Know Your Own Value

A good while ago I wrote a Top Tips about the worst boss I ever had.

In that particular job I wasn’t valued and know I wasn’t seen as being worth much.

It was confusing to me that the skills and attributes I had to offer were much the same as the ones I have now but my boss at the time didn’t seem to ‘get me.’

Was it me? Was it the way I went about things? 

I Need To Be Myself

Maybe, but considering it now, with twenty years of hindsight, I don’t think so. I was just in the wrong place with the wrong people. Definitely with the wrong boss.

So I needed to get out and find a place where I was valued. Where I could find a boss who knew the value of what I had to offer. And luckily I did. (Insert your own facetious comment about the fact I’m self employed here!)

It’s easy to find yourself in the wrong place. A couple of innocent ill thought decisions and all of a sudden there you are. 

Volunteer me for an orienteering team for example and you’ve not helped anyone. You’ve immediately slowed the whole team down and put me in a vulnerable position. Orienteering is not my forte so I’d need to get out of that team fast. 

If you find yourself in the wrong place you need to make plans to get out. I’m not sure you always even need to know where to go, just knowing that you’ve got to get out is a good enough starting point. 

Details about the next step usually follow quickly enough. Being out of that inappropriate environment often gives you the headspace to think more clearly about where you should be headed.

I Can’t Be No One Else

You need to put yourself in the right place, a place where your worth is recognised and where people value what you have to offer.

Get me out of the orienteering team and parachute me into a pub quiz based on 1990s UK indie music and you’ll have hit the jackpot. I’m your man. We are coming home with that £50 first place prize and the bonus round bottle of vino too. Trust me, we are.

Here’s a story I read recently that sums up the situation I’m talking about.

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A father said to his daughter “You graduated with honours, here is a car I acquired many years ago. It is several years old. But before I give it to you, take it to the used car dealer in town and tell them I want to sell it and see how much they offer you.”

The daughter went to the used car dealer, returned to her father and said “They offered me £1000, because it looks very worn out.”

The father said, “Interesting. Now take the car to the pawnbrokers.”

The daughter went to pawnbrokers, returned to her father and said “The pawn brokers offered £100 because it was a very old car.”

“Interesting,” said the father. He then instructed her to take it to a particular car enthusiasts club and show it to the members.

The daughter took the car to the club, returned and told her father, “Some people at the club offered me £100,000 for the car. The car is a Nissan Skyline R34, an iconic vehicle and sought after by many.”

The father said to his daughter, “The right place values you the right way. If you are not valued, do not be angry, it means you are not in the right place. Those who know your value are those who appreciate you. Never stay in a place where no one sees your value.”

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For What It’s Worth

We all like to think of ourselves as having worth and we all do, but it’s not always apparent to others what that value might be.

Everyone has worth and it’s important to know enough about yourself to fully understand what that actually is. So that you can place yourself accordingly.

It can take time to get this knowledge and awareness - it’s not always immediately apparent what you’re good at. Or how that skill can actually be used.

Once you’ve got it, however, you should definitely use it. 

Take a moment when you can and consider who around you recognises your worth. Make sure you’re spending enough time with them.