This article looks at a point made in one of my image quotes, and it’s a point that upsets some…
“Your level of success reflects the value you bring.”
You might consider the point and agree with it right away, or you might disagree right away, but I think it’s worth deeper examination, and the first thing to look at is what you would define as ‘success.’
Maybe you think of success in monetary terms, that success is measured in the size of the pay packet, and the material surroundings that accompany it.
It could be that you don’t think of success as a money thing at all, that success is to do with following your goals and passions, or maybe serving society.
It’s an important difference, and if you think of success as a money thing, then logic does seem to suggest that to be more successful, I.e. earn more money, you have to offer more as an employee than people on less wages.
If you bring more value, which would be a skill of some sort, then a promotion will come, and so will more money.
Why, then, does the point upset people? Well, it upsets people because of the word ‘YOU’ in the sentence – the fact that success reflects the value *YOU* bring.
I hear people moaning that they are being held back, that they aren’t being given a fair chance, their face doesn’t fit, if so and so only did this, if so and so only did that, then they’d be more successful.
Hmm.
If you take this view, then the problem is that you are putting the responsibility for your success in other people’s hands! The phrase doesn’t say ‘your success reflects the value that other people bring!’ It’s down to you!
If other people are holding you back, go somewhere else! If you’re not getting a fair chance, go somewhere else! If your face doesn’t fit, go somewhere else!
If you are bringing a level of value to a situation, and you don’t feel it’s being recognised with success, then there will be somewhere where it *is* recognised. To say otherwise is to shirk taking the responsibility.
It may mean upheaval, moving, travel, hardship, but if that’s what it takes, you won’t be the first and you won’t be the last who has to go through hardship to find success!
Or, if you feel you are trapped in an employment structure which will never sufficiently reward the level of value you bring, then why not branch out on your own? If the value you bring is so high, it’ll be value to customers, customers that you can find yourself!
If success for you doesn’t mean money, but passion, fulfilment, service, etc, then in many ways that’s easier, because the correlation between the level of success and the value you bring is less in the hands of others in the first place. Other people don’t control the recognition of your value, it’s a straight connection with customers.
Particularly with the power of the internet, you can put your value out there, and it will reach the people it’s intended for.
‘Success’ is indeed a slippery customer to define, because it’s an individual definition. Many people who strive for years to achieve what some people might describe as success, are deeply unhappy because they not been following their passions, so the value they have brought has been value on other people’s terms.
However you look at it, I think that’s a key element. The value you bring has to be something that’s valuable to you, because then to increase that value will seem like a natural progression rather than a hardship, and the success will come in due course, almost as a happy by-product.
If you’re trying to increase value just because someone else says you should, then you’ll most likely get caught working for someone else, probably resentful, and more than likely moaning about it. If you expect your success levels to rise in a situation like that, then it’ll be slow and laborious.
So, think of your success levels. If you’re happy with them, then great! Not everyone is unhappy with their level of success, but if you *are* unhappy about it, if you feel there could and should be more, then think about the value you bring.
Can you do more? Is your real value in fact doing something completely different to what you currently do? Your value to others and your value to yourself?
It could be that it’s time for a change, and if that’s the case, then as always, it’s down to you, and down to your choice, and my advice would be go where you know your best value is in full flow, and that’s where you’ll find your biggest success. It can be a life changer!
I’d love to hear what you think – I love the feedback!
‘Til Next Time,
Health & happiness,
Gordon
P.S. Don’t forget to connect with me via social media, I have a new Facebook page, The Great Gordino Newsletter
