One of my friends issued me a challenge, and that challenge was to write about the smartest thing I’ve ever done.

Well, I accept the challenge.

It’s hard to narrow down the smartest thing I’ve ever done…dumbest..well, that would be easy because I’ve probably done more dumb things that smart things.

Also, we all do smart and dumb things in our personal lives as well as in our professional lives. But for my readers, I’ll tell you the smartest thing I have ever done in my professional life back in my more entrepreneurial days.

RAISED MY PRICES…bear with me cause this is only part of it.

I’m not sure how any of you will take that, but when working as a marketing consultant and as a copywriter, my prices went up each year. And when I returned to South Korea and took a “regular job” my initial salary demand was triple what I had received before.  It was a process to get there, but the first price increase is what made all the difference.

It was then I undserstood the value I brought to a business.  And once I realized it, I could have kicked myself for not realizing it sooner (when a client tells you he made hundreds of thousands of dollars and you only made hundreds from the deal, you start to understand just how valuable your services are).

That first time when you realize your own value…the value of what you do and what you bring to people. That’s when your life turns a corner.

I mean, just the other day I was talking with my friend who is an audiologist. Part of his job is selling hearing aids. He told me how he doesn’t like selling hearing aids. But I told him that he is not selling hearing aids. He is selling life, fuller and more quality life.

He had no idea what I was saying. But think about it, I said.

To be able to hear your grandkids’ voices. To be able to go into a crowded place and hear the person next to you. That’s life–a life we all take for granted. And you give them that life back.

My friend didn’t think what he was doing was valuable.  But in the grand scheme of things, he was doing something truly valuable (which he still does to this day).

Needless to say (and this might just be a coincidence) he went in and asked for a raise a week later.

But the smartest thing—raising my prices was the symptom…but really it was undervaluing my contribution to the world around me.

All to often we look at ourselves with the idea that we are not contributing something valuable to society, our homes, or our jobs.  But the strange thing is that 9 times out of10, it is we who are undervaluing ourselves.  Often people will take you at your word that your are valuable.  It is your assessment of yourself that people pick up on–both in your professional and personal life.

When we understand our own value, people respond in kind and treat us like we a re valuable.   Most of us think that people should just KNOW how good we are.  But all too often they don’t.

So, take today to look at the value you bring to your job, your life, and to yourself.   Discover if you are undervaluing yourself, and come up with steps to change the situation.

Topics: Success Mindset |

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