Kim跟朋友Anita一起出去吃饭。
K: Hey, Anita! Great to see you!
A: Long time no see! I’m so glad you had time to meet for lunch!
K: I’ve missed you. How have you been?
A: Pretty good. The boys are doing well in school and John is enjoying his new job. You?
K: Pretty much the same. Still working killer hours and still angling for that promotion. I have a hunch I’m going to move up to vice president this year.
A: That’s great!
Kim和Anita显然是很久没见了，互相询问近况。Kim说，自己还是没日没夜地干，work killer hours；争取提升，angle for the promotion. Kim还说，I have a hunch, 有直觉，今年能升成公司副总。
K: How’s your career going? Last time we spoke you said you were trying to get a raise.
A: Yep. That’s the plan. I mean, I’ve certainly put in the hours. I’m definitely one of the most productive members of the company and I feel I contribute a lot.
K: So? What’s the problem? Why haven’t you gone in there and demanded a raise?
A: I just can’t work up the confidence to do it. I know I need to, and I know I need it, but it’s tough.
Anita想涨工资，可又不知道怎么开口。她说自己就是鼓不起勇气。I just can’t work up the confidence to do it. Kim是怎么指点她的呢？
K: OK sister, we are going to figure this out together. If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s asking for what I need.
A: I don’t even know where to begin. My son needs braces and his school tuition has just gone up. We really need to get a new car and even the dog has needs we can’t pay for.
K: OK, stop right there. You can’t base your salary request according to your needs. The company isn’t a charity and if you go in and say, “I need” it’s not going to work.
第一，不能跟老板说，我缺钱，因为公司不是慈善机构。Anita说，儿子需要整牙，学费涨价，家里需要换新车，结果被Kim叫停。
A: I could probably make more money if I changed companies.
K: There you go…that’s a powerful argument. But leave any threats till the last minute. What you need to do is stress your value.
A: I do have to consider the current global economic slowdown. Our company has been taking quite a hit.
K: That’s true. You have to take those factors into account. But you also have to get paid at a fair rate.
Anita说，如果换个工作，工资肯定会增加。Kim觉得这是一个很好的理由，但建议说，leave any threats till the last minute. 威胁是最后的杀手锏。Kim说，what you need to do is stress your value. 要强调自己对公司的价值。