Subject: 2004 Review and 2005 Plan
Dear Alice,
How is going on? It’s the end of 2004. Here I like to update with you my status of this year.
In 2004, I’ve taken more additional responsibilities, such as stock management, stock invoice checking and going deeper with the SAP system. Besides, in early this year, we did physical stock checking together. My skill-sets also got improved in those assignments and ready to take bigger challenges. I’d like to thank you for your support in this year and sending me to the training of Blahblah in Hong Kong.
As my plan for 2005, I am going to move forward along my career path in Northwind. With your support, I am always committed to doing my best job, regardless the local sales manager changing. I am pleased to take ownership of more items, such as offering, market info, and sort of things which was in sales’ scope. My workload will be heavier than before since I will assist Bob, the acting sales manager, negotiate with customers, in both con-call and onsite meeting. Plus, Chris’s blahblah business grows fast and brings much more customers and orders.
I’ve been in Northwind for ~3 years. I love this company and feel happy with my workmates. The benefit is also satisfying while I expect 15% merit increase to my annual salary as a recognition to my value to company and my achievements in 2004.
Looking forward to your comments.
Best Regards
Diana
当然，这里面的Alice、Bob、Chris和Diana都是假名，熟悉密码学的应该很了解，这就和中文里面的甲乙丙丁或者张三李四的用法是类似的。Northwind是我们给客户作demo solution时常用的假公司。
原信在修改前的主要talking point是：我活很多很重，所以我应该多劳多得。这样说效果并不好，因为老板会说：Ok，既然你活很重，那么拿掉一点给别人。原信还提到自己的能力在工作中提高了，因此也要涨工资。这条理由更是站不住脚的了。
修改以后，信里的重点改为：我为公司做了很多事情，我对公司有value，我愿意而且能够为公司做更多事情，所以请给我加薪表示对我的工作以及价值的认可。这样讲，比较reasonable。毕竟，对于基层员工来说，老板最看重的还是他deliver了什么东西。
Btw，我相信很多Microsoft的人看到这封修改过的信都会觉得很亲切。因为里面很多说法都是极具Microsoft特色的英语，例如take big challenge，以及I love this company。
各个公司都有自己极具特色的英语。Louis V. Gerstner（郭士纳）在他的"Who Says Elephant Can’t Dance" （谁说大象不能跳舞）里面提到，IBM也有自己的独特的一些英语用法，以致于新来的员工一时竟虽能看懂词句却不知道确切是什么意思。他在书中将此列为沟通障碍问题。
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