Alright folks, strap in. So this whole “get a raise fast” Aries horoscope thing popped up. Naturally, I snorted. But hey, free advice, right? Plus, the usual ‘daring initiative’ and ‘fiery energy’ bits sounded about right for trying to shake down the boss. Figured, why not give it a shot? Worst case, nothing happens.
Step 1: Deciphering the Cosmic “Plan”
First thing Monday morning, coffee in hand, I actually read the darn horoscope details. It wasn’t exactly a step-by-step blueprint. Basically boiled down to:
- “Take bold action.” (Obvious. Duh.)
- “Highlight your recent wins.” (Okay, fair point.)
- “Initiate the conversation before mid-month.” (A specific deadline? Cosmic pressure!)
- “Your assertiveness will impress.” (Or get me fired, but let’s stay positive.)
Right. So the stars wanted me to march into my boss’s office, armed with evidence I kick ass, and just ask… forcefully. Before the 15th. Simple as that? Sure.
Step 2: Gathering My Ammo
“Highlight recent wins.” Okay, cosmic advice wasn’t total garbage here. I spent Tuesday afternoon digging through emails and project docs. Seriously, I haven’t had to self-promote like this since that weird high school talent show incident.
I found:
- A big project I wrapped up under budget. (Cha-ching!)
- Some nice client feedback emails praising my work. (Saved those suckers.)
- That extra responsibility I took on six months ago when Bob quit. (Never got extra pay for it, mind you.)
Threw it all onto a single page. Didn’t make it fancy, just cold hard facts. Figured if the stars said “assertiveness,” a PowerPoint might be overkill.
Step 3: Picking the Cosmic Moment
Horoscope said “before mid-month.” Boss usually less grumpy on Thursdays after lunch. So, Thursday the 12th, right after his cafeteria fish sandwich (mistake on his part, I know), felt like the time. Stomach did a little flip. Maybe it was the cosmic energy aligning? Maybe it was the third coffee.
Step 4: The Big Ask (Aries Style)
Walked straight to his office door. Didn’t even knock softly – gave it a decent, firm rap rap rap. He looked up, surprised. “Got 10 minutes? Need to talk about compensation.” Blurted it right out. Straight to the point. Very Aries, very awkward silence.
Sat down. Didn’t waste time with pleasantries about the weather. Slammed my single page of wins onto the desk. “Here’s why I think I’ve earned more.” Laid it out quick: project completed, client happy, doing Bob’s old job, market rates are probably higher anyway. Then I just shut up. Let the facts hang there. Stars said my ‘assertiveness would impress,’ honestly, he just looked stunned.
The Outcome (Cosmic Payday?)
Boss mumbled something about budget cycles and needing to review. Standard stall tactics. Didn’t get a “Yes!” right there. But… he didn’t laugh in my face either. And he kept the paper. Took it home? Showed HR? Used it as kindling? No clue. A week later, his boss (who I barely know) stopped me in the hall: “Heard you’ve really stepped up on X project. Good work.” Huh? Weird.
Fast forward to yesterday. Got pulled into a short meeting. “Based on your contributions, especially handling the X project transition and taking on additional duties…” and bam. Not a crazy bump, but I got the raise. Actually got it.
So, did the Aries horoscope magically make it happen? Who knows. Maybe I was just due. Maybe boss finally remembered Bob quit. But forcing myself to actually do it – preparing like a trial lawyer, picking a non-fish day, walking right in and just asking – that was all me following the cosmic dare. Would it have happened without the horoscope nudge? Maybe. But the date stamp on my ‘wins’ document is definitely before the 15th, so the stars can have that one. Point is, it worked. Mostly.
