💰 Want To Be An Employee But Get Paid Like A BOSS? My Playbook is HERE!

There is usually a simple plan or methodology to achieve most things in life. This includes being the best paid employee.

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If you missed last week’s newsletter, it was a takeover by Molly from my marketing team. I am sure you will agree that she did a great job writing about her move over from the fashion division of my group and into life working on my personal brand and other corporate businesses.

So as Molly wrote about life with a new boss, I thought I would run with the theme and talk about what I believe makes the perfect employee. (Queue nervous noises from my staff!)

A lot is written and talked about what makes the perfect entrepreneur. How to be a great business owner But the reality is that 99% of people are not going to be business owners; they are going to be employees. But they still deserve to be as successful and happy as possible, so how can they perform at their best and give themselves the best opportunity for career success and maximum income potential?

I created a document earlier this year to present my core values to all new employees during their onboarding process and to remind the team of them on an ongoing basis. (If you want a copy, then reply to this email and I will send it to you.) These are my beliefs on traits, attitudes, and mentalities that will build a great business. But the key takeaway for me is that every one of the values can apply to a business, its CEO, or any one of its individual employees.

I open the presentation by saying, ‘We are entrepreneurial’. And I really, truly believe that being entrepreneurial is a character trait that can be embodied by everyone in life, from the owner to the receptionist. It is a set of beliefs and a pattern of actions that will propel anyone, in any area, forward to a better and more successful life.

And by the time you get to the end of this newsletter, I hope you understand that and feel the same way. There is a way to behave and perform to create value, achieve success, be happy, and grow. It shouldn’t matter where you are in the food chain if you want to do it.

WARNING: I have written this as a general and generic article about what I see as problems in the workplace and ideas for success. It was not written with any one particular person in mind! So if you read things here that you think are criticisms aimed at you, well, maybe it’s time to pull your socks up!!

The Basics

Time keeping. Manners. Choice of clothing. Effort levels. Consistency. Commitment. SHOWING UP!

If you can’t get these bits right, then there really is nowhere to go from here. But believe me, if you do get them right, then you are already ahead of probably 80% of the rest of the job market.

9am start means 9am start! not wandering through the door at 9.10am. Making a coffee, catching up with a fellow waster about how smashed you got at the weekend, strolling over to your computer, and thinking about what you are going to do as the clock strikes 10am!

Got a bit of a headache? Man up. If you are well enough to engage in your social life, then you are well enough to get into the office.

Build a personal brand

Just because you work for someone else doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be standing out and creating value as an individual.

The stronger your brand, the more opportunities that will come your way, both in your personal and work capacities. The more people who know you, the more they will come to you, whether that is potential sales opportunities for the business you work for or whether it is recruiters coming to you to offer you a killer new role.

I am not saying that everyone should be rushing off to create a YouTube channel, but you absolutely MUST be doing something to build your brand.

It can be as simple as ensuring you have an up-to-date and active LinkedIn profile where you regularly post industry news to keep your peers abreast of what is going on. Or it could be as fancy as your own newsletter and podcast.

Boss doesn’t like you on social media? Does the company want to censor you? Ask yourself if they are really providing the opportunities you want, as they may not be the organisation you should be part of to develop yourself.

Make yourself valuable

If you think of your role as nothing more than following the letters of your job description, then you should expect nothing more from your employer than a simple (never-growing) pay slip at the end of each month.

What can you do to go above and beyond?

Mentor a junior employee? Offer to be a key holder in times of emergency? Create and manage the social media profile the business is lacking. Come in on a Saturday to help with an office furniture move. There will always be a never-ending list of things that need doing.

You don’t want to do more? Then you are either in the wrong organisation and need to move, or you are just the wrong person and should probably stop reading this now!

Never stop learning

If you want to earn more, if you want to be better, if you want to be more valuable, then you need to learn more. To level up your skills.

If you are a regular reader of this letter or a follower of me in general, then you will know my obsession with learning. Whether that is courses, books, podcasts, seminars, or whatever I can get my hands on.

And it is just the same for employees, too.

Getting from junior to senior, or from £30k a year to £70k a year, isn’t rocket science. It is just a knowledge gap that needs filling. The more you learn, the more you can earn.

List the skills you need to learn and go to your boss and ask them to pay for, or contribute to, your education. If they say no, start sending out that CV to a more suitable and progressive organisation!

Generate Income

If you work for an organisation and you want to earn substantially more than you do right now, then this is the single most important part of this newsletter you need to understand.

There is a very clear ceiling to what you can ever earn.

It doesn’t matter what your role is or how senior you become; there is a very clear structure for pay and clearly defined salary brackets across the job market.

Sure, there will always be organisations that pay 10% more here or give a few extra perks there, but the core job will only ever pay what the market justifies.

For example, if a receptionist pays £28k a year, then give or take a few grand, you will never get more than this, other than inflationary increases.

A management accountant pays £45k a year. Sure, you may find a role at £50k, maybe even £60k, but there isn’t one out there to pay you £140k.

So what am I saying? Are you doomed to a pay check that isn’t where you want it to be?

NO! Not at all.

I am saying that if you confine your thinking to that of the specific role you are employed for, then you can bang on at your boss as much as you want about pay rises, but there is going to be a limit to how much that is going to be.

If you want to earn substantially more than you need to, start generating income for your company and getting a slice of it.

Let’s look at my businesses: finance, EPOS, property acquisition, sports bars, to name a few.

