increase your wealth

"Don't come to me asking for more money. Help me make more money so there will be more money for you." This brings us today's principle: If you want to increase your wealth, first increase your employer's or boss' wealth.

Have we increased our employer's? We should not think that because we are only paid so-and-so, we will limit our output. Let us move beyond our job descriptions and create new value for the company. Can you bring in more customers? Help lower costs? Organize files or improve systems? Enhance production efficiency or quality? Go the extra mile for customers?

But by far the best way to create a value for your company is to create value in yourself. What new skills do you need to help your company achieve its goals, which coincidentally will propel your way to the top?

For example, you might want to sharpen your skills. How is your English? Can you organize your ideas into a persuasive pitch? Or you may want to learn new computer skills, such as making powerpoint presentations will all those fancy animation effects. If you want to be a general manager but your background is manufacturing or marketing and thus need to brush up on financial management. If you are in Sales, you will surely need to invest in yourself as far as training, product knowledge and industry trends are concerned.

Another powerful way to contribute to your company is that you masters new language. If you are fluent in mandarin, you can help your boss communicate with customers, suppliers or partners in china. You can be just as an asset if you speak japanese, spanish, german or korean like a native. Some time ago I heard that call centers place a high premium on agents what can speak vietnamese. So consider a third language. It may be the "secret weapon" in your career arsenal the will open a lot of doors.

Time Management is another sought-after skill. "Careers are made or broken by the soft skills that make you able to handle a very large workload," says Merlin Mann, editor of the productivity blog 43 folders. One of my favorite motto is "Let time work for you." Do the most important things first. Know when are your peak hours, that is, when you are most productive, creative or alert. If you have subordinates, leverage their skills and experiences. A simple example: I have two tasks. One I have to do myself and the other I can delegate. So I talk to my staff who will do the second task, such as retrieving or analyzing information. While she is at it, I do the first task. That way, both tasks are being done at the same time.

Finally, always open to opportunities that will benefit your company. One time I was manning our booth in a trade show when a singaporean approached me and asked if our company would be interested in carrying his product line, plastic pallets. Our company was into a different line of plastics, but I know my boss is always on the lookout for new business partners. So instead of turning him away, I arranged for a meeting between him and my boss, the fruit of which was a distributorship agreement where we earn a fee for every pallet we sell.

Finale

I know it sounds harsh, but you are being paid to make your employer richer. After all, nobody goes into business and hire people to lose money. However, I will generate more opportunities for myself if I help my employer attain its financial goals. These opportunities can be in the form of bonuses or promotions.

Bit the real beneficiary is your resume. Even if you are working for a tight-fisted employer and feel that it is high time to work for someone else - hopefully, someone more generous - you will be armed with verifiable and quantifiable accomplishments. And that is a career wealth nobody can steal from you. (source:Nelson T. DY)