What this country (US),state or school needs more than anything else Essay

What this country (US),state or school needs more than anything else - Essay Example The gravest threat our country is facing lies to the turning point of extremism and technology. Our rivals have candidly acknowledged that they are in a quest for weapons of mass demolition, and evidence shows that they are doing so with fortitude. The United States will not let these efforts be successful. We will assemble our defenses in opposition to ballistic missiles and other ways of delivery. We will work together with other nations to refute, contain, and restrain our enemies’ hard work to acquire treacherous technologies. We will also augment our self-defense; our country will act using all ways against all forms of intimidation in time before they are wholly formed. We should be ready to crush all our enemies’ plans; we will use the best astuteness and proceed with consideration. If we will not do our best, history will criticize those who saw this approaching danger but failed to take action. In the new globe we inhabit, the only course to peace and defense i s the path prompt action. The unfolding upheaval over the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear aspirations, and the subsequent steps presented to the United States in dealing with this dispute is a debate that has taken a long period of time to conclude. With the exception of Iraq, no other disaster today so bedevils American policy makers, for a long period this case has provided the international community with irrefutable proof that the Iranian regime is pursuing a massive, multi-faceted endeavor, and in spite of United Nations censure (Kerr 37). In and of itself, the possibility of the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism acquiring the world’s most dangerous technology will be deeply troubling. These weapons, if manufactured can lead to both the mass destruction of property and loss of lives. Among the solutions to this issue are; military action that is deeply problematic. The use of force on Iran’s nuclear

Life Before the Internet and After the Internet Essay Example for Free

Life Before the Internet and After the Internet Essay Life was very different before the advent of the Internet. Communication methods were limited, stores were the only place to buy goods and services, and physical libraries were the only place to find information and research. The three biggest changes caused by the Internet are in communication, sales, and access to information. The Internet has changed the way people communicate. It allows for instant and reliable communication between people across the street or across the globe. In the past, the only ways to send documents were via fax and postal mail. Faxes were limited because messages could only include two-dimensional text and graphics. The postal mail faced these same issues, as well as the problem with the time it took to send a document through the mail. With the Internet, documents with text, graphics, audio files, video files, and interactive objects can now be transmitted quickly to anyone with a simple click of a button. This has changed the way business is done and has made it easier for companies to expand into new markets. On a smaller level, the Internet has allowed people to reconnect with old friends or make new ones. Chat rooms and social networks such as MySpace. com are becoming increasingly popular as people enjoy the sense of anonymity. The second way that the Internet has changed the world is in the buying and selling of goods and services. With the ability to purchase products online, the business world has changed drastically. Online stores are competing for business, while established brick-and-mortar stores have set up web-based stores as well. Customers can now purchase nearly everything they need from the comfort of their own homes. The Internet has also allowed for quick and easy comparisons of the prices and quality of products and services. The final and most important impact of the Internet is in the access of information. In the past, if you needed to find information on the history of Latin America, you had to go to your local library. Then, you were limited by which books and resources the library carried. With limited budgets, libraries cannot be expected to carry the best sources for every topic. Today, you can access information on any topic from the Internet through academic journals, online encyclopedias, book reviews, and more. In addition, you can find information on every television and radio program, historical events, current events, health issues, scientific discoveries, sporting events, and theories on everything from biomedicine to parenting. Finally, being able to access information online has led to colleges and universities offering degrees where it is not necessary for students to ever step into a classroom. Lectures, PowerPoint slides, notes, and required readings are available on the Internet. In conclusion, the Internet has significantly changed the world in the way people communicate, do business, and learn. The rapidity with which these changes took place suggests that more drastic and exciting changes are still to come. New and innovative uses for technology are developed every day, and the Internet is a major focus of these developments.

