on or achieve the result you want. To make
goal-setting work for you, you must craft clear visions of the
results you want.
Goals such as, "A salary increase of 15% by the end of this
year," "Work as a sales rep in Hong Kong for a 2 years, starting
in 2007," or "Regional sales manager by end of the year, specify
measurable criteria for success.
Not only do such visions tell you what you want, they also help
you be clear about where you are starting, which, as you will see
shortly, is critical. Such clarity generates energy, and the
power to actually create results you want.
Comparisons Lack Power
A major goal-setting mistake many people make is framing goals in
comparison to something else. When you use comparatives such as
more, less, improved, increased, decreased, etc... to describe
goals, they lack clarity and power.
For example, if your goal is to be thinner, that is a good start.
But to make that goal work for you, you must specify how much you
want to weight. If you want an increase in your wage or salary,
clearly state how much, by when.
The client whose goal was, "More money," directed a corporate
fitness club.
When I chatted with her, I asked her what "more money" meant.
She shrugged her shoulders and replied, "More money!"
"How much more money?" I asked.
"Just more!" she said, getting frustrated with me.
I took a dollar from my pocket and handed it to her. "There,"
I said. "You have achieved your goal. You have more money."
She laughed a little and said, "That is not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?" I asked.
She sat still, looking at her hands for so long, I thought she
might leave. Then she looked up at me and said, "$10,000 more
a year!"
She burst into a big smile, and said, "Wow! I did not know I was
going to say that. But, that is exactly what I want. $10,000
will give me $45,000 a year, and parity with other club
directors."
"So what you really want," I said, "is parity with the other
directors?"
"Yes," she said.
Her vision of a raise became, "A salary of $45,000 per year, tied
to the industry standard."
Ground Vision in Current Reality
As I worked with her to develop an action plan to achieve her
vision, my client told me she was frustrated with her boss
because he kept refusing her requests for a raise. "For no
reason!" she insisted.
I urged her to examine current reality more objectively. When
she did, she noticed a discrepancy between her and the directors
of other clubs.
"They supervise more staff than I do," she said.
"Why is that?" I asked.
"Well," she said, "Most clubs have more members than mine,
between 200 and 400. They need a lot of staff."
"How many members do you have?" I asked.
"Fifty," she said, frowning. "Just me and an assistant run it."
"Does that tell you anything?" I asked.
"Yeah!" she said. "If I want to get a raise, I have to have more
staff. And to get more staff, I have to get more members. Maybe
I should do a membership drive."
Vision + Reality + Action = Results!
I helped her craft a vision of a membership drive that would
bring in 100 new members. Then she took a hard look at her
facility and the services it offered.
To close the gap between her vision and that reality, she
improved the locker rooms, added massage services, and opened an
hour earlier each morning. Over the following year she almost
doubled her membership to 95.
At her performance review, her boss praised her hard work,
recommended she hire another assistant, and offered her a 20%
raise plus a performance bonus. Together, they totaled almost
$10,000. She was ecstatic!
She also told me her boss said if she'd asked for another raise
without showing results, he would have fired her. He was tired
of hearing what he called a "victim story."
To Get What You Deserve, Get Your Goals Working for You
When I last heard, the fitness director was doing great. Her
club had 300 members, and was among the top three in the city.
She received raises and bonuses regularly-without having to ask
for them.
All this from shifting from a fuzzy goal of "more money" to a
clear vision of results, clarifying current reality, and taking
actions to bring that vision into reality.
So, got a raise, a promotion, or a new job you want to get?
Why not do as the fitness director did, and get your goals
working for you?
Clarify exactly what you want, by when. Then honestly assess
where you starting from and what you have to work with. Set out
some clear action steps and take them. Learn from your own
experience. Follow through to finished results. And enjoy the
rewards!
It worked for my client; it can work for you.
|
Bruce Elkin is a writer, coach, and consultant who helps individuals and organizations create what matters most-in spite of problems, circumstances, and adversity. His ebook Emotional Mastery: Manage Your Moods and Create What Matters Most-With Whatever Life Gives You is available on his website at: http://www.BruceElkin.com.
|
Follow "The Phantom Writers" on Twitter
(@phantomwriters)
to be notified when new articles are made available.
