I know not everyone will agree with me, but I think, one of the most important things a person can aspire to is financial freedom. Financial freedom doesn’t mean making millions or owning a yacht, it means that you live life free from worry over finances.
I grew up in a home that was almost always under financial stress, and from a young age I understood how much money—or the lack of it—shapes your sense of safety and your options in life.
That’s why I care so deeply about women being able to take care of themselves financially.
I often talk about entrepreneurship as one path to that kind of control, but it’s not the only one. If you’ve chosen a more traditional career, you can (and should!) be intentional about your growth and your income. You may not own the company, but you can still take ownership of your trajectory.
Earning more money rarely happens by accident. It happens when you decide to stop waiting and start steering.
If you’re looking for real, practical ways to get a raise this year (without burning yourself out) these strategies will help you take back some control.
1. Decide That a Raise Is a Goal, Not a Hope
Most people want a raise. Very few people decide to pursue one.
There’s a difference.
A goal has a number attached to it. A timeline. A reason it matters. When you get clear on what you’re working toward, it changes how you show up, what you prioritize, what you say yes to, and what you stop tolerating.
This is one of the most overlooked ways to get a raise, because people typically think someone else is in charge of their fate. It starts with you.
Ask yourself how much more you want to earn, by when, and what that increase would actually change for you. Clarity doesn’t make you entitled. It makes you intentional.
2. Have the Conversation Early—Not at Review Time
One of the biggest mistakes people make is waiting until performance review season to bring up money. By then, decisions are often already made.
Instead, schedule a conversation early in the year and be direct. You don’t need a dramatic speech. You need clarity and professionalism. Try something like: “One of my goals this year is to elevate my salary. I’m ready to level up in my role, and I’d love your guidance on what I should be focusing on to make that happen.”
This is one of the smartest ways to get a raise because it turns your manager into a partner instead of a judge. You’re no longer guessing what matters, you’re asking for the roadmap. And if the answer is uncomfortable or unclear, that’s still valuable information.
3. Improve How You Work, Not Just How Hard You Work
Working harder is rarely what earns raises. Working better does. But here is the kicker, “better” in this instance is entirely tied to the opinion of whoever can give you a raise.
So for instance, if you’re my social media manager and you think your job is to post every single day, on every single platform you might spam 100 posts a week and think you’re crushing it. But if I think “better” is engagement with the community and making sure they always know when our next live event is, and you never really focus on those things, I might think your work is only adequate. That’s why it’s so important to have that conversation with your leader to understand what “better” looks like to them so you can crush your goals and be compensated for it.
This is the year to look closely at your processes. Where are things inefficient? What causes unnecessary friction? What systems could be simplified or improved?
People who earn more money tend to make life easier for the people around them. They solve problems before they’re assigned. They reduce chaos. They bring clarity. They achieve the ideal results.
4. Invest in Yourself (Confidence Is Part of the Skill Set)
Confidence isn’t a personality trait. It’s a skill. And like any skill, it can be developed.
When you invest in your personal growth (your mindset, your communication, your decision-making) you change how you show up at work. You speak more clearly. You hesitate less. You stop second-guessing yourself in rooms where you belong.
This is where coaching can be transformative not because something is wrong with you, but because you’re ready to move with more intention and less friction. People who earn more often aren’t smarter. They’re clearer. And clarity compounds.
Have you ever tried a coaching program? We have two different ways you can elevate this year.
5. Track Your Wins Like a Professional
If you’re not documenting your accomplishments, you’re relying on someone else’s memory and that’s not a strategy.
Keep a simple running list of projects you’ve led, problems you’ve solved, results you’ve contributed to, and positive feedback you’ve received. This isn’t about ego. It’s about evidence.
Being prepared with specifics is one of the most practical ways to get a raise, especially when compensation conversations arrive sooner than expected.
6. Expand Your Impact Before You Ask for More Money
Raises are easier conversations when your role has already grown.
Look for opportunities to take ownership of a process or project, mentor someone newer, or step into leadership in small but visible ways. This doesn’t mean doing more work forever for free. It means being strategic about where you stretch.
You’re demonstrating readiness for the next level before you ask to be paid for it.
7. Start Acting Like the Person Who Earns More
This one is subtle but powerful.
How does the next-level version of you communicate, set boundaries, manage time, and make decisions? How does future-you dress and speak and navigate the world?
Often, the raise comes after you start operating at that level—not before. When you treat your work, your time, and yourself with more authority, other people tend to follow suit. You don’t have to pretend. You just have to practice. Want to take a deeper dive into this subject? Listen to this podcast I recorded all about it.
The Bottom Line
There are many ways to get a raise, but they all come back to the same core idea: intention.
You don’t need to overhaul your entire life. You don’t need to burn yourself out. You just need to decide that your career and your financial future deserve to be handled with purpose.
