Last week, the Your Daily Success Tip team posted the story below, and the response was interesting – most people never stop to think what they are worth – and the post made them ask, “What am I really worth?” Most people believe their value is less than others would say.
Here’s the posted story:
There is a story circulating online; its moral is a perfect tip to start your day. Know your worth!
A father said to his son: You graduated with honors, here is a car that I acquired many years ago … it is several years old.
But before I give it to you, take it to the used car lot downtown and tell them I want to sell it and see how much they offer you.
The son went to the used car lot, returned to his father, and said, “They offered me $ 1,000 because it looks very worn out.”
The father said, “Take it to the pawnshop.”
The son went to the pawnshop, returned to his father, and said, “The pawnshop offered $ 100 because it was a very old car.”
The father asked his son to go to a car club and show them the car.
The son took the car to the club, returned, and told his father: “Some people in the club offered $ 100,000 for it, since it is a Nissan Skyline R34, iconic car and sought after by many.
The father said to his son; If you are not valued, do not be angry, it means that you are in the wrong place. Those who know your value are those who appreciate you; never stay in a place where no one sees your worth.
Knowing your value to a business or industry is the first step to asking for what you deserve, at each milestone in your career. Author Rick Gillis says one of the first steps is to ask those you have worked with in the past what value you brought to a company or project. Reach out and ask current and former managers, co-workers, even employees. Their answers become your narrative when someone asks what you would bring to a new job or why you deserve a raise or promotion.
Take the answers you receive, add anything you think should also be in there, and your value starts to take shape with concrete examples of why you ARE valuable to a company or project. When you give specific examples of the achievements you have helped create, others can visualize the results you will bring to their company or project.
Bottom line – YOU are valuable. The only way companies and individuals are going to know just how useful you are is if you can articulate who you are and the value you bring.
The more you can verbalize your value and “toot your own horn,” the more valuable you become. And, the more successful you become.
Speak up. You are worth it!