electric cars speech -- essays research papers

Just about everyone wants a car but no one Wants to pay for gas well now thanks to technology we don’t have to yes thanks to the discovery of the electronic car people can travel solely on the power of electricity but most people say that Unless some new type of battery is invented these electronic Car are nothing more than a dream but these are far more than a dream and very much so a part of reality But what does the future hold for these cars Well electricity is already a large part of our lives so to start using electricity powered cars would not be so much of a change from our normal routine as people may seem to think And they’re already many people using these electrical cars one man mentioned That he uses The Corbin Sparrow (a single person electric vehicle) As his primary commute vehicle he has a 50mi. Total commute To and from work mostly freeway so not that much stop and go traffic but once he gets to work his batteries drained about 50 percent but because the car does not require a special charging stations he can plug it into any standard three prong outlet So he pluges his car and at work and returns home on a 100 percent charge Saving gas and money every day allowing his car to pay for itself but Basically, here's what the Sparrow offers: †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Seats 1 person, and ample space for laptop, papers and small grocery run. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  13 lead acid batteries, different in detail from conventional automotive batteries, but not fundamentally so. The batteries provide for a very low center of gravity. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Fiberglass body for keeping the weight down while increasing the energy efficiency considerably. I'm averaging .16KwH/mile or thereabouts for my typical commute. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  110v charging that takes about 8 hours. However, in my typical usage, I get to 80+% in less than 2 hours, and recharging stations are nearly *everywhere* however an extension cord can be helpful †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  and a top speed of about 80mph now this may be good for the average driver or maybe-trips back and forth to and from work but what would you do for a long drive with no time in between to recharge this car This car would definitely not be the car for the job of but thats where our next car, comes in 25 February 2000 -- DaimlerChrysler's engineers might have mis... ...he same period. I found the RAV4-EV a thoroughly enjoyable driving experience the brief time I was behind the wheel. It handles well, accelerating as briskly as a 4 cylinder IC-engine version. It's quiet inside, though the low rolling-resistance tires are a bit noisy. It certainly brakes well as I learned when an inattentive driver tried to pull out in front us during our test drive around Disney World. The RAV4-EV will make an ideal intra-city commuter for many motorists. Since the average American workplace commute is under 50 miles round trip, the RAV4-EV can get you there and back again with style and comfort. Toyota's Armstock made an interesting comment near the end of our test drive. When asked when we can expect to see the RAV4-EV go on sale to consumers, he remarked that the technology is advancing so rapidly that he expects the current model to be as obsolete in thee years as a pesonal computer with an Intel 286 micro-processor is today. That's an exciting prospect, considering how well integrated the RAV4-EV is even now. Regardless of the pace of technological change, this is one nicely done SUV, one that makes a lot of sense right now, especially now. END STORY

The Effects of Cultural Assimilation: Conformity vs. Unorthodoxdy

The Effects of Cultural Assimilation: Conformity vs. Unorthodoxdy â€Å"Cultural assimilation is a complex and multifaceted process that first involves immigrants learning the language, cultural norms, and role expectations of the absorbing society, and further changes in attitudes†, or so it is explained by Dejun Su, Chad Richardson, and Guang-zhen Wang, in their article, â€Å"Assessing Cultural Assimilation of Mexican Americans: How Rapidly Do Their Gender-Role Attitudes Converge to the U. S. Mainstream? † (764).Throughout history and also present day society, cultural assimilation is easy to be identified, thanks to the â€Å"melting pot† quality of North America. Also, cultural assimilation is questioned about the effects it has on various groups of immigrants. Effects, such as the loss of one's identity, the struggle to attain success in the new country, the loss of one's heritage and unique background, conflict between family and friends and stereotypical discrimination in society, are demonstrated in varying degrees by the past and present generations of immigrants from the countries of Mexico, Japan and the Middle East.Throughout history, Mexican immigrants have continuously crossed the boarder into America for the chance of a new life. However, coming to a new country inevitably has it's consequences, and the pressures of assimilation