Why Do I Earn Less Than My Friends?

First of all, stop being envious! Envy won’t help you to become better – it can only ruin your friendship. If you don’t feel comfortable talking about work, just avoid this topic. You have a hundred other things to discuss!

Secondly, find out what hinders you from earning more. It could be both internal or external factors. If you don’t know where to start, here is a checklist for you:

10 Things You Should Get Rid of to Earn More

1. Low self-esteem

This is the first point on our list, as your low self-esteem makes your life worse in so many ways. If you don’t love yourself, nobody will be able to fall in love with you. If you don’t feel your strength, nobody will respect you.

The same applies to your job: if you don’t feel like you’re worth more money, nobody will pay you. Other people see you the way you see yourself. Thus, grow your confidence to increase your salary.  

2. Poor social skills

Communication is a key to success. Even if you’re not the best employee, you should stand out of the crowd of your coworkers. When your boss is picking a candidate for promotion, he’d better know about your existence. Make friends everywhere: you won’t have to send them gifts or hang out all the time. But these people will make you a bit more famous.

3. Lack of practical skills

Your image and reputation are important. But they aren’t enough. You can be hired thanks to your connections, but you won’t last long if you aren’t useful. Do your research and find out what skills are essential for your profession. You may try to develop them by yourself or apply to the experts.

4. The fear of failure

We all fail sometimes. If you don’t believe that, listen to Shakira’s song “Try Everything.” Even birds “don’t just fly – they fall down and get up.” You don’t have to get used to the failures. But your mistakes should become a valuable experience, not discouragement. The fear won’t take you anywhere, and your ability to learn from mistakes will help you to move forward.

5. Lack of negotiation skills

If you fail every job interview, maybe it’s not about bad employers. Be honest with your self and ask the question, “Would I hire myself?” If your answer is “no,” what do expect to hear from the HR managers? The same applies to pay increases or promotions. You have to present yourself properly and have strong argumentative strategies. There are many books dedicated to the art of negotiations and persuasion. Read one or two, and your chances will be higher.

6. Poorly written resume

Your resume is your portrait for a recruiter. As well as any other sphere of life, resume writing has changed a lot recently. You have to keep up with modern tendencies to draw the attention of potential employers. If you don’t want to spend your time on composing a decent resume, you can apply to professionals. Remember that a well-written resume is your first step on the path of job searching.

7. No ambitions

Really, that’s your excuse? If you have no ambitions, then why are you reading this article in the first place? Your cat might have no ambitions because he already has whatever he wants. But you’re a man! You have to be proud of it and evolve every day!

8. No goals

That’s a more realistic excuse. We might have many plans and dreams, but they never become true. We have to turn every dream into a goal and plan our every step on the path to success. Make a list of your personal goals or borrow someone else’s. It doesn’t matter because having a goal means living for a purpose.

9. No luck

Blaming the destiny of your failures isn’t reasonable. You’re the only one who can control your life. If you don’t feel lucky, you probably have troubles with low self-esteem. Check the first paragraph of our list. If you face this kind of problem, you should work on your confidence.

10. The wrong country

No doubt, some countries have a more enabling environment for growth than others. It’s easier to develop your skills and find a good job when you have access to high-quality education. If you were born in the “wrong” country, your path may be more difficult and tangled. But it doesn’t mean that you can give up at the very beginning.

You know the reasons, and you can do something about them. Remember that you can deal with any problem or weakness if you strongly believe in yourself and put enough effort.

Some difficulties are easy to get rid of, while others require much more energy and time. But you’re capable of anything when you see your goal clearly.

You should also take a look at the list of the tips below if you don’t know where to start from. They’re not strict instructions, but these recommendations may change your life if you give it a try!

10 Useful Tips for Boys Who Want to Become Successful Men

Set your priorities

Even if you’re extremely active and hard-working, you still need sleep, food, and communication. Don’t spread yourself too thin! You can’t become an expert at everything at once. Pick one direction and concentrate your efforts on it. For example, if you’re not ready to spend your free time on boring academic papers, check this essay writing service like www.answershark.com.

Improve your time-management skills

Time is a limited resource. If you want to get 7-8 hours of healthy sleep every day, you have only 16 hours for your work, education, rest, and hobbies. Time-management skills are necessary if you want to live a full life and become a better version of yourself. Today, you have the opportunity to download special planning applications that will help you to stick to your schedule and form good habits.

Do what you like

If your favorite thing to do isn’t profitable, it doesn’t mean that you should forget about it. First of all, there is always a chance to turn your hobby into a source of income sooner or later. Secondly, you can combine a well-paid job and non-paid activities that make you happier. In such a manner, you’ll save your motivation and high living standards.

Have a back-up plan

Sometimes, life surprises us with unpleasant tricks. You shouldn’t always be nervous or suspicious. However, you have to be morally and financially ready to face difficult periods of your life.

Plan your finances

This point is a logical addition to the previous one. Planning your finances doesn’t mean cutting corners whenever you can. Put some limits, and you’ll always have something in your back pocket! You can divide your expenses into three parts: one part for basic needs, another part for extra needs, and the last part for savings. Of course, you should define your basic and extra needs by yourself.

Know your price

You should know exactly how much you cost. Not your organs, but your skills. You don’t have to work for a salary that isn’t relevant to your value. Even if you don’t have much experience, you can always emphasize other strengths: hard and soft skills, enthusiasm, good memory, etc.

Listen to critics

Nobody likes critics, and you don’t have to love them. But you should listen to them and use their words to your advantage. We can’t evaluate ourselves without bias. That’s why critics are extremely useful when it comes to self-development.

Read books

Reading develops memory, broadens intellectual horizons, and gives us valuable information that we can use at work and at home. Books help us to improve our writing skills that are essential for business communication. Finally, reading is a great way to distract and restore your energy for new victories.

Make friends

Information is power. We can get information from books or from the internet. But when we have many friends, the process of gathering or sharing information becomes more efficient and pleasant. Are you looking for a new house? Ask your friends. Do you need a job? Ask your friends. Social networking is a tool that you should never underestimate.

Develop good habits

Going to the gym, jogging, eating vegetables – all of these things make your body healthier and your mind clearer. Don’t try to get more than two or three habits at the same time. You’ll lose your motivation. Focus on the most important habits. In a month, they’ll become a part of your routine, and you’ll be able to add something new. There is always a possibility to turn your bad habits into your strengths!

That’s all, buddy. You’re ready to become better. Don’t hesitate – your lucky start won’t shine forever. In fact, you have to use any opportunity and not let your laziness stand on your path to bigger profit.