Sorry, I can't give you a raise today...
When I was an Area Manager for a Mechanical Services Company one of my technicians came to me and complained about his wages.
Now this particular Company paid all of their mechanics excellent wages, above the market average, so he was not underpaid by any means, yet there he stood wanting more money.
I would have actually enjoyed giving him a raise...
but I couldn't.
Not because the Company wouldn't let me but because his performance did not justify it.
I knew that because I was a technician for many years and I also taught Automotive and Diesel Technologies for Private and Public Institutions and when it takes 2 hours to complete a job that should take only one then that indicates one of two things, either he did not have the required skill level (which he did) or he did not put the proper effort (laziness) into the job, which was the actually the case.
It is difficult to pull the wool over my eyes when I know how to do it myself.
Our technicians were rewarded on a performance based system, or in other words, they got what they deserved.
Unfortunately that particular technician never earned a raise in 2 years.
His mindset was one of "the world owes me" and that kept him from being all he could be.
So what's the point of this? Simply that the world operates the same way.
As a result of the Laws of Nature each of us gets exactly what we deserve ACCORDING TO OUR ACTIONS.
Oh, I know that many people hold to the view that everyone deserves the best of everything and that perspective is correct, we do deserve the best...
but we have to GIVE our best to receive the best.
Action equals reaction, Law of Nature, expecting the world to give you something without you taking the correct actions to receive simply does not work.
I was always amazed when I hear someone ask "Where is my raise?" Had that technician put some of the effort that I know he was capable of into doing his job the best he could he would have gotten a raise.
Notice I didn't say HIS raise, because it wasn't his yet, he hadn't earned it through his actions.
If you had a rubber ball in your hand and you dropped it what would happen? The ball would accelerate towards the floor in agreement with the Laws of Gravity and bounce...
but not high enough to return to your hand.
You put no personal energy into the ball's momentum.
On the other hand if you threw the ball at the floor it would bounce much higher.
How high would depend on how hard you threw the ball.
Action equals reaction, Law of Nature, a simple reality we cannot escape.
The magnificent thing about that particular Law (Action = Reaction) is that it is applied in ALL areas of our existence, not just the Physical areas.
This Law works on the Physical, Mental, and Spiritual levels of all life.
And it is applied to all with equal and immutable results.
If you want something in life, in any area of your life, then take action.
Often we have to discover what action to take but the very thought of that alone begins the process that will lead you to the correct path...
as long as you follow through.
Thinking "I need to learn how to do that" and then doing nothing to educate yourself accomplishes nothing.
Thinking "I want a raise" and then doing nothing to improve your performance accomplishes nothing.
Thinking "I want people to respect me" and then doing nothing to respect others accomplishes nothing.
Dropping the Ball and letting Gravity do all the work accomplishes nothing.
So, if you want something, take action.
Throw that Ball (Mental, Physical, or Spiritual) as hard as you can...
and get ready to RECEIVE.
Ain't Nature Great! Layard