1. Gather statistics.  Document your performance for the past 6 months and arrange it in a quantifiable manner.  You want to present numbers because everybody knows employers won’t bother verifying obfuscated math formulas and will often agree with your computations just to appear intelligent.  Bring in any statistics that will fall in your favor like how many sales, projects or tasks you’ve aced during the period and present a complex algebraic equation as to how you have derived them.  Of course, the complex math is optional but if you can wing it, doesn’t it make making more money twice as fun?

2. Check out salary ranges for your skillset.  Some of this will be available from the web, either from job hunting websites or professional organizations in your field.  Whatever is the highest figure you find, add 20 percent because you’re not average.  Otherwise, why will you be asking for a freaking increase?  When making your case, try to obliquely assert the reasons why your skills are unique to you even though everybody knows it’s not.  If you can successfully debate it, running out of rebutalls will compel anyone to accept your position eventually.

3. Make the pitch in accordance with how your company pays.  While you can ask for a higher salary than the CEO, it may not be the winningest idea in the pool.

4. Be open to compensation in terms of additional benefits or under-the-table bonuses.   Under-the-table rocks because you’re screwing the government and making more money at the same time.  You can then sing out, “I’m not paying for your war!” and actually have it mean something.:)

5. Be aware of your position in the organization.  Is your job dispensable?  Is there any part of your duties that only you, at this moment, can do?  You can use this as leverage which you can obliquely hint at later until they bring it up themselves.

6. Be prepared to walk.  Not all negotiations will end favorably and, more importantly, the power during the process will always be in the hands of that who has less attachment to a particular result. If this is not you, convince yourself that it is you.  During the meeting, sit with your body facing the door so you look like you’re ready to leave at the slightest provocation.  Otherwise, you’re fighting a losing battle.

7. When you do get the raise, try to come early at least for the next week.  You don’t want them to regret it so quickly, do you?

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the movie “The Secret.”

I just watched it in its entirety the other day and it’s a really helpful film about manifesting intentions in your life.

I had the highest expectations from the movie, given how people were raving about it. I was happy for the most part, although I did want to fast forward through some segments. I didn’t like the overly-simplistic take by some of the resource persons in that movie. It’s almost like they were spouting words out of their ass. I’m not discounting the possibility that I was listening with my ass so consider that a disclaimer.

I loved Esther Hicks, Bob Proctor and Jack “Chicken Soup” Canfield. I didn’t expect to like the Chicken Soup For The Soul guy but he comes across so genuine it’s impossible not to like him. Those three spoke with a lot of clarity and gave very focused ideas. Listening to most of the others was pretty awkward for me. I think they muddled the message more than they added to it.

The stories used to illustrate the concepts were mostly good, especially Jack Canfield’s.

Quote of the Year (LOL!)
“You can cook a man’s dinner with electricity….and you can also cook the man!”
- Bob Proctor

Esther Hicks, hands down, does the best job explaining the concepts in that movie:
“Whatever it is you are feeling is a perfect reflection of what is in the process of becoming.”
- Esther Hicks

This one is the truest statement I heard from the movie. All my ex-girlfriends say the same thing:
“It’s hard to swallow…..”
- Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith

I know, I know…..

Another classic from Bob Proctor:
“Think of something beautiful…think of a baby…(video of a crying baby shows)…errrr…maybe one you love.”

LOL! I’ve never even read of this guy before. He’s like a skinny Don Rickles! Definitely future reading for me.

When manifesting, one of the things that usually hold me back is asking “How am I gonna achieve this?” and Bob Proctor had a great answer for this:
“You will attract the way.”

Lastly, I loved the segments about resistance. This is an area I’ve been working on lately and I really learned a lot from the movie in this regard.

“When they push against the unwanted, they add power to it.”
- Esther Hicks

“The anti-war movement has created more war. The anti-drugs movement has created more drugs.”
- Jack Canfield

“I will never attend an anti-war rally, if you have a peace rally, invite me.”
- Mother Teresa

“Boredom is…a vital problem for the moralist, since half the sins of mankind are caused by the fear of it.”
- Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)

1. Stop watching TV.  TV is the most boring activity ever created in the history of mankind.  You hardly move your body.  You barely use your mind.  You learn no useful skill.  It fills you head with useless information and makes you feel like you actually picked up something but when you evaluate for real, you’ll find nothing.

2. Find a solitary hobby.  Find a hobby that you enjoy and can do on your own.  Don’t think too much about it.  Just try one activity and do it, see if you like it.  Make sure to find something less passive than tv and videogames.  If possible, find a hobby where you create something.  It’s a great feeling to finish a task and have something to show for it.

3. Find a group hobby.  There are groups, clubs and classes everywhere for all sorts of stuff.  Join or enroll in one.

4. Change your routines.  If you stay home every night, go out tonight.  If you party all the time, stay in and wash the dishes for once.  If you do the exact same things every single day, you will get bored.  This is true whether you are passionate about what you do or not.  Set the bar higher in the things you do everyday.  Do it in the gym.  Do it at work.  Do it in your sport.  Do it in your home with your family and friends.  Make yourself step up by setting to accomplish something bigger.

5. Make a target of accomplishing something productive everyday.  If you keep a list of goals and milestones, work on one every day.  If you can do it in the earlier hours, all the better.  It will set you up for a better day, guaranteed.

6. Start jounaling or meditating. It will help you gain perspective on both the past and the future.  It can help you stay grounded in the present.

7. Meet new people. However you meet them, even from online, making new contacts brings a a feeling that kills any possibility of being bored.  We spruce up when we meet someone new, we desire to put our best foot forward, and act accordingly.  It’s automatically refreshing.

8. Attend to the banal things.  Stop being lazy about it.  If your bed is unmade, fix it.  If your curtains are dirty, wash it.  Oftentimes, boredom is caused by looking past the activities we have staring us in the face.