If You Work Hard, You Deserve to Be Paid Accordingly—Here’s How to Make That Happen
⏲️Estimated Reading Time: 7.5 Minutes
Published on: May 25, 2020
Updated On: July 15, 2025
Tired of working your butt off while watching others (usually men) get promoted faster, paid better, and praised louder? You’re not imagining it. The gender wage gap is real—but you’re not powerless. The truth is: women who ask for raises are 54% more likely to get one than women who don’t.
The problem? Most of us were never taught how to ask confidently for what we’re worth—especially without sounding "pushy" or awkward. This post walks you through 5 no-fail steps to negotiate your raise with strategy and confidence—and make your boss actually glad you brought it up.
Why This Matters—Big Time
Let’s do the math. A one-time raise of just $5,000 (if invested or leveraged wisely) can create long-term financial ripple effects. But beyond the money, negotiating your worth is about self-respect, equity, and future growth. If you’re underpaid now, you’re likely to stay behind for years unless you break the pattern.
Source: I Will Teach You to be Rich
And if you’re a woman of color? The wage gap is even wider. For example:
A Black woman would need to work until August 22, 2019, just to match what a white man earned by December 31, 2018.
It’s not fair—but it’s fixable. Let's get into it.
💪 Step 1: Shift Your Mindset
Before you craft a single sentence, check your mindset. Ask yourself:
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Am I meeting or exceeding expectations at work?
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Have I contributed meaningfully to company results?
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Have I taken on new responsibilities, solved problems, or improved systems?
If yes, you’re not being “difficult” or “demanding” by asking for more—you’re being fair. Stop waiting to be noticed. Start owning your value.
📚 Step 2: Do Your Homework
Show up prepared. Here’s how:
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List out specific accomplishments (projects, savings, new clients, systems improved).
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Quantify your impact whenever possible (revenue, time saved, success metrics).
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Research what others in your role are paid using tools like Glassdoor Salary Calculator.
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Identify company pain points or goals—and map out how you can help solve them.
👉 Bonus Tip: Try the Briefcase Method—bring a “proposal” to the meeting with your impact + action plan.
📅 Step 3: Set the Meeting
Give your boss a heads-up:
“I’d love to schedule a meeting next month to discuss my performance and how I can grow with the company—including compensation.”
This gives you time to prep AND invites them to share what would make the conversation meaningful for them.
🎤 Step 4: Practice Like It’s a TED Talk
Yes, rehearse. Find a friend or mentor and practice:
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Stating your ask with confidence.
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Handling objections or hesitations.
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Ending with clarity and mutual next steps.
Ramit Sethi shares a powerful word-for-word script in this podcast with Tim Ferriss (start at 11:43).
💸 Step 5: Make the Ask
Walk into your meeting well-prepared, grounded, and confident. You’re not begging—you’re negotiating from a place of value and mutual success.
Worst-case scenario? They say no. Your move:
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Ask what it would take to meet expectations for a future raise.
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Get clear deliverables and a timeline.
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Set a follow-up date to revisit.
That’s not rejection—it’s a structured path to YES.
🔁 Want to Circle Back to This Later?
Here are some must-reads and resources to bookmark:
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📘 I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
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📘 Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher & William Ury
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📘 The Art of Persuasion by Bob Burg
Closing Thoughts
Asking for a raise can feel scary—but not asking costs you more in the long run. You don’t need to wait to be chosen or validated. You’re already doing the work—now it’s time to get paid for it.
👉 Ready to reclaim your worth? Browse our free empowerment tools for women.
