Dan Miller, author of 48 Days to the Work You Love, among other bestsellers, agrees. “I don’t encourage anybody, ‘Hey, just quit your job,’” he told me. “But capture those ideas that you’ve had that have been recurring. A lot of what’s happened right now, where people are in this state of insecurity and uncertainty, it’s brought back to the surface ideas that have been dormant for twenty years. Man, when I was eighteen years old I had this idea—I never did anything with it. I just got caught up in the expected, and here I am twenty years later. This is a time to go back and revisit those ideas. I’m not talking about being some radical inventor who, you’re gonna come up with the next Hula-Hoop or Frisbee. That may be the case, but it may be something more ordinary than that, that you just do in a really, really excellent way.”
Dan breaks our working life into decades. “There are predictable kinds of patterns that we go through,” he explains. “In our twenties, essentially, we’re learning—that’s a learning decade. Thirties is usually experimenting—you’re kind of sorting things out, what fits you. Forties we call mastering. This is the decade when you focus on those things that you hung on to, where you’re really developing your skills, becoming an expert. Fifties are reaping. You’re really maximizing the benefits of where you are at that point. Sixties are usually guiding, seventies, you’re leaving a legacy. And we can go on from there. I like to go all the way up to like, where somebody’s a sage, where you’re respected just for the wisdom, reflection on life that you offer.”
Dan’s point is if someone is in their forties and realizes they may have made a mistake and may want to choose something different, they don’t need to go back to when they were a teenager and start thinking about all those same possibilities. Now they have the wisdom of experience to guide them toward making a good decision for moving forward much more quickly. At the same time, someone in their sixties may decide they want to learn a musical instrument, or a new way of investing. No matter your age, the possibilities are endless—but it’s time to make some changes now.
Tell yourself that in the next thirty days, you’re going to make three courageous money moves:
- I’m going to talk to my boss and ask him point blank, “What would it take to have my salary increased?”
- I’m going to take on more responsibility.
- I’m going to sign up for additional training that will help me advance in my career.
You’ll see that just writing all this down or saying it aloud will begin to stem the tide of money negativity and unleash the ability to earn more, save more, and ultimately give more. Gradually, you’ll begin to take small risks and build true money momentum. Give yourself a deadline of thirty days. A self-imposed sense of urgency will lead to quicker results. Then delve a little further with a few other questions. Can you move out of your current role but remain in your place of employment? Are you able to take on more responsibility to boost your pay? Or maybe it’s time to start a side gig to determine whether you have a viable alternative.
If the answer is no, then ask yourself if it’s time to jump ship. You make more money based on the value you create—and it might be time to look for other opportunities.
But wait just a minute. What about those who feel stuck in a fixed-salary job, or find themselves squarely in the middle of an increasingly “nontraditional” economy? If you’re not employed in a conventional professional environment, you may feel you’re not in a position to ask for more money. That’s understandable. If you’re working in a field solely based on seniority or a set pay-range, or you’re working part-time, developing a side gig in a field in which you have an expertise, or changing jobs or even professions, asking for a raise might not seem particularly relevant.
Think again. As I write these words, we’re witnessing one of the greatest employment power shifts in history. Some call it the Great Resignation; others, a nationwide labor shortage. By whatever name, it’s a moment in time when, in many fields, employees have more cards to play than ever before. Quality people are at a premium, and employers are recognizing their need to provide new kinds of incentives to retain and attract the best workers.
This is at least partly true in every field. Not only are hourly wages being increased, but employers are offering low-risk yet valuable benefits, like work-from-home options, childcare flexibility, and enhanced vacation and maternity/paternity policies. For these same reasons, middle managers, too, have more options than ever before in deciding whether to jump to a competitor for a larger salary or better benefits.
You may think you’re working in a field that doesn’t lend itself to an immediate bump in salary, but that might not necessarily be true. Let’s say you’re a teacher, for example. You walk into your boss’s office, in this case the principal’s office, and you tell her you’d like to be paid more. But she tells you her hands are tied, that either because of union contracts or budget restrictions, she has no leeway to give a single teacher a raise, regardless of merit.
So what do you do? I’ll tell you. You think outside the box and take your expertise and marketing to people in your field who will find it valuable.
Start by taking a sheet of paper and writing out the best ways you, as a teacher, encourage your students to their highest level of success. What are the most effective strategies your experience has told you are most effective? You may even want to ask colleagues or friends to identify the skills you have that make you unique.
This becomes the first ingredient in a recipe you can share with others. Think about how valuable the lessons you’ve learned over the years would be to a new teacher. You’re the experienced person who has gone through the potholes and joys of teaching and can share that knowledge so others can achieve their own success more quickly.
Next, brainstorm and write down the different ways you might be able to monetize your expertise. Maybe a way to get started is to speak at teacher conferences or use teacher organizations and social media to advertise your services as a coach. Newbie teachers might be interested, but you can also take advantage of the definite trend of more and more parents who are interested in paying qualified people with a track record to help their children academically and to prepare for college. You may end up creating a separate revenue stream for yourself, while at the same time benefiting a cause you believe in, namely helping to train the next generation of teachers to be the best they can be.
The bottom line? No matter who you are or what kind of job you currently hold, this may be the ideal time to investigate alternatives.
(To be continued...)
This excerpt is taken from “Good Money Revolution: How to Make More Money to Do More Good” by Derrick Kinney. To read other articles of this book, click here. To buy this book, click here.
The Epoch Times Copyright © 2023. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. The Epoch Times does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. The Epoch Times holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.