VOTE ON THIS ARTICLE
Needs Work >>
0 -
1 -
2 -
3 -
4 -
5
<< Excellent Article
Tell our authors what you think about their article.
|
Top-Level Category: Self Improvement Articles
10 Most Recent Articles Written by Bruce Elkin
From Fit to Stretch: Skills for Creating Success On Your Terms
Written by: Bruce Elkin |
Distributed: 2008-03-12 |
Word Count: 1176 |
Page Views: 1076
| Votes: 10 |
Rating: 2.70
Abraham Maslow once said we long to be "that which we glimpse
in our most perfect moments." But, he also pointed out we are
often afraid to live up to the potential we see in those moments.
As years pass and we fail to act on what we could be, the
glimpses fade.
Take A Stand for Your Own Greatness
Written by: Bruce Elkin |
Distributed: 2008-03-06 |
Word Count: 851 |
Page Views: 1270
| Votes: 6 |
Rating: 3.00
20 years ago, I took an instructor's course to learn how to
help people create what matters most. Despite my shyness and
inexperience in such work, the course was extraordinary.
Saying 'Yes' to Life
Written by: Bruce Elkin |
Distributed: 2008-02-15 |
Word Count: 982 |
Page Views: 1233
| Votes: 6 |
Rating: 3.00
o you ever gripe and complain about life? About what happens to
you, or what you have or do not have? I used to, a lot. I hoped
complaining would make things better. But it didn't. In spite
of my tendency to whine, I was a doer. I did not like teaching
public school. So I left and created programs for environmental
education and wilderness leadership. I started to write. I set
up my own business.
When the 'Blues' Last For Weeks - Part One
Written by: Bruce Elkin |
Distributed: 2008-02-07 |
Word Count: 1067 |
Page Views: 1289
| Votes: 8 |
Rating: 2.25
Do you feel tired too much of the time. Or sad, empty? Has life
lost its spark? Does your body have the blues? Have you felt
this way for more than a few weeks? Do you wonder, "Am I
depressed? Or just out of sorts?" These days, many wonder if
they are depressed. And with good reason.
How to Build Healthy Optimism and Lasting Resilience - Part Two
Written by: Bruce Elkin |
Distributed: 2008-02-07 |
Word Count: 1126 |
Page Views: 1482
| Votes: 4 |
Rating: 2.75
We face more adversity every day. So do our kids. But some of
us thrive, while others drop into dperession, or worse. What
accounts for that difference? Adversity, by itself, does not
cause depression. Many of us make adversity worse by taking a
pessimistic stance toward it. We dwell on the worst aspects of
what happens to us.
How To Be Happy -- With Whatever Life Gives You!
Written by: Bruce Elkin |
Distributed: 2008-01-28 |
Word Count: 1087 |
Page Views: 3680
| Votes: 14 |
Rating: 2.07
The way we make ourselves happy is unique to each of us. But the ways we make ourselves unhappy are remarkably common to all of us. So, perhaps, by not doing the things that makes us unhappy, we can create more space for deep and lasting happiness we long for.
How to Overcome Adversity and Create Outstanding Results in Life and Work!
Written by: Bruce Elkin |
Distributed: 2008-01-23 |
Word Count: 918 |
Page Views: 2203
| Votes: 15 |
Rating: 2.47
Learning to overcome adversity helps you produce great
results--in life, work, and relationships--even when
the going is tough.
The Diderot Effect: Staying Simple In The City
Written by: Bruce Elkin |
Distributed: 2008-01-15 |
Word Count: 919 |
Page Views: 1981
| Votes: 13 |
Rating: 3.08
Recently, I experienced my own encounter with the Diderot Effect.
I moved to the city, and struggled to avoid an outburst
consumerism.
Jumpstart Your Success-And Keep It Jumping! 7 Great Questions to Move You From Vision to Results
Written by: Bruce Elkin |
Distributed: 2008-01-07 |
Word Count: 1162 |
Page Views: 1678
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 2.56
Tony came to me because he was stuck. Nan came because she was
drifting. Both had potential and tried hard. But neither could
pull the pieces together to create success. Each made progress,
then fell back, stuck or drifting again. Both spent too much time
and money trying to figure out "how" to create success.
Sound like you? If so, perhaps you, too, ask the wrong
questions.
Forget Balance-Integrate! Creating Harmony In Life And Work
Written by: Bruce Elkin |
Distributed: 2008-01-03 |
Word Count: 651 |
Page Views: 1668
| Votes: 16 |
Rating: 2.56
Many who come to me for help feel their lives (or some parts of
them) are difficult, cluttered, and discordant. Worse, they feel
guilty because they can't "balance" all the parts of their
lives.
