The First Step to Quitting Your 9-5? Asking for More Money

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If you dream of escaping the corporate grind and becoming your own boss, your first move isn’t quitting, it’s earning more money right now. Asking for a salary increase is one of the fastest ways to fund your corporate exit plan and build the financial freedom you need to launch your business.

But here’s the truth: most people leave thousands of dollars on the table simply because they never ask. If you’re serious about leaving your 9-5, it’s time to start negotiating like an entrepreneur, even while you’re still an employee.

Let’s break down why negotiating your salary is the smartest first step toward your financial freedom and how you can do it with confidence.

Step 1: Shift Your Mindset, You Deserve to Make More

Before we dive into negotiation strategies, let’s address the biggest obstacle stopping most people from asking for a raise: self-doubt.

Many of us, especially women and people of color, have been conditioned to believe that we should be grateful for what we earn. But here’s the reality:

• Your employer expects you to advocate for yourself, it’s part of the corporate game.

• Companies budget for raises, so if you don’t ask, that money goes to someone else.

• Every dollar you don’t negotiate is money you’re giving away for free.

If you’re planning to become an entrepreneur, you need to start thinking like a CEO now, and that includes negotiating your worth.

Step 2: Build Your Case Like a Boss

The best salary negotiations are based on facts not feelings. 

Here’s how to prepare:

✅ Know Your Market Value

• Research your salary range using sites like Glassdoor, Payscale, or LinkedIn Salary.

• Check industry standards based on your skills, location, and experience. When in doubt or lacking information, talk to your peers.

• If you’re underpaid, use that data as leverage. Cross-check your current responsibilities with your job description and your role at other companies - are you doing more than what you originally signed p for? 

✅ Track Your Wins

• Keep a record of your accomplishments: projects you’ve led, revenue you’ve generated, or efficiencies you’ve improved.

• Show how your work adds value to the company.

✅ Time It Right

• The best times to ask for a raise:

• During performance reviews

• After a major accomplishment (or after a vacation, where your absence was noticed)

• Before annual budgets are finalized

You’re not asking for a favor, you’re making a business case for why you deserve more.

Step 3: Make the Ask with Confidence

Once you’ve done your prep work, it’s time to go for it. Here’s a sample script:

💬 “I really enjoy the work I do here, and I’ve taken on additional responsibilities that have contributed to [specific company goal]. Based on my contributions and industry benchmarks, I’d like to discuss an increase in my compensation. Is it possible to explore how we can make that happen?”

This keeps it collaborative and data-driven, which makes it harder for your boss to say no.

If they push back, don’t panic! Instead, ask:

💬 “What would it take to get to this salary?”

This forces them to give you a path forward, whether it’s hitting certain performance targets or revisiting the conversation later. 

If your employer shuts down your request with a hard no, take your skills - and your negotiation power - elsewhere. Job hunting can feel like a full-time job, but the truth is, the easiest way to secure a salary bump is often by landing a new role. And if your ultimate goal is entrepreneurship, your loyalty should be to your financial future, not to a company that undervalues you. 

Step 4: Use the Extra Money to Fund Your Freedom

Once you successfully negotiate your salary increase, don’t just spend it, invest it in your future.

Here’s how to use your raise to exit corporate life faster:

💰 Save for Your Business – Set aside your entire raise in a separate business fund.

📉 Pay Off Debt – Reducing financial obligations gives you more flexibility to take risks.

📈 Set a Regular Money Date – Create a habit of looking at your money and tracking your progress.

The more money you secure now, the sooner you can leave corporate on your own terms.

More Money, More Freedom

If you want to quit your 9-5 and create a life of financial freedom, the journey starts where you are now - and that means getting paid what you deserve.

By negotiating your salary, you’re not just making more money, you’re taking control of your future. And when the time comes to walk away from corporate for good, you’ll have the financial power to do it confidently.

🚀 Ready to build your exit strategy? Start by asking for more today. Watch the FREE More Money Masterclass now. Click here to access.