Live from the headquarters of Ramsey Solutions, broadcasting from the Dollar Car Rental Studio. This is the Dave Ramsey Show where America hangs out. Career getting healthy, mentally, relationally, we talk about life in general, and I am Ken Coleman sitting in for Dave this hour alongside my pal Chris Hogan. We're both Ramsey personalities, best selling authors, and we are here for you this hour, eight eight two five five two to five eight eight two five five two two five.

And Chris, as I said, we're going to talk about anything. Doesn't mean we're going to talk back. If you get a little crazy, we got that at that top button at any time. But if you want to talk about growing in your life, whether it be getting out of debt, growing that retirement account, growing that career, growing relationships, hey, that's why we are here. Triple 8255, 2005. Always good to be with.

You know, it's always good to be with you as well. I look forward to it. I'm sure you and I will debate on something at some point.

Yeah, we try to find some some discontent, some sometimes we do.

It's good to poke bears, some once in a while. You know, we won't talk sports for a whole segment. But if we were to introduce any sporting topic, that's where we can get feisty. You know, we we enjoy that. We really can't.

Hey, and speaking of I want you to find us on social media. We would love for you to get feisty with us there and let us know what you're up to, especially on Instagram. Be sure to follow Ken Atkin, Kohlman. You can find me at Krosoczka 360. We'd love to hear from you on all the social media channels. I want to encourage you to also get over to Ken's website, Ken Coleman, dot com, where you've got an opportunity to learn more about a get hired digital course.

Now, Ken, I know you have had your event not long ago, which was wildly successful, but right now, as we have close to 53 million people unemployed, getting hired is a big deal.

It is we turn to get hired livestream event into a digital product. And this product is just jam packed. 11 part series I'm teaching. We have a guide to walk you through it while I'm teaching. All you need is a device, a computer and an Internet connection. And it's an unbelievable tool whether you're just trying to get the day job, something in the short term to survive or you want to get on the path to the dream job. And it's only twenty dollars at Ken Coleman Dotcom.

It's a great, great resource. And I'll tell you why this is important right now, Chris, when you talk about 50 plus million people, let's just say that those people have submitted five resumes each. That's very low. All right. I might have to take my shoes off to count this, but I think that's 250 million resumes minimum that are out there to pop. Yeah. So you've got to stand out or else you're just playing the resume lottery.

And so that's why that is important. I've never heard that the resume a lot.

Well, think about it and think about it, because every just about every company now has some type of online submission and software. And so you're just pressing go on that and you're hoping that they see your resume and go, oh, my gosh, that's the greatest thing I've ever seen. So you got to you got to really get an edge here. And so we'll walk you through how to get hired. Speaking of which, the Chris Hogan Show, you're doing some great things.

Chris Hogan, 360 dotcom slash start. Now, that's where you've got the everyday millionaires investing guy. This is a playbook, Nancy. See, this is where the football thing comes in for you. You like Playbook's love play. You you really like X's and O's. Oh, I really do. I want people to know the plan and know how to execute. Yeah, we all got a spot. We've got to be right. And so you've got a great opportunity.

There's so much language in the financial world, so much with investing. You can easily get your eyes rolling back in your head and get so confused. So we wanted to give you this guide again where you can get that at my website. Krischan 360 dot com. As you become more familiar with stuff, you can learn to ask the right questions, get the right information and get you more importantly to your destination. And that's what matters. All right.

We're going to go to the phones because that's what we do. And we've got I like going to Idaho, man. If you've been out there, I've never been to the lovely state. I'll take you the next time I go. I've got Mike in Idaho. Mike, how are you?

Good. How are you guys? Oh, we're focused and not finished, my friend. What's on your mind today?

OK, so I want to make a career change. Oh, I've been driving a truck for over eight years, about ten years now, and I want to get into diesel mechanics. OK, and I'm not sure how to do that. All right, well, when you say you're not sure how to do that, let's first find out if you have the skill set already ready to go. So if I were to make a couple connections for you and let's say I called all those contacts I have in Idaho that are diesel mechanics, and I said, hey, let me tell you about my guy, Mike.

Would you give him a job? Would you be able to say, whoa, whoa, whoa, can before you do that, I got to get qualified? Or would you say, yeah, I'm ready to go? I'm ready to go, I want to go for it several years back. Fantastic. And so here's the table. They get into it because of my current situation. And what is your current situation? Well, I went through a divorce at the time, OK?

