FLIP THAT GET RICH SWITCH: article#1 in a series on making more moola!

Money doesn’t buy happiness. But complaining about being broke doesn’t pay the rent or make you any happier either, dammit!

So...

If you’re presently itchin' (aka bitchin') for MORE CASH, here are rules for how to raise a raise with the powers that be who pay you.

BEFORE YOU ASK FOR YOUR RAISE:

1. Before you even enter your boss' office, know: All's wealth, that starts with wealth! Start thinking wealthy thoughts. Flip on your "RICH SWITCH" and commit to being rich. Notice things you want that others have -- then BLESS the people who have cool stuff, rather than curse them. They represent THE POSSIBILITY OF ATTAINMENT! Know: If you have ANY negative views about rich people, you will subconsciously prevent yourself from becoming one.

2. Stop believing in mana from heaven. Start believing in money from hard work. Flip on your "RICH SWITCH" and be ready to sweat a lot to get a lot. It's rare that money just lands in your lap. There's a direct correlation between "MORE EFFORT = MORE MONEY." If you KNOW FOR A FACT you've been putting in EXTRA EFFORT, then it's time to seek EXTRA MONEY!

ASKING FOR THE RAISE:

1. Compliment boss on office art and/or his/her shoes and/or photogenic baby, etc… Warm 'em up before you ask for cold cash.

2. Talk about the company’s needs and areas of vulnerability, so you show you're an alert employee.

3. Talk about how you are uniquely gifted with the hard-to-find skillsets that have fixed/will fix the company’s needs/vulnerabilities and thereby have increased/will increase company profits.

Basically:

KNOW YOUR VALUE AND WHY WHAT YOU DO MATTERS. How does your presence, talent, time, and energy contribute to your company's growth?

KNOW THAT EXTRA MONEY COMES TO THOSE WHO KNOW HOW TO SOLVE PROBLEMS FOR A PROFIT. The bigger the problems you solve, the bigger the money you deserve to earn.

KNOW YOU HAVE UNIQUE SELLING POINTS WHICH PUT YOU IN HOT DEMAND -- AND MAKE SUPPLIES OF FOLKS LIKE YOU LIMITED -- AND THEREBY WORTH TOP DOLLAR! I believe the purpose of your life is to find and do the purpose of your life. And the more you are on target and doing your purpose, the stronger the chances that you are highly remarkable at what you do -- and thereby hard to replace. Recognize the higher your "remarkable-ility" the higher your marketability!

4: NEVER EVER raise your personal needy needs for a raise with a boss. Trust me. Your boss (evil or saintly) doesn’t care WHY you need a raise…even if you desperately need cash for your pet pitbull’s kidney operation…unless, of course, you could somehow convince your boss that your pitbull, if saved, would fetch lots of cash for the company.

5: Specificaly list all of your money-making benefits to the company (past, present, future) -- with visual aids if possible. (Keep in mind your value from TIP# 3 above)

6: Insert your need for promotion/raise here. (Ditto on keeping in mind your value from TIP# 3 above)

7: If not given a raise, self-impose your own promotion by asking boss how he/she’d like to see the company grow…then brainstorm new money-making tasks that you’d love to voluntarily and enthusiastically take on to solve the company’s needs/vulnerabilities.

8: Re-insert your need for raise here, once again, before you leave boss’ office.

9: If boss still says no, leave office, take on more company-profit-making tasks, then be like a pitbull with a healthy kidney….keep returning to ask your boss for a raise until ye does receive!

10: If ye stiil does not receive after 2-3 months (er...um..okay 3-4 in a big company) months, well, then, be like a healthy pitbull, go sniff out new people at new companies and fetch yourself some interviews at places you'll be appreciated, dammit.