One FI strategy is focus hard on your own career to fast track your path to FI.

Robert worked for the same company for 15 years, which allowed him to get multiple promotions, become a leader at a young age and retire early at the age of 36. He worked in sales and thanks to a good boss and network, he was able to move up the corporate ladder to eventually reach FI.

You'll love his story.

We also chat about...

How to quit your job
Why working in sales makes promotions easier
Optimising your career to reach FI
Negotiating your promotion
Robert's plans after leaving his job completely

Enjoy this chat with Robert, and please subscribe to us in iTunes if you enjoyed it!

Show notes and links from today's episode

Stop Ironing Shirts blog and on Twitter
Blog post: I Gave My Early Retirement Notice... and Live Tweeted It

Key takeaways from our chat with Robert
1 - Working in sales makes promotions easier
Robert explains that he was able to get 5% salary promotions because he worked in sales, where your performance is more quantifiable and you have more of an opportunity to grow your career. Although people may look down on sales, it really depends on what you're selling. Robert's strategy revolves around asking the client questions and letting them talk. He also recommends getting into a sector that sells expensive products in demand.
2 - The importance of having a good mentor
A good boss or mentor is the one who will put their neck out for you when you're trying to get a promotion. Robert relates much of his promotion success to trusting his boss and proving himself to his superiors. For this reason it's important to know who you're working for, what their reputation is and to make sure that they are influential and powerful.
3 - Build a skill not many people have
Robert was highly skilled in commercial lending, which meant companies needed him. It meant he was confident he could always bring in revenue from his company thanks to his skills and knowledge in that specific area. Robert recommends having a highly sought after skill and also becoming a leader. Leading small groups is what increased his performance and therefore his promotions. It's a skill that does require constant learning and thinking, but pays off well in the long run.
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