And. I couldn't afford my tools. OK, tools just to get started or about 10 grand. And right now, I've got about. 30000 left on my debt snowball. OK, so while you're qualified, you're not ready financially to be able to do this. But I'm a part of me. I'm a little bit ignorant about this whole trade. What if you were working for somebody else? They needed a diesel mechanic. Do you have to come with your own tools or do they not have their own tools that they would allow you to use?

Well, they come with specialty tools, you know, like doing warranty work, but everything else, you've got to come with your own stuff.

OK, well, so this this so now your timeline has pretty much been dictated to you. So you're get out of debt. You've got to walk Dave Ramsey's baby steps out. I'll let Chris take over because you've got to walk through the debt as well as cash flow. The ten thousand dollars you can do both at the same time.

It's going to be really, really aggressive. Michael, tell me this.

What that's what debt do you have left, my friend?

I have about 6000 on a Harley motorcycle.

Mm hmm. About 20 grand on student loans and about four or five grand on medical bills.

OK, and what's your household income right now? A as a truck driver? I make and I'm going to clear about 60. OK. All right. And do you own a home or are you renting right now?

Actually, I live in my truck, OK. All right. So don't have a housing expense. So here's the deal. Following the snowball, we're going to attack the medical debt of 4000. From there, you're going to go to the HARLY and then from there to the student loan debt. Now, if you were serious about this, when you get serious, you start finding things to sacrifice. That Hawg might get a for sale sign thrown up on it.

Now, I'm just saying I'm throwing it out there. Don't start twitching. All right. But I'm just saying, when you start to find things that you're willing to sacrifice to where you get to where you want to go, that's how you find out if you're committed. It's like the difference between the pig, right. And the and the chicken with breakfast. Right. With the chicken participated. He gave an egg. But the pig. Well, when you had some bacon, that bad boy was committed.

There's a little bit of difference there. So you want to get serious about your goals, like you drive that truck. Be intentional. But understand, brother, you're not stuck. You got bigger things to chase down. What you got to do is be willing to give up some sacrifice and get it in motion. This is the Dave Ramsey Show. During these crazy times, the best advice I can give you is control the controllable. Let's start looking at major expenses like your monthly rent or your house payment.

Folks, mortgage interest rates are so low, now is the time to invest in your future. In just 10 minutes, my friends at Churchill Mortgage can share ways to save you serious cash through a smarter mortgage plan to speak to a specialist call triple eight, loan 200 or go to Churchill Mortgage Dotcom. This is a paid advertisement in MLS Idee one five nine one in MLS Consumer Access. Doug Equal Housing Lender 1749 Mallory Lane Sweet 100. Brentwood, Tennessee three seven zero two seven.

Hello, everyone. You are listening to the Dave Ramsey Show, I'm so good at hosting, along with me is Ken Coleman and we're having a blast. Thank you all for calling in. We need your calls and what your calls. So if you're out there, won't you pick up the phone, call us eight two five five two two five. Again, that's eight eight eight eight two five five two two five. But now, Ken, it's time for the airlines question.

Yes, blintz, dot com, 100 percent satisfaction guaranteed means even if you miss measure or picked the wrong color, that they'll remake your blinds for free. You get free samples, you get free shipping. And with new promos, they run every month, you'll save even more. So use promo code Ramsey to get the best deal. Rules and restrictions apply. So Coleman, what is the question from dot com?

And before we go to the question, I just got to give you a personal story. I use Blind's dot com about a year and a half ago. It's idiot proof and I would be the idiot. I'm just telling you, it's that simple because me measuring stuff, I'm just telling you, I want people to know it's literally legit. It's legit. It's it's very good. All right. Today's question comes from John in Colorado. This comes from Dave Ramsey, dot com.

John visited there and he said, I wanted to ask a question regarding investment opportunities with my first job. I'm 22 years old and thankfully was able to secure a job in this covid crisis in financial services. I make eighty thousand dollars a year. My question is, my employer offers a 50 cent match for every one dollar, contributed to a 401k that's up to six percent and also a 10 percent discount on employee stock purchases. I currently have 10 percent contributed to my 401k and five percent to the stock purchasing program.

Is this a good designation or should I consolidate my entire savings into my company 401k?

