How To Earn That First Big Raise: 2 Stories of Life-Changing Money
Your first big raise can feel like a fantasy — but 2026 might finally be the year it happens. A meaningful salary increase means getting ahead on savings, paying off debt, and actually breathing at the end of the month.
The catch? Raises don't fall from the sky. They go to the people who ask strategically, show up with a plan, and make themselves impossible to ignore.
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Here's how a couple successful people have done it -- and how you can too.
Cha-Ching: Your First Big Pay Bump
"I was working at a Top Three tech company and took a lateral pay move to go to a hot startup with no benefits," explained Brenda Christensen, founder of Stellar Public Relations. "After becoming a key player in their success, contributing $1 million in revenue as a result of my efforts, I subtly brought up the fact that their competitor and number one brand in the market had offered me a position. I was offered equity and my salary doubled as a result."
She only touched on it briefly, so you may have missed it: Christensen quantified the value she had created for her employer. When you can demonstrate the dollar value that you've created for your company, you demonstrate your own value to them -- and the cost of losing you.
Justin Marcus, co-founder of Big 4 Talent, highlighted that in a sales position, it becomes much easier to prove (and get paid for) the value you've created.
"When I started my career at a staffing firm, it was a sales job and my base salary was $45,000. In the first few months I didn't earn much in commissions as I was learning how to make placements," he said. "Several months later I made a few bigger placements and my income crossed $15,000 for the month, which was exhilarating for me. It was the first time I believed I could truly be in charge of earning as much as I wanted and that I was totally in control. It also allowed me to stretch to have bigger goals."
How a Big Raise Can Change Your Life
Marcus continued, "Now having several businesses, I have earned over $130,000 in a month. With each earnings threshold I cross -- $10,000, $50,000, $100,000 -- I am reminded of that same feeling.
"The biggest thing I have realized is that my income is in direct relation to the number of people I can make a positive difference for, whether indirectly or directly."
That marks another common theme. Christensen explained how she ended up retiring (and unretiring) in her 30s.
"After 7 years, I was largely responsible for growing the company from $100,000 to $100 million -- doubling revenue annually. We eventually sold to another company, and I cashed out and retired early at the age of 35. I grew bored and lasted all of two weeks in retirement.
"Their competitor (a different one) brought me on as a corporate officer, and my life changed again. I traveled the world and took the company public, leading to 100x valuation."
How To Earn That First Big Raise
So how can you make that first critical leap?
"Know your worth and don't be afraid to tell others, especially if you're in your prime earning years of 30-40 years of age," advised Christensen. "One way to do this is to always be interviewing. It's the key to knowing the market value for your services and what others are willing to pay."
Marcus offered his own words of wisdom for anyone looking to create that first phase shift to a higher bracket.
"First, find an industry where people have higher income, and a mission you can get behind. Learn what the highest income earners are doing, and start modeling it," he said. "Then, start taking calculated risks. For me, it was leaving my 'high income' job to start my own business: a risk, but calculated because it was in the same industry. Finally, change your mindset from wanting to earn a lot to wanting to serve a lot of people and making the biggest positive difference you can."
The greater the impact you create for others, the greater the effect on your income. This is true for entrepreneurs looking to solve a common problem for their clients and for employees looking to demonstrate the value they create for their company.
Become invaluable by serving others well -- and documenting the value you create in the process.
Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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