What Are You Worth? (Achievement Nudge about Achieving Greater Self-Worth)

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Last Updated on November 18, 2024 by Bill Truby

What are you worth? It matters because your self-worth determines how you treat “you”…and others.

Achieve Greater Self-Worth by Choosing the RIGHT Criteria for Valuation

How are YOU valued? If you were sold for parts, such as bone marrow, DNA, lungs, kidneys, heart, etc., you would be worth about $45 million dollars. If you were sold for the chemicals in your body, you would be worth about $160.00. You could say, “Hey, I’m worth $45 million dollars!” But someone could just as easily say, “Nope, you are only worth the value of 45 Café Mochas!” It depends on what valuation criteria you choose.

There are many ways to value ourselves. Some choose feelings as the criterion. They FEEL like a million bucks one day, then FEEL like a failure the next. Many base their worth on what they do… (actually, more on how they think OTHERS value what they do). But, again, the valuation criterion is what matters. “How much” is clearly tied to what you DECIDE is the scale.

This is true in all valuations. A piece of paper in our pocket or purse has a number on it. We collectively agreed on a valuation standard and gave that paper a value. We call it “money.” But the value is clearly not in the piece of paper. Try to buy a car by writing a number on a piece of stationary. The laughter will be amusing until the car dealer thinks you’re serious. Then he’ll probably look scared.

It’s the CHOSEN valuation criterion that determines value. And it’s the same in valuing YOU. The question isn’t, “HOW MUCH are you worth?” It’s HOW you determine how much you are worth.

Now, be careful. Certain valuation criteria can also limit value. You can see this problem in all of the criteria standards I mentioned above. Each has a cap. You only have so many organs. You only have a limited amount of chemicals in your body. Your feelings are limited by the ONE at the moment. And you can only DO so much. Which criterion do you choose, then?

How about one that is better than all the rest…AND has no cap. I’ll illustrate it with some history. Around 1700 BC, the Phoenicians discovered a way to make purple dye. They carefully extracted a few drops of fluid from the murex, a shellfish found in the waters off of Tyre and Sidon. The process was difficult, expensive, and rare. It took nearly 60,000 shellfish to make one pound of purple dye, and you couldn’t get it anywhere else in the world. Only the rich could buy purple fabric. And that’s why purple was associated with royalty. Kings could afford it. Not many others could. The purple dye was valuable because of its rarity. It was one-of-a-kind. The criteria, then? Just because it existed, it was valuable.

Now, back to valuing you…How many “YOU’s” are there? Right! Just one. You are unique. So, you are incredibly valuable. And you are so, simply just because you exist. That’s the valuation criterion to use. Existence!

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This article is part of our ongoing Achievement Nudge series—short, witty, and often inspirational articles to spark your personal and professional growth. Explore more nudges on our blog, or sign up for our weekly Nudge and News email. Each edition includes an Achievement Nudge plus leadership, professional development, and personal growth videos and articles to keep you inspired and on track.

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