If I start doing that I won't be expecting a bonus I'll be expecting, well..., to be a business owner.
Cheers
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There can be potential downsides to extortion, such as the risk of flying pointy lead objects or a spontaneous combustion malfunction when you turn the ignition key on the car.
Despite what I have read in the forum of a certain magazine, I have never had the opportunity to boost my earnings using sex or extortion, but will look forward to such opportunities going forward.
Despite what I have read in the forum of a certain magazine, I have never had the opportunity to boost my earnings using sex or extortion, but will look forward to such opportunities going forward.
You can't get a BIGGER bonus if you're not getting them in the first place. I'm not talking about Christmas or anniversary bonuses that everyone on board gets, regardless of performance. I didn't think that many IT folks outside the CxO suite received them.
If you find & implement tools that bring in more revenue or demonstrate significant cost savings, you demonstrate your value to the company, and can justify a salary increase--whether or not you're in a CXO role.
Now, if your employer is unwilling/unable to pay you what you're worth, then you always have other options.
Believing you have to stay at a job or company--or even in a particular industry or field--limits your options, and doesn't necessarily reflect reality. Compare & test your assumptions to find out what's possible.
I'm not saying it's always easy. But, the world is filled with opportunity once you start looking. If one door doesn't open when you knock, try a different door, or make your own door.
Now, if your employer is unwilling/unable to pay you what you're worth, then you always have other options.
Believing you have to stay at a job or company--or even in a particular industry or field--limits your options, and doesn't necessarily reflect reality. Compare & test your assumptions to find out what's possible.
I'm not saying it's always easy. But, the world is filled with opportunity once you start looking. If one door doesn't open when you knock, try a different door, or make your own door.
"If you find & implement tools that bring in more revenue or demonstrate significant cost savings, you demonstrate" that you're a pliant schmoo who can be milked forever with no recognition or compensation at all. If you're fortunate, you'll get nice pats on the head and encouraging noises, because they've been taught at B-school that that is both sufficient and effective.
And the B-school bozos won't recognize that your great new software development tool or your new product is generating the revenue. They'll believe it was only their frat-buddy sales-clones who made all the difference, because, obviously, he was the one standing there when the money changed hands.
Besides, an actual increase in compensation could cut into the CEO's vacation, 3rd home plans, or investment portfolio, and we couldn't have that. The C*O and VP compensation must always go up, no matter how effectively they've hampered everyone else's productivity.
And the B-school bozos won't recognize that your great new software development tool or your new product is generating the revenue. They'll believe it was only their frat-buddy sales-clones who made all the difference, because, obviously, he was the one standing there when the money changed hands.
Besides, an actual increase in compensation could cut into the CEO's vacation, 3rd home plans, or investment portfolio, and we couldn't have that. The C*O and VP compensation must always go up, no matter how effectively they've hampered everyone else's productivity.
StartMyBodyshoppingBidness wrote: "Believing you have to stay at a job or company--or even in a particular industry or field--limits your options, and doesn't necessarily reflect reality. Compare & test your assumptions to find out what's possible."
Let's see. We've got a couple million unemployed and under-employed STEM workers in the USA, these days, and some 15M unemployed plus another 10M or so under-employed in the USA generally. The many options that pay even less have numerous applicants, but those are jobs we can't get because we're "over-qualified", while the bodyshoppers and their clients claim we are not "qualified" for the jobs we've been doing and getting those head pats for all along (and even for jobs merely using the kinds of tools and products we'd been creating).
I'm not seeing a lot of great, likely possibilities here.
http://www.kermitrose.com/jgoEconData.html
http://www.kermitrose.com/econSummaryAnalysis.html#Media
Let's see. We've got a couple million unemployed and under-employed STEM workers in the USA, these days, and some 15M unemployed plus another 10M or so under-employed in the USA generally. The many options that pay even less have numerous applicants, but those are jobs we can't get because we're "over-qualified", while the bodyshoppers and their clients claim we are not "qualified" for the jobs we've been doing and getting those head pats for all along (and even for jobs merely using the kinds of tools and products we'd been creating).
I'm not seeing a lot of great, likely possibilities here.
http://www.kermitrose.com/jgoEconData.html
http://www.kermitrose.com/econSummaryAnalysis.html#Media
I'm not arguing that millions of people are and have been unemployed/underemployed--some of them for many months or years. My brother is an electrical engineer with strong programming skills and over 15 years experience, and was unemployed for a year-and-a-half.
What I'm arguing is that there are indeed opportunities. Otherwise, what explains the fact that myself and other self-employed people have been able to start and grow businesses during the financial meltdown? What about other businesses & start-ups that have done the same thing? Absent opportunities, there'd be no success stories.
Again, that's not to ignore the millions of people unemployed, the role of office politics, etc. Dealing with office politics in particular can be extremely frustrating and demoralizing like you mentioned. I had to deal with plenty of politicking, favoritism, crappy bosses, and lousy management decisions at my old day job--those were huge motivations to look for something else. But there are opportunities for most of us STEM workers. One of the problems I've seen is that most people fail to move beyond the mental paradigm of thinking like an employee, and so that greatly limits their options.
What I'm arguing is that there are indeed opportunities. Otherwise, what explains the fact that myself and other self-employed people have been able to start and grow businesses during the financial meltdown? What about other businesses & start-ups that have done the same thing? Absent opportunities, there'd be no success stories.