are always present. During a time of great immigration of European citizens into the United States, Mexican immigrants were not so much of a concern throughout the whole country.Katherine Benton-Cohen supports this idea in her article â€Å"Other Immigrants: Mexicans and the Dillingham Commission of 1907-1911†, by explaining that, â€Å"Unlike Japanese immigration in California—which had set international diplomatic maneuvers in motion, in this period ‘American officials generally viewed Mexican immigration as a local labor issue,' not a national or international policy questionà ¢â‚¬  (39). As a result, the Mexican immigrants were not so quick as to forget their culture, but as long as they were willing to work for small wages, this resistance did not bother American's.Benton-Cohen also points out that â€Å"While the Mexicans are not easily assimilated, this is not of very great importance as long as most of them return to their native land after a short time†(Benton-Cohen, 38). This resulted in the effects that the Mexican immigrants were unable to attain higher wages, or to gain success in America. However, new effects came into account as time went on, and more Mexicans continuously moved to America. Compared to past Mexican immigrant challenges, present day effects have drastically changed.As the population of Mexican immigrants has grown overtime, so has the attention and concern towards their living and adaptation to a new country. It is believed that in the article â€Å"The Kids are (Mostly) Alright: Second-Generation Assimilation† w ritten by Richard Alba, Philip Kasinitz and Mary C. Waters, that â€Å"In general, the second generation is doing much better than its parents in educational attainment and is less concentrated in immigrant jobs† (763). However, this does not justify the fact that the pressures of cultural assimilation are much more developed in today's society than in the past.Alba then goes on to point out that â€Å"The overwhelming majority of the second generation is completely fluent in English†¦ Yet most of its members have not reached parity with native whites, and many experience racial discrimination† (Alba, 763). This statement goes to show that the newer society of Mexican Immigrants find that resisting cultural assimilation, is a greater risk than when the older generations came to find meager jobs. Another example of the effects the newer generation must face, would be the struggle to be successful in school.In the article, â€Å"Immigrant Families and Children (Re) Develop Identities in a New Context†, the author, Mariana Souto-Manning, talk about a young Hispanic boy she had in class, and the effects of his mother's attempt for cultural assimilation had on him. When Souto-Manning meets to discusses the boy, his mother confesses, â€Å"I decided to give him an American name†¦ so that no one would know he is Mexican. So that he would have a better chance to be successful in school than his brothers† (402).Based on experience, she thought that by changing the boys name from Idelbrando to the American name Tommy, she could save him from the â€Å"cultural stereotypes that might hinder his schooling experience† (Souto-Manning, 402). However, she also left him vulnerable to the effects of cultural assimilation that are the loss of one's identity, and the loss of one's heritage and unique background. Idelbrando is not the only Mexican immigrant who has been effected in this way. In fact, it is common for many Mexican immigra nts to change their name, but it doesn't stop there.If the belief that cultural assimilation makes it easier for Mexican immigrants to become successful, then the immigrants would need to change much more than their name's; going as far as to cast their own culture to the side and fully assimilate to the American culture. Another example of complete cultural assimilation and it's consequences, would be in Joy Kogawa's Novel Obasan. In this novel, the main character, Naomi, and her Japanese family are faced with the discrimination and cruel treatment of Japanese-Canadians that was practiced in Canada at the time of World Was II.Still, throughout all the hardship and pressures of conformity she was faced to go through, Naomi managed to keep much of her Japanese roots that were apart of her since birth. At one point in the novel, Naomi points out the differences in her and her brother's lunches and describes,â€Å"My lunch that Obasan made is two moist and sticky rice balls with a sal ty red plum in the center of each, a boiled egg to the side with a tight square of lightly boiled greens† (182). In this description, it is evident that Naomi remains accustomed to her Japanese upbringing.On the other hand, Naomi explains that â€Å"Stephen has peanut-butter sandwiches, an apple, and a thermos of soup† (Kogawa, 182). Therefore emphasizing that, unlike Naomi, her brother Stephen does not hold strong to his Japanese culture, and falls to the pressures of cultural assimilation. Naomi then goes on to explain how â€Å"She [Obasan] mends and re-mends his [Stephen] old socks and shirt which he never wears and sets the table with food, which he often does not