Opportunity knocks only once—or so they say. So if you miss yours, you’re probably not gonna get another shot. So if I were you, I’d be always at the ready so that when it does come, I’ll be up for promotion faster that I can say “salary increase”.

If you have a presentation next month, be ready to present it a few days before the set date. You never know when your boss needs to hear your report. If nothing of that sort happens, at least you’ll deliver it like a pro.

Ponder on an assignment even if you’re not the project head. Suppose your boss assigns an important project to someone else in the office, but you think you can do it better—are you gonna sulk, or are you gonna prove to your boss that he has poor judgment?

There’s a possibility that your boss may not be pleased with the other guy’s proposal. That’s when you enter with your “brilliant” idea which you’ve been keeping to yourself for that perfect timing.

Listen to your boss’ not-so-private meetings even when you’re not directly involved. One time my boss was looking for a database but he didn’t ask my help because he didn’t think I can help. Fortunately, I have the statistics, so I took an initiative and solved his problem.