Her boss promised her a raise

Dear Nanay,
During our employee evaluations at the end of last year, my boss promised me a significant increase. However, it is now April and I have yet to receive my raise from the company. We have had some disagreements during the first quarter of this year, and I can’t help but think that this had something to do with it. What should I do? Should I remind my boss about his promise?
– Sarah

I think you have to give your boss the benefit of the doubt and assume that it has completely slipped his mind. He might have a lot on his mind and, unfortunately, just completely forgot that he promised you an increase. If that is the case then you have to remind him —very nicely! — about his promise. Gawin mo ng pabiro kung puwede. (Say it lightly.) Maybe you can say something like: "Sir, naaalala po ninyo noong last evaluation, napangakuan ninyo ako ng increase? Eh, magpapasukan na at kailangan ko rin po ng pera. Baka po matulungan ninyo ako." (Sir, do you remember that you promised me an increase during the last evaluation? School is opening soon, and I need the money, too. Maybe you can help me out.)

Disagreements are normal — sometimes even healthy — in any relationship. It is also good to hear other people’s point of view, especially when they don’t agree with yours. You have to see all sides of a problem to make the best decision possible. I hope your boss realizes this and doesn’t take any past disagreements with you personally.

But you also have to remember that there may be other factors that are contributing to why he has not given you an increase. Maybe business is not so good. Maybe your boss also has his boss who needs to approve the increase. So, be patient and, in the meantime, you have to work hard and show your boss you really deserve the increase. Kailangan lalo mong pagbutihin ang trabaho mo. Ipakita mo sa kanya na dapat dagdagan ang suweldo mo, or better yet, dapat ka ma-promote! (You have to do even well in your work. Show him that you do deserve your increase, or better yet, that you deserve a promotion!) After you show him how much you deserve it, then you can be confident when you remind him — very nicely! — of his promise.
– Nanay

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Dear Nanay,
I have a start-up business selling school and office supplies. Right now, we have a small store and we deliver supplies to small offices in our area. I want to expand and attract more clients. Do you have any suggestions on how I can grow the business?
– John

The first thing you really have to do is to study your clients very well. You have to look around in your neighborhood and find out who is your customer. Are they all offices? Are they students? Do you have a little of both? What kind of students? Elementary? High school? College?

After you know who your customers are, then you have to find out exactly what they need because different customers will have different needs. For example, offices need copy paper or ink for their printers and fax machines. Elementary students might need crayons or paste. High school and college students may use binders more than notebooks. So, you have to do your research. Talk to your customers. You have to know exactly what they want so that you can make sure you have it in your store.

When you can service the needs of your clients and potential clients, then they will come to you. That should help increase your sales and give you some additional capital to grow your business. Maybe you can open a second branch to service a nearby area or you can make your current one bigger so you can carry even more items. You can also add another delivery vehicle so you can better service your delivery customers if you notice that your current number of vehicles is having a hard time maintaining prompt deliveries.

You have to keep in mind that you must sell products that your customers want to buy. If your customers do not want or need your items, then it will be very difficult to make money for the store.

Sincerely,
Nanay

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If you have a question, e-mail asknanay@nationalbookstore.com.ph, or just drop your letter at drop boxes in all National Book Store branches nationwide.