All of Author's Articles on this site: Bruce Elkin Articles
Most Recent "Self Improvement" Articles
How To Avoid The Pitfalls, Wrong Turns, Broken Hearts Of Online Dating
Written by: Lance Metzger |
Distributed: 2012-05-17 |
Word Count: 657 |
Page Views: 1462
| Votes: 15 |
Rating: 2.40
As an experienced online dater, I feel qualified to help you avoid
pitfalls, wrong turns, broken hearts, and the general
catastrophes associated with internet wooing. Read on as I
examine many of the pitfalls of online dating and how to avoid
them...
Getting Past First Base In The Dating Game
Written by: Lance Metzger |
Distributed: 2012-05-11 |
Word Count: 947 |
Page Views: 626
Dates are supposed to be fun, right? And there are questions
burning holes in your gut, on your first meeting? This
ice-breaker has worked well for me in the past.
Are All Online Dating Profiles Faked? Get the Facts
Written by: Lance Metzger |
Distributed: 2012-05-09 |
Word Count: 944 |
Page Views: 1344
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 4.20
Most of us have dated at least offline, and some of us have dated
online. Either way, online dating can be a good experience for
each one of us - if we don't let the bad outshine the good. This
article will help you identify fake online profiles, so that you
can improve upon your online dating experience.
'Limitless' Has Wisdom
Written by: Paul Kyriazi |
Distributed: 2011-09-16 |
Word Count: 1145 |
Page Views: 586
| Votes: 1 |
Rating: 5.00
Want the brain power of Eddie in 'Limitless'? We in the real
world can't access that much brain power, but with the right
tools and clarity of mind on our part, we can have tons of
information ready to use, if only we make the decision to do so.
How to Eliminate Anxiety and Panic Attacks
Written by: Dr Jeannette Kavanagh |
Distributed: 2011-09-12 |
Word Count: 895 |
Page Views: 371
The fact that you can't explain why you feel so terrified is
often the most upsetting, but there are ways you can learn to
learn how to send those fears packing.
Take The Dating Scene One Step At A Time, After Divorce
Written by: RoseMary Alberts |
Distributed: 2011-08-31 |
Word Count: 567 |
Page Views: 1085
| Votes: 1 |
Rating: 4.00
After divorce, the word "dating" scares a lot of people.
If you've been married a long time you probably have lost
track of all the unwritten rules or even how to go about
meeting new eligible people. Many people immediately take
off for the clubs thinking that that is the place they are
going to meet someone. You may meet someone there, but it
depends on what you are looking for. But, if you are looking
for more, this article will help you find your way...
Online Dating Is Easy, But Successful Relationships Require Hard Work
Written by: Denice Ritter |
Distributed: 2011-08-25 |
Word Count: 564 |
Page Views: 1050
| Votes: 1 |
Rating: 4.00
My nineteenth anniversary will be here in a week and a half.
So what's so exceptional about that in Mormon Utah? Just
this: I have a mail-order husband. He has a mail-order
bride. In those days, there was no Internet, and therefore,
there was no such thing as online dating. I had to do it the
hard way...
Increase Your Online Dating Success By Including The Most Appropriate Photos
Written by: Kandice Skaggs |
Distributed: 2011-08-18 |
Word Count: 599 |
Page Views: 1080
| Votes: 2 |
Rating: 4.50
Because so many people are using dating sites now, it is
hard to stand out in a crowd. You need to get the other
viewers' attention in less than 10 seconds. You have to
grab it. Because people are so visual, a photo is essential.
Tips For Building a Successful Long Distance Relationship
Written by: Lance Metzger |
Distributed: 2011-08-16 |
Word Count: 731 |
Page Views: 1292
| Votes: 15 |
Rating: 2.07
From time to time, life will hand you a twist, and you will be
required to move from one place to another - this can be the
result of a job transfer, leaving home to attend college, or any
of a number of other reasons. When you move from one town to
another, it is not always possible to bring your partner with
you, and this sometimes leads to the formation of a long distance
relationship (LDR).
Tips To Help You Spot and Avoid Online Dating Scams
Written by: Lance Metzger |
Distributed: 2011-08-11 |
Word Count: 1082 |
Page Views: 1464
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 2.67
When seeking romance on the Internet, you should be aware of the
many scammers that are seeking to victimize those looking for
love.