Again, that's not to ignore the millions of people unemployed, the role of office politics, etc. Dealing with office politics in particular can be extremely frustrating and demoralizing like you mentioned. I had to deal with plenty of politicking, favoritism, crappy bosses, and lousy management decisions at my old day job--those were huge motivations to look for something else. But there are opportunities for most of us STEM workers. One of the problems I've seen is that most people fail to move beyond the mental paradigm of thinking like an employee, and so that greatly limits their options.
Some of us want to be employees, not business owners. I could never be self-employed unless I enjoyed eating generic cat food. I don't have the drive or the self-promotional skills to make a living that way. No, I'll probably never get a bonus, but I also won't lie awake worrying about my next contract or contribution. To me, it's an acceptable trade-off. Somebody's got to do the nuts and bolts work of implementing all those great ideas.
I'm not necessarily advocating that everyone go out and start a business. Depending on your situation, being an employee is the best thing, and there's nothing wrong with that. But there are still things you can do to snag a (bigger) bonus and/or increase your salary by demonstrating your value to the company. Generally, if you want to get a bonus or a bigger bonus or raise, you'll need to do something beyond your normal job requirements. Bringing in more cash or cutting costs are ways to do that, but it often takes a shift in thinking to see those kinds of opportunities.
My company gives bonuses every year. They are about 50% based on overall company performance, revenues, profitability etc. The other 50% is performance based. The lower you are on the ladder, the more performance is judged as part of a team, the higher, the more emphasis is on individual performance.
Of course, our base salaries are lower as a result of having a bonus, so don't think we are "lucky" to have it.
I have heard of ways to increase bonuses not on the list, at previous employers, and before Sarbanes Oxley. People would delay making a sale if they had already maxed out their bonus potential for the year/quarter, so that they could ensure they got a good bonus next quarter.
Of course, our base salaries are lower as a result of having a bonus, so don't think we are "lucky" to have it.
I have heard of ways to increase bonuses not on the list, at previous employers, and before Sarbanes Oxley. People would delay making a sale if they had already maxed out their bonus potential for the year/quarter, so that they could ensure they got a good bonus next quarter.
At one company I happen to know quite well, there is a new bonus scheme every year. It is based on overall company performance, and part of the individual's bonus is the individual performance, which is measured against objectives set at the beginning of the year and then reviewed towards the end of the year. Sounds great doesn't it?
Except, that company has paid a bonus once in the last 10 years, and not at all in the last 5 years. Every year end there is just one little thing where as a company on the whole the objectives weren't met, and bang goes the money.
And to compensate for that, the following year, the stakes are raised.
Except, that company has paid a bonus once in the last 10 years, and not at all in the last 5 years. Every year end there is just one little thing where as a company on the whole the objectives weren't met, and bang goes the money.
And to compensate for that, the following year, the stakes are raised.
I'm like most of you guys. A 'nice' guy. A guy that would like to believe our efforts and achievements are recognized and subsequently rewarded by the higher-ups in a company. I have noticed something, though, and it's an old cliche'd saying, "Nice guys finish last." The best jobs I've ever gotten have been when I've had an aggressive attitude, or just plain lost my temper, in an interview. The same goes with raises and bonuses. A non-aggressive attitude equals a doormat in the eyes of many managers.
Right now, we ARE under the gun. The employers have a definite advantage, but more because WE are the ones that buy into that. They'll hold their 'Sword of Damocles' right over your head by threatening to let you go but, 7 times out of 10, it's a bluff. The best raises come right when you go to step out that door... You just have to be prepared to go that far. Of course, those 3 times it's a company that DOES think you're immediately replaceable, or not needed. Sometimes they'll hold to that just for spite. But a lot of those millions of out-of-work people are that way because they're not as good as they think they are, and the companies that let you walk out the door aren't in very good shape. Most of the jobs I've been let go from saw the company disappear months afterwards.
Of course, it's small consolation for you if the door closes behind you and there's nothing else available. Try to line something else up before, if you can. It's easier to find a new job while you're already employed than when you're not. Even if it's for slightly lower pay, you may find it a better atmosphere to grow from.
Right now, we ARE under the gun. The employers have a definite advantage, but more because WE are the ones that buy into that. They'll hold their 'Sword of Damocles' right over your head by threatening to let you go but, 7 times out of 10, it's a bluff. The best raises come right when you go to step out that door... You just have to be prepared to go that far. Of course, those 3 times it's a company that DOES think you're immediately replaceable, or not needed. Sometimes they'll hold to that just for spite. But a lot of those millions of out-of-work people are that way because they're not as good as they think they are, and the companies that let you walk out the door aren't in very good shape. Most of the jobs I've been let go from saw the company disappear months afterwards.
Of course, it's small consolation for you if the door closes behind you and there's nothing else available. Try to line something else up before, if you can. It's easier to find a new job while you're already employed than when you're not. Even if it's for slightly lower pay, you may find it a better atmosphere to grow from.
Explaining to employees how to understand and maximize their contribution to their employer's business could be a career for you.
sleep with the Bosse's Boss! This works great and can really be a hoot. You need to keep it low-key though or people won't like you. Your immediate Boss probably won't like it either.
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