eat. Sometimes he leaps up in the middle of nothing at all and goes off†¦ â€Å" (Kogawa, 259).Sadly, Naomi's explanation suggests that Stephen has gone as far as to shun anything to do with his Japanese Culture. Another example of Stephen's reluctance, is when Naomi asks Stephen what there Aunt Em ily is like, and he replies, â€Å"She's not like them† while â€Å"jerking his thumb at Uncle and Obasan† ( Kogawa, 259). Additionally, this behavior is an example of how cultural assimilation can effect the bonds of family and friends, and cause conflict between them. While the percentage of Japanese immigrants traveling to North America is ot as prominent as in the past, the Japanese culture is still ever present throughout society. As well, after World War II, Japanese immigrants seemed less of a threat, and their cultural differences slowly became more acceptable among society. However, the pressures of cultural assimilation are not completely eliminated for this culture. People of Japanese heritage living in North America, today, still feel the pressures of cultural assimilation, but mostly in the effect of stereotyping.For instance, in the article â€Å"Japanese International Female Students' Experience of Discrimination, Prejudice, and Stereotypes† by au thors Claude Bonazzo and Y. Joel Wong, it is acknowledged that â€Å"Portrayals of Japanese culture and the Japanese in recent Hollywood movies such as The Last Samurai, Lost in Translation, and Memoirs of a Geisha might play a role in shaping Americans' perceptions and stereotypes of Japanese international students† (paragraph 5).In otherwords, they believe that Americans may get the wrong impression of the Japanese culture, which create false myths and unrealistic stereotypes for people of Japanese culture. Bonazzo then goes to explain how â€Å"Another common stereotype that Asians living in the United States encounter is the racialization of their ethnicity†¦ Americans have the tendency to lump Asians of different ethnic groups into one homogenous racial category by downplaying ethnic differences† (Bonazzo, paragraph 16).Thus proving, that although the pressure to assimilate to the North American culture is not as strong, Japanese immigrants are now pressured with living up to false stereotypes that the consequences of over-assuming can create. Before September 11th, conflict between the cultures of Americans and Middle Eastern immigrants, mostly were the result of their clashing religious practices. While America is a country of religious freedom, the most common religion here was, and is Christianity. Likewise, the common religion practiced in the Middle East is Islam.However, although it is legally acceptable for Muslim immigrants to practice their religion in America, there was still controversy as to the acceptability among Christian Americans. For instance, in the article â€Å"Islam in America†, written by authors Ghosh, Abel, Lieblich, Scherer, Newton-Small, Dias, Steinmetz and Ford, a Christian preacher, Reverend Wayne Devrou, claims that â€Å"The political objective of Islam is to dominate the world with its teachings†¦ and to have domination of all other religions militarily† (paragraph 4).This idea, howeve r, is not true, because it is often the case that Americans misunderstand the religion of Islam, and in some cases, it is the Christian extremists who try to push their religion onto the Middle Eastern immigrants. Gosh then goes on to explain how, â€Å"To be a Muslim in America now is to endure slings and arrows against your faith–not just in the schoolyard and the office but also outside your place of worship and in the public square, where some of the country's most powerful mainstream religious and political leaders unthinkingly (or worse, deliberately) conflate Islam with terrorism and savagery† (Ghosh, paragraph 12).This explanation illustrates the effects of Middle Eastern immigrants not assimilating, and the conflict is causes between the two cultures. Then on September 11th, 2001, the cause of conflict between Middle Eastern immigrants and Americans drastically changed. When a group of terrorist of Middle Eastern ethnicity, were responsible for the death of th ousands and the devastation of the whole country of the United States, an idea called Islamophobia settled into the minds of many American's.In his article, â€Å"Confronting Islamophobia in the United States: framing civil rights activism among Middle Eastern Americans†, Erik Love states that â€Å"Islamophobia’ is a problematic neologism, and the one that is currently the most common term used to refer to bigotry, discrimination, policies and practices directed towards Islam and a racialized group of people that includes Muslims†, which verifies that after 9/11 the discrimination of Islam is not the main focus of terrified Americans (402).Americans instead focus on the distinction of appearance that is particular to the Middle East race. Love also argues that, â€Å"Islamophobia, in short, affects a racialized group of people- Middle Eastern Americans- /that, like any racialized group, is in fact comprised of an irreducibly diverse collection of individuals w ho identify