A guide to finding, understanding and unleashing your value on the world.

“I’m Not Where I Want To Be.” 👎🏾

I hear this all the time from people I work with, coach or hang with. I mean, I don’t know if anyone ambitious is ever going to be happy with where they want to be. But I also know there are lots of people stuck in jobs, gigs or things they don’t love and that can be demoralizing (trust me, I’ve been there).

I get it.  If you’re not where you want to be or you seem to be stringing together a series of bad days…it can be difficult to find that value, your unique abilities.  And let’s be clear…(most) customers don’t give a rip about your situation.  They only care about what value you provide to them.  But, it’s in these moments where you need to turn for inspiration.  In some professions, it’s really clear.  “I go into burning buildings and save people’s lives.”  For others (most of us) you need to look beneath the surface a little.    

You Have Value 🤗

Listen.  I don’t care what you do.  You might be reading this running an Inc 5000 company or serving fries at the drive through at a fast food chain.  While you might not be where you want to be, I am 100% certain of one thing.  You add value to the world.  And at the end of the day, I think this is where all the magic lies.  Finding your value, getting really clear and comfortable with it and then unleashing it on the world.  But, don’t fool yourself. There is value in what you do, even if you’re unhappy.

1. If you work the drive through at McWhateversville, you might struggle to find your value.  But I assure you it’s there.  That lady three cars back?  She’s a working mom with three crazy kids and doesn’t even have time to breathe.  She needed food and didn’t have time to cook.  You gave that to her.  That’s “meeting basic needs” value and it’s simple, yet powerful. 
   
2. If you’re a number cruncher in some back office finance department wondering why you exist?  Stop that.  I can tell you first hand that money, numbers and financial matters stress the eff out of like 90% of people.  Your superpower (one of many) could simply be that you make numbers easier for others or help your “people” gain more confidence and make better decisions. 
   
3. If you’re stuck in some crappy fashion retail job, folding endless stacks of high rise wide-leg jeans (cause I hear they’re back).  Take a breath.  People buy clothes to feel better about themselves. You have 100 opportunities A DAY to help someone gain just a little more confidence about themselves.  That’s magic pixie dust right there. 
   
4. If you’re a claims adjuster, life can suck for you.  You’re dealing with angry people, in an industry that most people hate (until they need) and doing work that might feel really repetitive and mundane (or even downright depressing). Change your perspective.  You have the opportunity to sit with grieving, distraught and overwhelmed people and add just a little bit of comfort, confidence and kindness in a moment of extreme trauma and stress.  I can tell you this first hand having just gone through this with my mom and an accident.  

Now Find It and Understand It 🧠

At SOCO, most people say that we’re in the workspace game.  I’d humbly rebut that and say that we’re in the hospitality game.  From the moment they come in, to the moment they leave (for a work day, a meeting, an event or even cause it’s Tuesday), our job is to make sure they have an incredible experience.  To help them get a little more out of today than they did yesterday through inspiring spaces, friendly staff, real connections, kick ass resources, etc…. 

It took me a long time to figure this out. Like years. But, once we started focusing on our value, it was amazing to see the results. Growth. Longer term members. More joy in the work we did. Really. All that.

That’s some of the value we seek to add into people’s lives.  So, the real challenge for you if you’re struggling to get to where you want to be is to figure out what it is that you do that creates value in other’s lives, explore it and lean into that.  You’ll feel better and more confident on your journey and you’ll open more doors for yourself.   

The Value Circle – An Exercise ⭕

Ready to make some change happen? Here’s a simple exercise I’ve used before (and you can too!) to help understand, clarify and connect your strengths, value and impact together. It takes a little time (and a little help from others), but is so so valuable on the other side of it. Enjoy Responsibly.

1. Identify Your Strengths: Start by listing your top skills, talents, and qualities. These could be things like communication, problem-solving, empathy, creativity, or leadership. Write down everything you can think of that you feel you are good at or enjoy doing.
   
2. Think About Impact: For each skill or strength you’ve listed, ask yourself: “How does this strength benefit others or contribute to the world?” For example, if you’re a good listener, think about how you help others feel understood and supported. If you’re a creative problem solver, think about how you help teams or organizations overcome obstacles.
   
3. Ask for Feedback: Ask friends, family, or colleagues how they perceive your value. What do they think you bring to their lives or to the table? This can often reveal aspects of your value that you might not be aware of. Need some help on this? Check out our post on Building Connections.
   
4. Create a “Value Map”: Visualize your strengths as a map, with each strength branching out into different ways you make a positive impact. This could be through your job, relationships, hobbies, or volunteer work. Connecting each strength to specific ways it adds value will help you see the bigger picture.
   
5. Think About The Future: Think about the kind of impact you want to leave in the world. What do you want people to remember about you? What mark do you hope to make on the world, even in small ways?