Okay, first of all, John, you are like a unicorn because to be 22 years old and to be asking these questions means that somewhere along the line you were taught about the importance of investing and you were taught about money looking at this and understanding kind of where you are. Remember, the goal is you want to invest 15 percent of your income for retirement. That's where you want to go. So what you could do here, because you have a match up to six percent, you could go up to the six percent in the 401K, then go over to a Roth IRA and then get to get closer to 15, then come back to your 401k for the remainder.

Now, that's best option option to is you do the full 15 percent through your 401k and you're there. Now, what I don't like to throw the flag on is the stock purchase plan. These are single stocks and companies will try to bait and switch you or convince you that if you believe in the company, you should be participating in this it single stocks. We don't have room for that as we're trying to build wealth and get to everyday millionaire status.

So I would negate the employee purchase program and really focus on the four one K. That's what I do. That's what you need to do and to grow wealth. And I can't wait for you to become an everyday millionaire. No question this kid's a unicorn. He really is. I mean, at 22, what were you thinking? Never mind. Never mind. It's a family show. I'm not talking to you about that.

Yeah, but the bottom line is, is, listen, parents and parents, uncles, aunts, let's talk to young people out there. Let's help them start to have conversations about this money stuff. Let's no longer wait for them to get in a predicament where they have to figure it out by digging out. Let's help them learn and figure out some stuff by us talking it out. And that's having a conversation to help them understand how money works. You know, you've got young people that are at home.

Coleman kids aren't going to school right now. They're doing online or working from home or we got all these options. So we've got more opportunity for connection, but also more opportunity for growth. So parents, aunts, uncles, nieces, all of us out there, I want you to share your your money lesson with some young people. Tell them about some stupid that you've done. Let them know some mistakes. And that way they get an opportunity to learn and can make some different choices for themselves.

Yeah, I love that.

I mean, listen, some of the stuff they're going to learn in school, they'll forget. They'll never forget sound financial principles.

They just won't. Hey, by the way, David, I joked once we were talking about how you can learn the necessary stuff in school, and I joked about Pythagorean theorem. And lo and behold, if I didn't get a letter from a fan explaining to me the importance of Pythagorean theorem, well, yeah, I'm going to leave that alone because it's more letters.

I know that that was something I learned, but I don't remember anything else. OK, so whoever sent me that letter sent Coleman to. Yeah, he needs to learn. All right. Send it. I'm not going to read it. We're going to the phones. We're going to California. Let's see here. We got Trenton on the line. Trenton, what's your question for Ken? Hey, guys, how are you all doing? Well, we're having a blast.

What's going on with you now? Much, much. I came across the Dave Ramsey Show about a couple of months ago. I really wish I would have found this show when I was 18, seven years ago. But I'm glad I found it and had a quick question for you guys. So I graduated college about a couple of years ago, and my plan was to become a realtor. And I got my license when I was 22 years old.

And over the time I started to get burnt down, I realized it might not be a fit for me. And I had a few ideas for what I might want to do as far as a career change, but I'm a little hesitant to make a decision. How would you guys recommend going about that process? Well, let's start with you.

Listing out these couple of ideas is there are two of them. There's like a few of them, I started off with two that I feel like I'm a little over like all over the map now. Give me your top give me your top two or three.

An actuary working with city government or. Sportscasting shows three are a little bit different. Let's OK, what's the city government role? Tell me more about that. And don't worry about job description. People get hung up on the specificity of stuff. I just want to know, what would you be doing? Give me an idea what your role would be in the sense of I'm doing this type of work for city government.

You know, not 100 percent sure, I looked at a lot of the urban planning and I have to go back to school that I've been contemplating going back, I just want to make sure I'm 100 percent committed before I understand.

OK, and why do you feel your burned out on being a realtor? Give me an exact. Just. I feel like I kind of came in a little naive, I thought I was going to if I put in a certain amount of work, it was going to pay off a lot quicker. Do you like the work at all? I mean. I like the potential it has, but it definitely I do feel burnt out from it often. Yeah.

All right. So of the three actuary working in municipalities, working in the local government, and then sportscasting, if I guaranteed you success in all three, can't fail, but you could only choose one. Which one would you choose? That's a good question. I'm honestly not 100 percent sure on the well, I'm not asking you to be 100 percent sure. I'm saying choose right now which one. So here's the question, Senator, here's a deal I want you to stop thinking you promise me for the next 30 seconds you're going to stop thinking.

I want you to answer with your heart.