with many different ethnicities, nationalities and religions† which in other words means that not all Middle Eastern immigrants are a terrorist or a threat in anyway to the United States (Love, 402).In fact, when first noticing the presence of a person of a Middle Eastern race, for some Americans, the word Muslim no longer automatically comes to mind. Terrorist is the word that is now associated with this race, and because it all is based on the appearance of the race, no amount of cultural assimilation can extinguish this effect of stereotypical discrimination still present today.Furthermore, because the effects of cultural assimilation depend on the circumstance, the time period, the culture and the person, each output is different as to whether keeping a strong hold on to one's unique culture when pressured by a new environment is the right thing to do. Also, as time progresses, so does the idea that complete cultural assimilation is not necessary for immigrants to survive in a new country; and more people are becoming proud of their cultural background.In fact, on the website, Thinkexist. com a quote by Donna Taylor can be found to support the idea that our country is â€Å"†¦ no longer a melting pot where assimilation is the goal, but a great mosaic where each culture adds its uniqueness to make the whole better† (Donna Taylor Quotes). Finally, although Cultural Assimilation is still present today, there is less pressure to conform to one's surrounding, and overall, there is a more open-minded feeling towards the blends and coincidence of different cultures.

Human Resource Is the Most Important Assets in an Organization Essay

Assets can be defined as â€Å"tangible and intangible resources of a firm which can be drawn upon by a the firm when required to achieve its objective(s)† (Ray and Ramakrishnan, 2006). Tangible assets include financial and physical assets such as machineries and manufacturing plants while examples of intangible assets are branding, company reputation, technological know-how and human resource (Noe et al., 2012). Human resource is the most important asset of an organisation. Using studies which showed that effective use of human resources contributed to better corporate performance and/or productivity, this essay attempts to show that this intangible asset is a key driver in the survival and competitiveness of an organisation. For organisations to be successful, they need to survive and obtain an advantage over their competitors. There are many ways to attain a competitive advantage, including patented product and process technologies, protection and regulation of domestic markets and access to financial resources (Pfeffer, 1994). However, the aforementioned contributors of success are deemed to be less relevant in today’s societies because technologies can be imitated, markets are increasingly globalised and global capital markets ever more opened for worldwide movement of financial resources (Pfeffer, 1994). Instead, in today’s organisations, it is widely accepted that employees are key strategic resources for companies because their knowledge, expertise, ideas and services drive innovations, steer product developments and build relationships with clients. This in turn increase companies performances through multiple means such as driving profits, increasing productivity and building large customer bases. For example, Sears, a multinational US company, attributed its transformational success through its believe in the 3†³Cs† of â€Å"Compelling Place to Work†, â€Å"Compelling Place to Shop† and followed by â€Å"Compelling Place to Invest† (Yeung and Berman, 1997). The senior management at Sears believed that by optimising its human resources (through shaping of employee’s attitudes, increasing motivation and skills), it will become an attractive venue for customers to shop with high level of satisfaction. Consequently, it will be a good investment option due to strong financial results (through increase in customer expenditure) and productivity (through optimisation of human resources) (Yeung and Berman, 1997). Strategically valuable resources may give companies a competitive edge. Bartlett and Ghoshal (2002) argued that there is an evolving corporate strategy from one that competes for markets and products, to one that compete for resources and competencies, to the current strategy of competing for talents and dreams. Resources are deemed to be valuable when they cannot be easily imitated, their value depreciate slowly, they cannot be easily substituted and they are relatively better than competitors with similar resources (Collis and Montgomery, 2008). While these resources may be tangible or acquired capabilities, it is the view of this author that it is people that best fit the described characteristics of valuable resources. Creativity and expertise of an employee may not be easily duplicated. It takes time to groom talents, and their experiences and competencies cannot be easily replaced. Thus, to gain a competitive edge, companies need to invest in the hearts and minds of the key success factor – human resource. Many studies have shown that effective