The Journey

The Road to Success

Click the image for a larger view – you’ll love the details!

One of the first motivational images I have from early in my career is this poster.  I’m quite surprised to have found it!  I’ll be having a copy made to once again adorn my office wall.

Take a look.  Perhaps it will offer you the same thoughtful reflection I have needed at times.  You’ll see that anyone can get started.  There is no gate or entry fee.  Simply step forward and cross the line of opportunity and you’re on your way!  Now for some it might be a little easier – perhaps they were dropped off at the front door by their rich uncle or had a friend pull them by the arm.  Either way – at least in the USA – the door of opportunity is really not even a door.  It’s a wide open path inviting us all!

You can see the people – eager for their share of success – begin running once they have started their journey.  Right off the bat though there are distractions.  Bohemianism looks like an easy destination.  Just off to the right there – right inside the gate.  It looks like a great time for sure!

On the left there is the Right System.  It looks like quite a few can start right there – stay on the train and make it to the top of the hill.  Kinda makes me wonder why more people don’t just do that right off the bat.  Get your hands on a reputable system and stick with it.  Sounds easy, doesn’t it?  But as you see – the temptations only get stronger the further up the hill you go.

Hotel Know it All?  I’ll admit to have spent a few nights there.  Look at the other hangouts.  The Always Right Club.  Can you imaging the conversation going on in there?  Wow!  I don’t need to practice? Nobody can tell me!  Sound familiar?

Check out the Hand of Vices reaching out, grabbing people and dragging them into the River of Failure.   How about the Hot Air Balloon ride?  Or how Lack of Preparation is a giant hill – but you could bypass it simply by doing the work?

I hope this poster can inspire you the way it inspired me years ago.  It’s not easy getting to the top – and much harder staying there.  So watch out for the pitfalls.  They’re everywhere!

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How to Get a Counter Offer – Step by Step Instructions

OK. So you’ve decided you’re underpaid. A few of your team mates are making considerably more than you. You know you’re as good as (if not better) than them, so what gives?

You really do like your job. The company Christmas party is off the hook! The drive is less than 5 minutes and your best buddies work there too…….but you keep seeing jobs all over the internet paying more than what you’re making and it’s starting to weigh on your mind……

So what can you do about it? Call a recruiter? Well, maybe…..

But you know what happens next, right? If you’re so good- you’ll be going on an interview next week. Then another. Pretty soon you’ve got yourself an offer. More money!!! Woo hoo!!

But wait!  Now you’ve got to resign. And you don’t really want to do that, do you? You’ve got to go through with this, though…….right? The recruiter is calling you night and day making sure you’re “on the same page” and you’ve already reluctantly agreed that he can accept an offer on your behalf. Who knows – maybe he already did…?

This isn’t what you really wanted, is it? To leave all your friends? To bail out on the awesome project you’ve been working on the past 2 years? It’s just about ready to go into production. All your hard work – and you’ll never see how happy your customers are……bummer……

I’ve got a solution for you. All you really want is more money. Heck – we all want that. So let me help you do just that without dragging a few other companies and that nice recruiter through the mud.

Wear your best suit into work tomorrow. Look better than you have since you interviewed there to begin with. Let your boss know you need the afternoon off. She’ll ask you why. Just let her know “It’s personal” and try to seem a bit apprehensive about it.

Next week you’ll need to take a whole day off. Again – let your boss know it’s personal. You might jokingly say “I’m not going on any interviews or anything” and then throw in something about your grandma not doing so well and she lives quite a distance away. Again – keep it somewhat vague.

Hang in there. You’re almost done Just one more step. This is the important one. You now need to tell your boss you need a few minutes. She’s already thinking something is up and this will confirm it. Her suspicion will be that you’re leaving – and she can’t have that happen now. Not at this critical time!

When you’re in her office let her know you just want to get a better idea of where you’ll be in the next few years. Ask about your chance of promotion. Let her know you feel like you need some more responsibility – but NEVER let on that you’ve been “interviewing” – just make it appear as though you’re at a crossroads and “might” be looking elsewhere. She’ll suspect this. She’s been here before. Trust me.

She’ll be on the phone with HR in a matter of minutes. Within a day or two you’ll find yourself in a meeting again. This time she’ll be happy to let you know that she’s been thinking of your career plan there – and while that all shapes up – there is also a salary increase she’s requested for you. There you have it. You’re in!

Simple. No hassle. No bitter recruiter. No other company involved. Just you, your company and your new, phatter paycheck.

Good luck!