Can you agree to do that? Yeah, Trenton, you've dreamed about a lot of things, haven't you? Yes or no? Yes. Tell me what the dream is, stop qualifying it, stop worrying about how you get there, stop worrying about how much it costs to get there, how much you can make. I want you to just answer the question. What would you love to do if there was no risk? You just absolutely guaranteed wild success.

What would you do? Answer it. I would like to work with sports that was pretty easy, see, I took away all the psychological risk. What would you like to do in sports?

Say it like broadcasting or working in marketing? Yeah. Why? Just because I've always been a sports fan. Yeah, so the idea of marketing a sports team, a franchise or being in broadcasting, which one of those two gives you the most juice answer with your heart.

Probably. I'll be broadcasting. Yeah, see, you know, I'm sensing some hesitation, and I think it's because you have a lot of doubt as to whether or not you could actually get there.

Is that true or false? I would say my doubts. Yeah, but but my point is you love the idea of the preparation, the actual when the mike comes on, see, Chris and I identify with this. We like the nerves that come with being live. We like the nerves with coming up with an interview or coming up with a talk. You do, too, yes or no? I guess so, yeah, yeah, so here's what I want to recommend to you.

So you're in a situation where we need to get you fully clear. And that stage, one of my seven staged a meaningful work. And so, Chris, here's what Trent needs to do. Trent, here's your homework assignment. I want you to hang on the line, and Kelly's going to give you a copy of my bestselling book, The Proximity Principle, which is going to teach you how to get around, whether it's in person or in proximity online to professional broadcasters and learn everything it is to learn about the act, the profession of being a professional broadcaster.

Its the producer and the professional, the two people in the book that I specifically want you to focus in on and you've got to clarify and verify, really dive in, volunteer intern, do whatever it takes, do some local broadcasting in San Diego and then your heart's going to verify that that is in fact what you want to do. This is the Dave Ramsey Show. One of the questions I get all the time is which life insurance company should I use for my term life policy?

Look, it can be a tough decision when there are hundreds of plans out there with rates all over the place and rip off riders. That's why the only company I use and have recommended for over 20 years is Zander Insurance. They're a broker, which means that they shop only the top plans from reputable companies that I recommend. Call them at 800 three, five, six, 42, 82, or visit Zander Dotcom for instant online quotes. Welcome back, America.

This is the Dave Ramsey Show, I'm Ramsey personality and host of The Ken Coleman Show on the Ramsey Media Network. Ken Coleman joined this hour by Ramsey personality and host of the Chris Hogan Show on the Ramsey Media Network. And we are here taking your questions.

Triple eight 8255 two two five eight two five five two two five. You got a money question. You got a career question. You got a relationship question. You know all these questions. Will it be money or make a decision about a job? You know, there's always a relationship component, Chris. You know, there's just no situation in our humanness that doesn't have some relationship component. And understanding that at times allows you to get some real clarity with the depth of the situation.

So the point is, is it doesn't have to be a pretty question and have to sound perfect. We're here for you. This is about you and your life. We know that you matter deeply and we want to help you. Eight eight two five five two two five. My pal Chris Hogan, his website, Chris Hogan, 360 dot com has an incredible resource. There are tons of great resources. But his everyday millionaire investing guide is a step by step playbook for building wealth 30 pages and it's free.

So the free stuff. That's right. I love that.

Well, that's what we do. That's what we did. You know that you've given people guidance and tips on the resume building and what they can do for themselves as we change our mindset. And, you know, it's just so much going on. I think it's really important for us to make sure we get the right people and the right information on our side. And that's what we're trying to do. Ken, and I know you are extremely passionate about this, and this is area of career.

And, you know, a lot of people have a lot of uncertainty right now and you're trying to help and get traction.

One of the things you can get, it can accommodate comments free. We like giving you the free stuff. So we're not pitching anything to buy. Is the should I quit my job, quit three minutes, 20 questions. Going to give you one of four.

I guess it's a report. We're going to get four categories that you could get pretty. And here's what we're finding, Chris. People just go, Oh, I knew this before I took it, but this was the nudge that I needed. And so in this time of of the pandemic and many of you being kicked out of the nest, this is what you needed. You should have jumped out before this, but now it's kicked you out. So now this time to recalibrate.