HRM (such as investments in training and strategic HRM) had led to increase in company performances, through proxy indicators such as increased profits return, labour productivity, and service quality. In the employee-customer-profit chain model devised by senior management at Sears, they predicted that a 5 unit increase in employee attitude will drive 1.3 unit increase in customer impression that will in turn increase revenue growth by 0.5% (Rucci et al, 1998). When put into context, in 1998, a 4% rise in employee and customer satisfaction translated to an increase in more than $200 million of revenues over a 12-month period (Rucci et al, 1998). Other than the example on Sears, Choudhury (2010) showed that there is a positive relationship between investment in human capital and company performance in India’s information technology sector. Similar positive correlation can also be observed from studies analysing quality of human capital an d sales revenue per employee in Romanian software companies (Camelia, 2012) and perceived effectiveness of rewards on corporate performance in Nigerian Banks (Ojo, 2011). As an important asset of the organisation, human resources need to be managed properly. HRM encompasses a multitude of responsibilities including recruitment, training and development, benefits, health and services (Noe et al., 2012). There are many case studies that have demonstrated that a highly-skilled workforce and appropriate training of employees play a key role in increased company performances. A survey done on 62 retail stores showed that percentage of personnel trained in their designed training programme correlated with the stores’ performances (Russell et al., 1985). Another study done in 15 manufacturing sectors of seven European Union countries suggested that intermediate- and highly-skilled workers increases labour productivity, which is a proxy for companies performances (Corvers, 1997). It is envisioned that with training, employees will be equipped with job-related skill sets and competencies. A company with cutting edge technology needs employees with the know-how to operate the machineries. A retail shop may distinguishes itself from another shop that sells similar merchandise through quality services that helps build a brand name and large clientele. Employees may learn how to serve customers through training programmes. A study of 2003-2006 Training Top 100 survey report published by the Training Magazine showed that there is a positive correlation between training expenditure and operating performances (Liao et al., 2011). This supports the general perception that training is an important HRM tool for companies to survive in the increa singly competitive market. Human resource is a key contributor to the success of organisations today. Examples used in this essay reinforced the argument that human resource is likely to the most important corporate asset as it is a unique resource that drives companies performance. In order to effectively tap on this valuable resource, companies need to train employees so that their potential can be harnessed.

Thomas Jeffersons Conflict with the Handling of Slavery essays

Thomas Jefferson's Conflict with the Handling of Slavery essays Early in his life, former United States President Thomas Jefferson wrote on his gravestone: "Here was buried, Thomas Jefferson, Author of the Declaration of Independence of the Statue of Virginia for religious freedom, Father of the University of Virginia." He wrote these texts at the beginning of his political career, but wanted them to be placed on his gravestone. This request implies that he still believed in the moral Rumors have been circulating for years that, despite Thomas Jefferson's reputed disdain for interracial relationships, he actually had sexual intercourse with a female slave that he owned and fathered several of her children (Truth Establishment, 2004). DNA testing and historical records reveal that it is very possible that Jefferson fathered all of the six According to historians, it is unlikely that Hemings would have engaged in relations with another after being connected with her master in such a way (Truth Establishment, 2004). Few male slaves would be willing to risk engaging in a sexual relationship with Sally Hemings after it was known that Jefferson took such a special liking to her. After all, this is a time in history when slaves were killed for simply looking at white men or women, and for making advances at the object of their master's affection. Regarding the controversial issue, Robert Bianco of the USA Today, asked the following thought provoking question: "But were they in love' Is love even possible when one person is unable to say no' (Truth Establishment, Back then, black women were in no position to refuse (Truth Establishment, 2004). Slaves were denied free will, and they especially were not in a position to turn down advances from their masters. The slave masters frequently engaged in domination and sexual harassment. In Jefferson's own book, "Notes on the State of Virginia" his feelings of contempt for blacks, Indians and race mixing are well-...

