I’ve been working in the same office for nearly ten years, and have been seriously focused on advancement. I’ve done everything right. I have excellent performance reviews, I took certification classes to help me advance, and I’m familiar with many different aspects of the business. Still, I’ve been stuck in the same position for a decade. A friend of mine suggested that it might not be my skills and education holding me back, but my lack of assertiveness. She suggested I try some persuasion techniques that she found on a website. At first I was dubious, but what could I lose? I ordered the package and began to learn how to embed commands in conversation, use body language and various other techniques to subtly sway people to agree with me. I applied for the next available promotion at my office, and after a long conversation with the department head, I’m happy to report I got the job.