Isn't it crazy how it takes a certain situation for us to be uncomfortable enough to choose to be effective? And, you know, it requires us to let go of some things. So I want you to hear me with this. A lot of people have gone through some tough times recently, and many of you are hurting right now. You might be jobless, you might be broke. You might be struggling to put food on the table. John Maxwell says change is inevitable.

Growth is optional. If you said to yourself, never again throughout this corporate shutdown, you've already taken the first step toward winning with money you've chosen to grow as a result of the season. I want you to take the next step so you can keep sleeping easy and join the group of Americans who aren't haunted by their finances. We can help. We just launched something new, something huge, something that will change the trajectory of your life. And it's called Ramsey.

Plus, this is an all access membership that'll give you the best money products you can learn with all nine Lessons of Financial Peace University, our proven plan to win with money. You're going to budget with premium features of every dollar and then you're going to track your progress with the new Baby Steps app. So start your freeze-frame C plus trial. Now set yourself up so never again do you have to walk through a crisis without confidence. Listen, you will be OK.

You can do this to get your free trial to Ramsay. Plus text the word trial to three three seven eight nine. That's trial to three three seven eight nine. Got to get on it. Got to make it happen. All right. We jump to the phones. We've got Joe on the line. Joe, how can I help you?

Good afternoon, gentlemen. Welcome. Thank you so much for taking my call today. OK, OK, so my wife and I, we're looking at our building, the home. I actually inherited some property after my parents passed away. We're getting ready to move in. The house burned down. Oh, here it is. But yeah. Yeah, exactly. So here it is about three years later. Last I we look worldwar means we've been trying for about twenty years to save up to actually build a home anyways.

So we have absolutely no doubt whatsoever. We're in early forties and you know, gosh we have, we have the lowest mile one has three hundred thousand seven hundred thousand. So I personally thought wow. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. So my question for you is, OK, I'm currently unemployed due to that situation is being financed and I think my wife is currently employed. I think the good Lord. And, you know, so two things is, should we go the home with the cash that we have and or should we go and get a mortgage?

I think I know the answer to this because actually financial courage on the side is, oh, Joe, what is the answer?

Yes. He said himself, yes. You're going to tell us right now. We're going to judge you right now. Well, and OK, I will say definitely pay cash for that. And the reason why is we doubted ourselves because, you know, we love, love, love my wife's parents. They've been very good to us. But they still have debt themselves. And they have no idea the amount of funds that we have set aside. No one does, OK?

And so we're looking at right now, you know, the house that we're currently living in, it's worth about sixty five thousand dollars, OK? And the property that we're going to be alone right now is worth about 60. All right. Looking at building about a 200 to 220000 home or let's see here how much, Joe, how much money do you have in the bank?

Yes, your cash is is actually 400 or 500, 1000 and retirement accounts. Two hundred and eighty five thousand.

OK, how do why do you have four hundred one thousand dollars in your savings?

Well, about 80000 of that came from from inheritance. And the rest is actually, you know, I could only put it back only so much within our IRAs and for once. So I actually have that sitting in many markets where we have that 250000 Syrian money market accounts and brokerage wanting to build a house. OK, got you.

So your goal all along was to pay cash for this house outright? Oh, absolutely. Yes. Yes. So that was back in college. Why aren't you doing it at all?

Why aren't you paying for this house?

Well, I am currently unemployed. You know, the most families are made together about 80000 a year. And so it took us 20 years to save up that money. And so my question is, you know, I've been unemployed for four months. Ken, I've been listening to you for four months, Chris, over a year now and Dave Ramsey since the early 2000s. Right. So I guess basically we're scared to pull the trigger on it just because of I'm currently unemployed, apparently, because I'm going to save about 20 to 30000 to actually do all the work on the home.

And so let's just do it. So here's the deal, Joe. I get it. And it's OK to be scared. And I love that you called in and said you're scared, but fears a liar. OK, so your fear is telling you that this is a irresponsible decision. OK, my words. Right. So how much is it going to cost you all?

And to build your house to be 230000 and then actually sell the home that we currently live in? That would be worth putting money back in and about 65000.

So I'm doing quick math. It's going to cost you 170. Correct. OK, so you have how much in the bank?

Four hundred and one thousand dollars. Very specific. Yes, absolutely. So what's you're doing, Chris?

You're the math guy. What's four hundred thousand minus 170. That's called build a house. Build the house. Yeah.

You got plenty of money left over. You got you have more than a six month emergency money.