So what do my products and sales opportunities look like in those businesses?

I want borrowers who are looking for loans, hospitality venues who are looking for EPOS systems, individuals who want to sell their houses quickly, and office parties who want to have them in my venues.

So if you worked for me and want to earn more money, then you need to go bring me some opportunities in those spaces.

How do you find them? Well, that is down to you to put the effort in! Go on social media, work through your friends to see who may be relevant, attend networking events, and spend your Saturdays knocking on doors. You either want this or you don’t. I didn’t say it was easy or wouldn't take extra work, but there is a clear path to making it happen.

As well as earning your employer money, can you save them money too? And then take a slice of the savings.

Recruitment fees are frighteningly expensive. If your employer is recruiting for a new role at the moment, do you know someone who could fill that role and therefore save your boss a recruitment fee?

Have a friend who is an insurance broker? Or a contract cleaner? Or some other service that your company uses? Start working through your phone book and think about who you can connect with.

And you know what I am going to say here by now. Your boss won’t share income with you? Won't they pay you a bonus for helping them save? It’s time to move on and find a boss who will. Maybe that is me!

That’s five clear strategies for being a few steps closer to being the perfect employee. Perfect in the eyes of your employer and able to provide yourself with the opportunities you want and the income you deserve.

The bar has been set low. There is unlimited opportunity out there for you in the right organisations.

If you show up with a positive attitude, communicate well, behave with transparency and honesty, and have a killer work ethic, then you are already off to the races!

The UK's Halloween market is growing rapidly with significant potential for sales and marketing opportunities, and it's been expanding since last year. But when we compare it to the United States, we Brits don't seem as obsessed with October 31st.

In 2022, Americans went all out on Halloween, spending a staggering $10 billion – yes, $10 billion!! That's a frighteningly exciting amount of money for just one day of dressing up and spooky shenanigans. So you need to be asking yourself what you can do to get a piece of that (pumpkin?!) pie?…..

Some might find it a bit surprising to see such massive spending on a 'holiday' that's all about dressing up, trick-or-treating, and haunted house tours. But who are we to judge? I even got Nele a Yoda costume, maybe because she holds most of the power in our house. Anything that brings good memories, fun, and something to look forward to, is worth it! So getting thinking about how you can tap in to those spooky desires, whatever line of business you are in.

In the true spirit of Halloween, I wanted to put my own twist on the classic 'trick or treat.' No costumes or door-knocking are required; this is a trick and treat that brings something special to your inbox. So, which one will it be? Trick or Treat… I'll give you both!

This isn't your ordinary trick, there are no scares here. It's a real trick – a valuable nugget of wisdom for business and life. A key to success that keeps fear and tough situations at bay. Here we go:

In the fast-paced world of business, Fearless Resilience is a game-changer. There are two crucial elements to this:

Self-Confidence:

  • Continuous Learning: Expand your knowledge and skills, boosting your confidence to tackle unexpected challenges.

  • Mentorship: Surround yourself with mentors for guidance and insight, enhancing your decision-making confidence.

Pivot Plan:

  • Diverse Skill Sets: Develop versatile skills, offering other options during business challenges.

  • Contingency Planning: Establish a strong business contingency plan, identifying risks and strategies for a quick rebound.

By mastering "Fearless Resilience," you'll find that nothing in the world of business is too scary. Instead, it's an opportunity to prove your adaptability and come out stronger after every challenge. Remember, the trick is the belief in your abilities and your readiness to pivot when necessary - get up, move on, win!

Now, for the treat – no sugar coating here. It's all about my business advice and actionable facts to implement effective business and sales strategies. Whether you joined my Q&A session last Sunday or missed out, you'll find valuable insights here. I answered many of your entrepreneurial and business questions, and for those who couldn't make it, here's a sweet nugget of advice to give your business the sugar rush it needs for success.

Sales Strategies to Sweeten Your Success:

  1. Masterful Marketing: Being a top-notch marketer makes sales easier by attracting and engaging customers effectively.

  2. Pipeline Power: Maintain a robust list of prospects to reduce sales pressure and increase success rates.

  3. Negotiation Ninja: Hone your negotiation skills to reach mutually beneficial agreements with clients.

  4. Know Your Audience: Define your target audience and understand their needs and wants.

  5. Selling Skillset: Develop a versatile skill set to succeed in various sales scenarios.

  6. Training Triumph: Invest in ongoing training to stay on top of sales strategies, learning opportunities, and techniques.

  7. Relationship Building: Create strong and long-lasting client and customer relationships by prioritising trust and giving a great customer experience.

  8. Promotion Caution: Be careful when offering promotions or discounts to ensure they align with long-term value.

  9. Trust-Building Testimonials: Show positive customer experiences to instil trust and reduce risk for potential clients.

From errand boy to influencer marketing entrepreneur. Listen to Emilio's journey that took him from a £40 commission to a full-time career in marketing and talent. Discover his strategy for online presence and content creation. Explore the intriguing dynamics of romantic and strategic partnerships, and uncover the secrets of influencer-brand collaborations for a win-win in the ever-evolving world of talent management. Don't miss it! Get the full episode of this week’s The Matt Haycox Show here.

P.S…… I know some of you are big fans of this newsletter because you email me and tell me about it. But you still aren’t sharing it with your friends! So use the link below to spread the word and you’ll qualify for some goodies soon!

Ta.