What Entrepreneurs Get Wrong About Value
Before we get to our blog post for today, I want to acknowledge all of the fathers out there in anticipation of Father’s Day this weekend. Especially because you may not be able to be with them in person, show your appreciation for all of the fathers in your life this weekend – husbands, fathers, step-fathers, single fathers, fathers-in-law, and grandfathers if you are blessed to have them with you. I will spend Sunday with my husband, Mike, making his Father’s Day special indeed, and I will also be sure to show my appreciation to my brother, Mike Powell, who is a single father. Sometimes fathers are the least appreciated, and this is a great time to reach out to those you care about.
Today, I want to ask you a question…Where does your value come from?
Maybe you estimate your value based on the way that people view you, or your business, or your contributions to your community.
Some people believe their value stems from what kind of car they drive, how big their house is, their fashion sense, or how well their children behave.
These measures of value are based on your performance; how well you perform at running your business, earning money, or getting things done in order to achieve those markers of success.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be the best version of yourself, or wanting to live in a big house, have well behaved children, or contribute generously to the community. Those are wonderful goals.
The problem occurs when things don’t go according to plan… Maybe you have lost several clients as a result of the pandemic, or maybe you’ve even lost your business, and as a result, you’re left feeling less valuable.
I can tell you, it’s easy to live like that in our modern world. There are so many voices, ads, and influences out there telling all of us that our value lies in these superficial measures. Think about all the experts out there making you feel like your business is worthless if it doesn’t make 6-figures, or that you can’t succeed without a huge social media following, or your work isn’t worth doing if it isn’t life-changing.
Well today, my friends, I want to give you a permission slip to ignore all of that.
If you’ve been living in proving mode – trying to prove that your business can outperform your competitors, or wanting to prove yourself to the people around you – I have a feeling you’re exhausted and frustrated. The problem with proving mode is that you never get to stop proving. Once you prove one thing to one person, you’ve got to prove something else to the next.
Here’s your permission slip to stop proving. You don’t need to prove anything to anyone. You don’t need to prove your value.
You are a person of value no matter what, just as you are right now.
“For you are fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14
It doesn’t matter what mistakes you’ve made in the past. We all make mistakes on the road to building businesses, and it’s essential you look at them as learning opportunities, rather than measures of your value. What you did is not what you are.
Likewise, you don’t need the outside world to tell you who you are. When you put your value in someone else’s hands, you’re living in insecurity. And it’s all too easy to feel devalued. Truthfully, this is a dangerous way to do business.
The danger of attributing your value to how people treat you, your sales performance, your net worth, or a myriad of other external factors is that all of these things can change and many aren’t within your control. When you assign value based on these things, you run the risk of having your self-worth crumble when you make mistakes or encounter struggles.
Often times, other people’s criticisms of you have more to do with what’s going on inside themselves than they do with you. For instance, your prospect’s bad morning leads to you getting a harsh rejection.
But make no mistake, how they treated you does not change who you are.
I love to see my coaching clients succeed at making their businesses thrive, but don’t let that be the reason you feel good about who you are and what you’ve accomplished.
You might have more influence if you’ve built up a big business, but you’re no more valuable than you were when you started with nothing.
Know Your Value
Some people say that when your self worth increases, your net worth increases right along with it. I’m not sure if it’s exactly a straight line from one to the other, but I do think that when your inner confidence shines and you have a self-assured nature, people are delighted to do business with you.
Whether the outside world sees greatness when they look at you and your business or not, you keep doing what you’re doing. You don’t need anyone else’s approval to keep doing what you know is right.
You didn’t achieve your sales goals last year? You’re still worthy.
You received a critical review from a customer despite working your hardest to serve them? You’re still worthy.
You aren’t able to buy your dream home yet? You’re still worthy.
On the surface, what you’re doing might not look all that remarkable to other people – even to yourself at times – but the value is there. Instead of comparing your business to someone else’s, remember where your value comes from. It’s been inside you this whole time.
You don’t have to do anything to prove who you are and how valuable you are.
You are amazing. And you’re doing work worth doing. Keep going.
At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I teach my clients the strategies and mindset to build Legacy Businesses and live their best lives, at work and at home. If you’re ready for a unique coaching experience that never diminishes your value and instead gives you new-found self worth, contact me today.
Celeste Giordano’s mission is to help business owners develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to “DoublePlusTM” their income and become effective and inspirational leaders in their fields. Whether it’s taking your successful business to the next level or starting a new venture, she will teach you the exact skills and strategies you need to enroll more quality prospects, build a rock-solid team, and break through obstacles to achieve real profit and lasting success. Celeste is a professional business growth specialist, a master sales strategist, and dynamic speaker with 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.
To learn more about Celeste, click here.
Want to use this article? Please feel free to use this content as long as you keep it in its original format and include a link to the original post and Celeste Giordano’s brief bio.
At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I work with each client to implement the strategies they’ve been missing that will enable them to break through barriers preventing them from the success they know they are capable of. Contact me today to find your future clients who just don’t know what they’re missing.