And here's the thing, Joe. I'll be honest with you. You've said it several times. It's because you're not working. Then wait wait until you get the job going. But either way, definitely don't take out a mortgage. You all have been intentional for over 20 years in saving this. This is a seminal moment for you all to do this process in cash. And I tell you what I want you to do, not only do I want you to get started and get this house built, when you do, I want you to send the photo.

I want you to send it down that Ramsey show so we can see what you all have done. You've had the vision and the clarity for over 20 years now. What you do is pull the trigger. You yourself said you a banker, right? And, you know, as a banker, the bank will try to tell you, hold on to your cash, we'll give you a loan. No, no, my friend, you've been intentional too long.

I want you to stay zeroed in on what you need to do now, kid. It is to get employed so you can get some confidence back.

Yeah, but again, you know, he's got more than a one year emergency fund even after he cash flows the house. You've worked hard for this for years and years and years. You are not an irresponsible person. No. You will get employed again. But I'm fine if you want to wait just to give you better blood pressure. But the bottom line is, the minute you get the new gig, man, start building the house. Go, Joe, go.

This is the Dave Ramsey Show.

Hello, everyone. You are listening to the Dave Ramsey Show. I'm Chris Hogan. And joining me this hour is Ken Coleman. We've had a blast taking your calls, talking to you about the things that are on your mind, your life, your money. And we dug in and I told you to send me some social questions. And so we've gotten one. We've got several in. But I want to ask this. When the kid I actually know the answer to this one.

I know what he's going to say, but I'm going to ask him anyway. This is from Stuart from Facebook. He's asking, hey, can do you have any interview tips? I've got an interview a week from today, and I'm already getting nervous about it. Any and all tips are welcome.

Yeah, well, the short answer is we've got a free how to win the interview guide. It's about a 16, 18 page PDF with all of the things you need to think about at Ken Coleman Dotcom. But I want to answer the question for those of you who are going, hey, Stuart, I'm with you. Here's the key. What we focus on in the interview guide, Chris, are two things, and that is preparation and performance.

And I've said before that relentless preparation leads to reflexive performance, meaning, Chris, you were a college football player, you know, in crunch time. And we've seen the great quarterbacks, the Tom Brady's, the Brett Favre, whoever you want to put in there when they lead that two minute drill, it just looks like they're not even thinking about anything. And the reality is they're not thinking. They're reacting because they've practiced every film. They know the plays they're going to run.

They've practiced the two minute drill and so it takes over. So the job interview for most people, Chris, is one of the most fear inducing activities that they'll ever have. Do you think about it's high pressure, so you want to prepare ahead of time so well that you allow your brain to be the supercomputer that it is and it will perform if I've put what I need into my brain. So we're preparing for the questions that we will get asked and we are preparing for the questions that we will have the chance to ask.

That's right. That's the difference maker, not how you answer the questions, but the questions that you ask in the interview. That's what sets you apart from the average candidate in an interview. So we go over all of that. We even talk about what to wear, mind and body language and everything. So everything you need to learn how to win the interview is in the How to win the interview guide. It's one of our get hired guys.

It can.

Coleman Dotcom. What's my body language telling you right now?

That you were very impressed with the thoroughness of my answer and that you wish you had run into me many, many years ago when you had to do job interviews? Well. Oh, well, all right.

We're going to go to the phones. We've got Adam on line. What did he think out of the five? Adam, what's your question for tonight?

Hey, guys. So my question is essentially this. Obviously, with the times, it's hard for me to tell where my wife is or where my employer's business currently is, financially speaking. And from the very first day that I've gotten here, I've been about a year and two months of me being in the company. I feel like I've taken on a lot more responsibilities than were in my initial job interview. So the basic question is, during this pandemic, what would be some advice that you guys have in terms of asking for either a raise or a bonus or something along that line?

OK, well, Adam, let me ask you this, because you mentioned the company seems to be stable. Have they missed any payroll at all throughout this whole covid time? And that is the one thing I am so thankful for, and I don't want to be unthankful in any way, they have never missed one check with me whatsoever. They were also very generous during the Christmas bonus.

OK, but what kind of Christmas bonus did you get? Five hundred dollars, but I only make 30 grand a year before taxes. OK, so you make 30 grand a year. They've been consistent. They've been generous. Have you received any kind of merit based bumps or increases in income? No. Have you had an annual review, you've been there 14 months. Did you have an annual review around the first anniversary? We didn't, but my my annual review was fell on the first week of June, which is in the middle of this crisis, and I'm not sure how they how they're handling all this.

