“That’s a 2x hike. No company will give you that.”
That’s what a recruiter told me in 2018. Today, I earn 28 times what I did back then.
Merit alone isn’t the ultimate measure of value. We often get caught up in titles, salaries, or degrees, believing they define our worth. But they don’t.
The real currency is impact: the value you create, the quality of your work, and the profit you drive.
What made a difference for me over the years was taking the initiative—not just doing the job but understanding the business behind it. By learning what moves the needle for the company and then finding ways to contribute with all the knowledge and skills I had, I added value far beyond my role.
That’s how you go from earning 2x more to earning 28x more.