raises – Dispatches From The Front

Let’s talk about your next raise and what it takes to be successful in business. There are actually a few things you can do to be a stand-out employee that will make it easier for you to get ahead in business.

3 ways to get ahead in business

1. Assume innocence as a long-term strategy

There will be times when your manager, a peer, or a customer make you angry. Some people respond immediately and go into attack mode. That’s a huge mistake! When someone attacks you, blames you, or does something that you perceive as a slight, your first response should be a thoughtful one. Do not write an immediate, hasty email! I can promise you that nothing good will come from that misguided response.

Asking for a raise is never easy.

Requesting one when you’re a freelancer is downright scary — the client could immediately stop working with you and turn to your less expensive competition.

As I outlined in the first part of this series, how you set your rates should be determined by your expenses, expertise and how you want to spend the one fixed variable in this whole process: your time.

After I outlined the various ways you can use to determine how much to charge a potential client or what rates you’re willing — and unwilling to accept — let’s take a look at how you can increase your fees.

1. Track your time.

Time management expert Laura Vanderkam, who has often provided wonderful advice for my stories, says that you should know how much time your activities take. Having learned this from her while writing an article a while back, I have been following this advice religiously, to my great benefit.

Tag: raises

How to Get Ahead in Business | AllBusiness.com

Freelancers, Here’s How To Negotiate Raises With Clients | Forbes