How is the company talking about revenues and things of that nature? Are you hearing anything behind the scenes? I know they haven't missed a paycheck, but are they doing well? Are they off budget?

Over budget? So what I can hear is that so without giving too much info, because I don't want to kind of give away the company, right? Right. They specialize in rentals, a band, instrument rentals. And with the school year not coming there, or at least being just virtual, and then one of our counties that are in our areas that we serve is going to be in person, but the rest is going to start the year virtually that rental income is going to be going down anywhere between 25 and 40.

Oh, without a doubt. All right. Let me ask you this. Let me there.

But let me ask you this, Rachel herself and how you've been doing your job scale of one to 10, 10 is your rocket and blowing it out. One is you need to go do something else. Where would you rate you? I put myself on eight or nine, I make some mistakes, but I learned some new things all along the way and I've gone from being the new person in the company to essentially being my boss's right hand man.

OK, and what are you worth in your mind? What race would you like to see? I would like to see that 30 go to 40, OK, in terms of what I have in my belt, I have a marketing degree from Florida State University. I'm just starting to within the past three months or so, I'm now picking up their webdesign portion. I'm picking up things that typically would make a higher income than what I'm making right now.

OK, all right. So, Adam, here's the deal. My advice on these questions is always the same. Never ask for a raise. Ask for a growth plan. Ask for growth plan. Now, before I walk you through this, I want to tell you that I think this situation requires that the strategy I'm going to give you, that you hold off on this until we kind of come out of this covid situation, because I think you're in a business that's running pretty tight.

You you acknowledge that. So this business is not a place where you could ask for it right now? I think it would. I think it would come across the wrong way, almost tone deaf. So not now. However, when things get back to better, let's call it that. Here's what I want you to focus on. I want you to sit with your leader, and I want you to ask them if you can do an annual review or some type of review.

And I want you when you get that review to say, hey, I would like to talk to you about a growth plan. When we sit down and ask a leader, Chris, for a raise, it automatically puts the leader in a defensive position. Even though they may not be defensive, they may not even be unhealthy, but it puts the leader in a corner if they've had no idea that you're about to ask this question. Totally agree.

And so that's a very bad situation to put yourself in. So here's the deal. Ask for a growth plan and it sounds like this. Hey, I love being here. Been here X amount of months. And I would like to know areas that you can see that I need to grow in. Not so much that I've been doing it wrong. I want to know that, too. But areas that if I were to enhance some raw skills or some inexperience, I would become more valuable.

So what could be some things that make me even more valuable to you? What an unbelievably smart and humble question to ask. And it's going to throw them off. OK, here's some things that you can get better and it's going to help us. That's what I'd start with. And then I would say to them, if I make those improvements, how are we going to measure that so that I can holtom get to a place where I get more responsibility, which would allow me to then make more money.

See, and the way you come at that, that is a mature, humble, strategic thought out conversation. Now, now, last thing I would say is you got to have four qualities to get promoted. These are four qualities that if you work hard and these are all character traits that you can develop, you've got to be likable, coachable, reliable and honorable. And when I say coachable, that means you've got to be able to handle correction and instruction.

Those are two different things. And so work on that. And if you become those four things, likeable, coachable, reliable, honorable, and you approach it that way, hey, can we work together to come up with a growth plan that has measurable goals based on my growth and results that I'd love to see if I can move up the ladder and influence responsibility and financially, that would be my coaching on that. Never ask for a raise.

While I've been here 16 months, I've done a lot more during covid than I was supposed to do. Can we get a bump for ten grand? And that's happened. I'm not suggesting that that way, but people will kind of hem and haw their way right into that and they really will.

All right, listen, today's scripture is the end of of a matter. It's better than it's beginning and patience is better than pride. That's Ecclesiastes seven eight quote is We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world that comes from Helen Keller. Understand? We've got options, everyone, and we've got opportunities in front of us. You have more ahead of you than what's behind you. Keep pushing forward, my friends.

I want to thank all the callers for taking the time to call in. I want to thank all of you listeners for tuning in. And I want to thank producer James Child and associate producer Kelly Daniel. And I want to thank you, Ken Coleman, for taking the time to join me this hour. This has been fun, everyone. This is The Dave Ramsey Show.

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