You Can’t Win Without a Clear Goal | August 12, 2026

Relocation Offer and Salary Concerns [00:00:00]

• Michael is offered a new position requiring relocation to Charleston, South Carolina.
• He is concerned about how much to push for in salary negotiations.
• The company covers relocation costs, but the salary for the new position is not yet determined.

  "So I am paid hourly. The relocation costs would all be paid for the company card that I have."

Current Financial Situation [00:01:15]

• Michael currently earns $42 per hour and lives comfortably in Springfield, Missouri.
• He estimates rent in Charleston will be $1,000 to $1,200 more per month for a similar rental.
• He acknowledges that other expenses like groceries and tires will also be more expensive.

  "Right now I make $42 an hour and I live pretty comfortably in Springfield."

The Value of the New Position [00:02:05]

• Michael likes his current company and the new position.
• The new role represents a step up in his career within the company.
• He is hesitant to push too hard for fear of losing the offer.

  "I like the company and I like the position, so I don't want to push too hard and have it get offered to somebody else."

Cost of Living Comparison [00:03:00]

• The hosts suggest using cost of living index websites to compare zip codes.
• A quick search indicates that to match his $42/hour income in Springfield, he'd need around $60/hour in Charleston.
• This would increase his annual income from $87,000 to approximately $133,000.

  "If I worked in Springfield, Missouri, and I was making 42 an hour, if I wanted to move to Charleston, the equivalent would be somewhere around 60 bucks an hour."

Negotiation Strategy and Expectations [00:04:45]

• The hosts question why Michael hasn't discussed compensation yet.
• They emphasize that a promotion requiring relocation should come with a significant salary increase.
• Michael plans to ask about the salary range for the position.

  "My expectation for any company, if you're getting promoted and asked to move across the country, it's going to come with a significant salary change."

Personal Considerations [00:06:10]

• Michael is a single father with his son and niece living with him.
• He acknowledges the importance of considering his family's needs in the decision.

  "I have my niece that lives with me and I have my son."

Researching Expenses [00:07:00]

• Michael is advised to research specific costs like rent, restaurants, and local expenses in Charleston.
• This will provide a basis for his salary request.

  "Don't, don't leave it to chance. Like actually look up, you've, you've looked up rents, look up restaurants, look up local expenses and actually get real numbers in front of you."

Career vs. Life Quality [00:08:00]

• The hosts prompt Michael to consider if the career advancement is worth the potential decrease in life quality due to higher expenses and moving to an unfamiliar area.
• Michael reiterates his liking for the company and the desire to move up.

  "What is it about this position you're worried about somebody else taking if it's going to move you to a town where you don't know anybody?"

Charleston's Appeal [00:09:30]

• Michael mentions Charleston, South Carolina, as the relocation destination.
• He notes it's a nice area with good schools, but acknowledges the high cost of living.

  "The area is, it's a very nice area, obviously, with cost of living."

Salary Range and Company Culture [00:11:00]

• Michael plans to ask about the salary range for the position.
• He expresses caution when companies identify him for a job, suggesting they might impose their values.

  "It feels far down the line to not know anything about exactly salary."

Personal Growth and Sacrifice [00:12:30]

• John Deloney shares his past experience of taking pay cuts for career advancement.
• He emphasizes making such decisions with clear eyes, understanding the trade-offs.

  "I've taken pay cuts to get to the position I wanted or get to the place I wanted because I trusted myself that over the next couple of years, I would get to where I wanted to be financially."

Negotiation Confidence [00:15:00]

• Michael is encouraged to be confident when discussing salary, especially as a single dad.
• A good company will understand that salary negotiation is part of business.

  "Hold your head up high when you have that conversation, be willing to take feedback, but don't go in there with your head down."

Comprehensive Cost of Living Research [00:17:00]

• Jade Warshaw advises Michael to look beyond rent and consider other expenses like childcare and housing purchase costs.
• This ensures a well-founded request during negotiations.

  "The biggest thing you want to look at, because we talked about restaurants, we talked about childcare, childcare, we talked about apartments, but eventually if this is the job you want, you're going to want to purchase a house."

Final Advice on Negotiation [00:19:00]

• Michael is encouraged to be confident and clear about his needs and expectations.
• The goal is to ensure the new salary adequately reflects the increased cost of living and responsibilities.

  "Be confident in asking for what you need and what you would like."