Most Viewed "Self Improvement" Articles
Fill-In-The-Blank Bio Templates to Write Your Personal or Professional Bio
Written by: Barbra Sundquist |
Distributed: 2008-04-17 |
Word Count: 654 |
Page Views: 27953
| Votes: 110 |
Rating: 2.49
It's not hard to write a personal or professional bio when you
use the fill-in-the-blank bio templates provided in this article.
All you have to do is choose one or two sentences from each of
the four categories and add your details. The result will be a
first-rate personal or professional bio.
Making Women Lust For You
Written by: Kathy Stafford |
Distributed: 2007-10-29 |
Word Count: 566 |
Page Views: 19403
| Votes: 74 |
Rating: 1.69
Ways to be the man women will lust for. Offers suggestions on how
to improve your physical image as well as your personality to
make yourself more attractive to the opposite sex.
Why Is Failure The Steppingstone To Success?
Written by: Kent Jacobson a.k.a. Mr. Success |
Distributed: 2007-06-07 |
Word Count: 156 |
Page Views: 12257
| Votes: 132 |
Rating: 1.80
The pervasive misperception is that failure is somehow bad for
you. I think failure is just the opposite and have identified 8
reasons why failure is your steppingstone to success.
Do You Take Things Personally? Learn How Not To
Written by: Carol Chanel |
Distributed: 2006-11-02 |
Word Count: 1891 |
Page Views: 10241
| Votes: 45 |
Rating: 4.13
Do you take things personally and wish you didn't? Do you want
to know how not to take things personally? Every time I say I
help people learn how not to take things personally I always get
the same response – oh, I need help with that.
She Won't Call Me Back
Written by: Kathy Stafford |
Distributed: 2007-11-07 |
Word Count: 503 |
Page Views: 8528
| Votes: 27 |
Rating: 3.26
How to proceed when the woman you connected with won't return
your phone calls or emails. Tips for determining whether you
should continue to try to contact her or forget her and move on
to someone new.
Talking About Past Relationships
Written by: Kathy Stafford |
Distributed: 2007-11-13 |
Word Count: 685 |
Page Views: 6134
| Votes: 15 |
Rating: 2.60
How much information do you give your girlfriend about your past
relationships? Offers tips for how to answer the question from
your girlfriend about your past relationship – what to tell, and
what not to tell.
She Wants You Back
Written by: Kathy Stafford |
Distributed: 2007-11-05 |
Word Count: 482 |
Page Views: 4384
| Votes: 12 |
Rating: 2.42
How to handle a touchy situation when the girl who left you wants
you back. Offers tips on how to determine if you should re-kindle
your relationship with her or move on to someone new.
Feeling Invisible? Stop Complaining: How to ask for what you want
Written by: Kathy Gates |
Distributed: 2006-08-31 |
Word Count: 697 |
Page Views: 3903
| Votes: 8 |
Rating: 1.88
I feel invisible! My kids don't listen to me, my husband
doesn't listen to me. I've told my boss a dozen times about
that vendor problem, but still it's the same thing. Sound
familiar?
Burris Life Coaching Sets New Standards for Life Coach Certification
Written by: Kelly Burris |
Distributed: 2006-10-12 |
Word Count: 658 |
Page Views: 3732
| Votes: 17 |
Rating: 2.71
What determines human behavior? There is not a Life Coach or for
that matter a psychologist, psychiatrist or physician who can
definitively answer this question yet this is the most
fundamental question if you wish to initiate permanent behavior
change. If you can not answer this question, how can you possibly
expect to help someone make a change in their behavior let alone
a permanent change? How can you move forward if you do not know
what is moving you forward.
How To Be Happy -- With Whatever Life Gives You!
Written by: Bruce Elkin |
Distributed: 2008-01-28 |
Word Count: 1087 |
Page Views: 3680
| Votes: 14 |
Rating: 2.07
The way we make ourselves happy is unique to each of us. But the ways we make ourselves unhappy are remarkably common to all of us. So, perhaps, by not doing the things that makes us unhappy, we can create more space for deep and lasting happiness we long for.
Highest Ranked "Self Improvement" Articles
Are All Online Dating Profiles Faked? Get the Facts
Written by: Lance Metzger |
Distributed: 2012-05-09 |
Word Count: 944 |
Page Views: 1344
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 4.20
Most of us have dated at least offline, and some of us have dated
online. Either way, online dating can be a good experience for
each one of us - if we don't let the bad outshine the good. This
article will help you identify fake online profiles, so that you
can improve upon your online dating experience.