How to Ask Your Boss for a Raise

How to Ask Your Boss for a Raise You’re sitting at your desk, working hard as always, when your boss walks up, smiling. â€Å"Congratulations,† she beams. â€Å"I’ve decided to give you a 25 percent raise!† Wow, you think, as you mentally run through the list of people you want to thank: your agent, your deity, your long-suffering spouse. Suddenly you snap back to reality, and realize it didn’t actually happen. No one walked up and handed you one of those oversized prop checks, just for being you. (Darn it!) But part of your fantasy could come true- with a bit of research, a little work, and a lot of confidence. Asking for a raise is something you shouldn’t take lightly. In this economic climate and the chronic outbreak of corporate belt-tightening, it’s easier than ever for bosses and executives to shrug their shoulders and say â€Å"I would if I could, but†¦.† That means it’s on you to show how you’ve gone above and beyond, or how your prod uctivity has been an asset to the company in your time there. According to PayScale.com, 75% of people who ask for a raise get one. Be one of the 75%!Before you start the process, ask yourself a few questions about where things stand at work right now. Have your responsibilities changed recently? Are you taking more initiative than ever? [via PayScale]If you don’t feel like you’re quite at that point yet, that doesn’t mean you won’t be soon. Be more proactive at work, taking the lead on projects that involve other people, and start reaching beyond the limits of your job description. If you are ready to start advocating for that raise, then here are some steps you can follow.Step 1:  Do Your HomeworkStep 2:  Settle on a Goal AmountStep 3:  Pick Your TimingStep 4:  Ask for a Meeting With Your Boss.Step 5:  Gather All of Your InformationStep 6: AskStep 7: Have a Plan BStep 1: Do Your HomeworkThe best tool at your disposal here is information œinformation about you, information about your industry, information about what other people make doing the same things you do. The great thing about this is that we have so much of this info right at our fingertips these days. There are entire websites out there devoted to how much people make in different industries, and what they can expect to make over the course of a career. It would be nice to think that we’re all priceless professionals, who don’t have a dollar figure. Yet in this cynical world, we all have a (professional) worth†¦and it’s absolutely essential to know yours. Let’s look at a few of the sites that can help you find out.The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics: Sure, it looks like dry government data- and, well, it is. But it’s also a wealth of information about your industry: median salaries, career outlooks over the next ten years, and basic career requirements.PayScale.com: On the front page, it says in big letters, â€Å"What am I worth?† That’s a sign that you’re on the right track in your research. You can search by industry or job title, and download free reports that give you salary data about your field.Glassdoor.com: This site has industry and salary data too, but it also has company data- including anonymous reviews from people who’ve worked there. So you get hard data about what people similar to you are making, but it can also give you insight into how your own company works behind the scenes. And if the raise request process doesn’t work out, it has some great resources for a job hunt.Step 2: Settle on a Goal AmountOnce you have a ballpark figure in mind thanks to your extensive research online, it’s time to start refining that a bit. You should have a specific goal in mind for your salary negotiations. You may or may not reach that in the end, but you need a figure for your manager to work with. If you let the other person set the number, y ou risk low-balling yourself. And you really don’t want to find out later that your boss actually would have gone higher, but didn’t because you seemed satisfied with the lower amount. Moral of the story: you set the narrative here.Here are 3 tips to keep in mind as you figure out your amount.1. Be realistic.Remember your research, and stay within shouting distance of what people in your role make at other companies, or what people have historically made in your role at your own company. Unless you’re about to sign a major professional baseball contract, asking for crazy amounts of cash (and a shiny new BMW convertible) will get you laughed out of your negotiation meeting.2. Be specific.Remember, you’re setting the conversation here. If you throw out a specific number or percentage of the raise, you open up a dialogue with your manager.3. Be firm.Once you’ve settled on an amount (or at least a narrow range), commit to it. The last thing you want is to be winging it once you have your boss’s attention.Okay, so you’ve figured out what