 |
| WAGING WAR ON WAGES In the book "What They Still Don't Teach You in Harvard," its author cited the most invoked reasons for asking a raise: 1) "I can increase the company's profit" (ignoring the fact that the increase in profits is a collective effort); 2) "The quota is unfair" (even if agreed upon earlier); 3) "I need to finance the tuition fees of my children in college (appealing to sympathy); 4) "I deserve it!" (nearly everyone thinks he's underpaid; while those who think otherwise remains quiet). The book continues to say that most people are underpaid in the beginning of their careers and overpaid at the end. In between they sometimes get confused about what they are really trying to accomplish in their work. "But my best friend in college who works for another company is getting twice as much as I do for the same load of work." Such an irritating but common complaint. Never expect a company to subsidize your envy as a worker. There will always be someone who earns more than you do. I wonder if we also feel that we don't work as much as others do. It is amusing that comparisons are based mainly on renumeration. In considering salary, one has to figure out the kind of lifestyle he wishes to maintain, not only the satisfaction he gets from the job. If work is so much fun that we are willing to do it for free, then we are blessed to be paid well for it. In our company, I can always distinguish the good from the bad salesman. The good ones are so engrossed in their work they don't even notice that their commissions are due. They have so much fun that they no longer have time to compute how much is coming to them. For these people, they enjoy working so much that work itself is their reward. The money is just a bonus. A stark contrast are those who could not put their minds off the money they will be receiving. They end up messing their work and missing the money they so dearly yearn for. This is where the problem lies -- putting money on top of the priority list. Bothered by your salary? Heed Paul's advice in his letter to the Philippians: "I have learned to be content in whatever state I am." Let us all enjoy our work. Continue to sow good works. Don't get weary. And as sure as the proverbial sun rises on the east, harvest time will come. Earlier than you expect. You won't even notice it coming. Because you so relish the sowing, it becomes its own harvest. What a wondrous deal!! By Francis J. Kong, "Only the Real Matters" |