Do You Take Things Personally? Learn How Not To
Written by: Carol Chanel |
Distributed: 2006-11-02 |
Word Count: 1891 |
Page Views: 10241
| Votes: 45 |
Rating: 4.13
Do you take things personally and wish you didn't? Do you want
to know how not to take things personally? Every time I say I
help people learn how not to take things personally I always get
the same response – oh, I need help with that.
Time Management For Busy Moms
Written by: Jance Hayes |
Distributed: 2006-07-12 |
Word Count: 348 |
Page Views: 1436
| Votes: 6 |
Rating: 4.00
How do you do it? You work 40 hours a week, commute eight, cook,
clean, read bed time stories, help with homework, finagle home
finances and still have time for yourself and your spouse. Is
there an easier way? Before you peanut butter that gum out of
Sarah's hair or hunt down Cameron's pet rat, take a deep breath
and try these helpful time management tips:
The Key to Success in Psychometric Tests – Personality and Aptitude
Written by: Ron Clover |
Distributed: 2008-02-13 |
Word Count: 793 |
Page Views: 1493
| Votes: 8 |
Rating: 3.88
In the current job market, being invited to a job interview
almost always entails taking psychometric tests. The two main
elements in psychometric testing consist of – personality tests
and aptitude (IQ) tests.
Spring Clean Your Life!
Written by: Jan Hornford |
Distributed: 2008-05-13 |
Word Count: 1091 |
Page Views: 1260
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 3.80
My spring cleaning has been centered on eliminating tolerations.
Tolerations are anything that you are putting up with that drains
your energy or irritates you. Eliminating tolerations is a simple
way to get you into action, generate momentum and create energy
in your life.
Law of Success: Part II
Written by: Sharif Khan |
Distributed: 2007-07-18 |
Word Count: 1856 |
Page Views: 1660
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 3.78
Learn the Success Secrets of over 500 of the world's greatest
achievers in this special three part educational series
commemorating the work of Napoleon Hill's classic bestseller,
'Law of Success.'
Coping With Your Stresses And Anxieties In The Business World
Written by: Stanley Popovich |
Distributed: 2008-03-27 |
Word Count: 490 |
Page Views: 1118
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 3.60
Everybody deals with anxieties and stresses in the business
world, however sometimes our anxieties can get the best of us. As
a result, here is a list of techniques that a person can use to
help manage their daily stresses and anxieties at their job and
in the business world.
Ten Things You Can Do To Decrease Your Stress At The Office
Written by: Chris Le Roy |
Distributed: 2006-08-24 |
Word Count: 2971 |
Page Views: 1622
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 3.57
The world we live on is nothing but a mound of chaotic pressure
that is building to the point it bursts like a volcano. We are
bombarded with pressure from our employers, our customers and
families to the point where some people actually do break. Most
of us today in professional lives spend between 8 and 16 hours a
day at the office, which equates to almost two-thirds of our
lives being in a place we really do not want to be in, but there
are things you can do to decrease the stress in your office.
The Heart of The Matter - The Most Sought After Frontier - And If It Isn't, Shouldn't It Be? Episode #2 -Feelings -The Big Cover-Up!
Written by: Bronwyn NobleStar |
Distributed: 2007-10-25 |
Word Count: 819 |
Page Views: 992
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 3.57
Did you start your day with LOVE or HATE? By asking this
underlying question the quality of your life can be improved! Do
you always recognize that what you experience is based on
feelings? Does it really matter? You bet! Generally, the ego does
such a good job of covering up, burying or hiding your feelings
that you may have forgotten the way to The Heart of The Matter -
your emotions...your feelings!
Law of Success: Part I
Written by: Sharif Khan |
Distributed: 2007-07-17 |
Word Count: 1173 |
Page Views: 1581
| Votes: 16 |
Rating: 3.56
Learn the Success Secrets of over 500 of the world's greatest
achievers in this special three part educational series
commemorating the work of Napoleon Hill's classic bestseller,
'Law of Success.'
|
|
|
Article Reprint Rights
|
This work is
licensed under a
Creative Commons
License
You are not required to show the creative commons license notice when you reprint this work.
|
|
Home
for Writers
for Publishers
Article Directory
Article Search
Contact
Get RSS Feed