you’re asking for. Let’s move on to step 3.Step 3: Pick Your TimingIf your company just released a disastrous earnings report, then now might not be the best time to ask for a raise. If you or your boss is overwhelmed in the middle of a giant project, now might not be the best time to ask for a raise. You want to pick a time when the powers that be might be more receptive to giving you more cash. This is not to say that you can’t ask for a raise if things are shaky with the company. As with everything else, there may not be a â€Å"perfect† time where all the planets align for your request, and you shouldn’t put it off indefinitely. But if you’re conscious about what’s going on in general, you can find a time when people aren’t just going to dismiss your request right off because things are terrible. It’s a matter of shif ting your opportunity window. Also, knowing what’s going on can help you frame your request: â€Å"I know things are a little rough right now with our industry, but I’d like to talk about a merit-based raise.†With many companies, raises and bonuses are tied pretty closely to the annual review process. Again, there’s nothing stopping you from taking this outside of the regular channels, but if you align your ask with a time of year where your company might be more amenable to adjusting your pay, it could increase your chances.Step 4: Ask for a Meeting With Your BossNo carrier pigeon necessary: just an invite that blocks out time for you and your boss to talk about this without distractions. There’s no need for cloak-and-dagger secrecy. A simple â€Å"meeting to discuss salary† subject works fine.Step 5: Gather All of Your InformationRemember when you did all that research on salaries? Time to bring that back, and keep it in mind for the discu ssion with your boss. You should also:Update your resume. It’s probably changed since you started, and the manager in charge of your raise may not have ever read your resume in the first place. So it’s time to rebuild or refine your resume, tailored to the points you want to emphasize in your raise request (skills you’ve picked up, tasks you’ve taken on, accomplishments you’ve accumulated). Bring a copy to the meeting with your boss.Make a list of all of the talking points you want to hit in your discussion.Practice what you want to say. It can feel silly to talk to yourself in the bathroom mirror, but asking for a raise can be a stressful situation. And in stressful situations, we don’t always remember to say what we needed or wanted to say. So if you practice ahead of time, it’ll be easier to stick to your points when you’re asking your boss.Step 6: AskArmed with your accomplishments and your raise-worthy activities on the jo b, gather up your confidence and walk into the meeting with your manager. There are some do’s and don’ts as you take this step:Don’t be aggressive or defensive. Keep the tone civil and professional at all times.Don’t make it about you as a person- make it about you as an employee.Don’t try to make it about what you want/need. If you are having personal financial issues, or want to finance Mr. Fluffington’s cat botox regimen, none of that matters. Focus on your worthiness as a professional.Do take it seriously. Even if you’re buddies with your boss, you want to treat this with the utmost seriousness. This is your salary we’re talking about! You want your boss to take this request seriously, so you need to set that tone.Don’t be afraid to talk yourself up. It’s not bragging to list your accomplishments and explain why you deserve a raise. You should be a confident advocate for yourself.Step 7: Have a Plan BSometimes the answer will be â€Å"no,† or the amount will come in way under that you were hoping to get. If that’s the case, you have some follow-up decisions to make. If you feel like your company doesn’t value you, and now you have a dollar figure against that, it’s time to ask yourself if you’d like to stay, or try your luck elsewhere.If the answer is no and you have no interest in jumping ship, don’t take it personally. This is a business discussion with business reasons behind it. It’s not a rejection of you (even thought it can certainly feel that way). Before you even walk into the meeting with your boss, know what your plan is for each potential outcome. Don’t lose heart- you can try this again in the future. Ideally, your boss explained why the answer was a no. And keep this open as a dialogue: you can ask whether there’s anything you can do to set yourself up for a better raise on the next go-round.The most important t hing with asking for a raise is that you go into it with every possible reason and justification at your disposal. The raise request is a not-so-distant cousin to the new job salary negotiation, in that you don’t get what you don’t ask for and you don’t want to have any regrets later on. Good luck seizing your opportunity!