Are You Worth What You Think You Are?
By Kevin Nations Posted on Aug 06, 2010
“How can I get people to understand just how valuable I am?” As the premier thought leader in the area of helping people understand and communicate their true value – this is one of the questions I run into all the time.
The challenge with this question is – you are! People understand precisely just how valuable your contribution is and respond accordingly. Your income is a direct reflection of the value you are currently delivering to the market. I mean – hey – the universe isn’t in the habit of making mistakes!
So why is it that some of the people that you see in the marketplace as just noise are making more money than you? Could this theory hold true for them as well? Are they REALLY more valuable to the change in this world than you are.
The answer is – simply – YES! They are!
Ouch! And so I’m saying that even with YOUR commitment to excellence, YOUR study, YOUR skill that you’re being upstaged in the value arena by someone who simply promotes promotes promotes?
Yup!
Puh-lease tell me it ain’t true.
Sorry – it’s the honest truth!
But HOW? HOW? HOW? HOW? can this be? The absolute heresy of this is just making your skin crawl I’m sure. The ‘content – purists’ among us may raise their self-righteous heads and decry the absolute common-sense test that I’ve held here.
And they may search for reasons that their commitment to transformation has made them difficult to access. That ‘charlatans’ and ‘snake-oil’ marketers are misleading the market and breeding distrust which makes it more difficult for them to sell their ‘pure’ stuff.
Hogwash…
OK – let’s just agree for a moment that there are some people who pay FAR closer attention to their content / contribution than others. THAT is obvious to even the most naive of us…
What’s tougher to swallow is just how little value some content-purists bring to their world and why…
Here’s the answer AND how to change it in a jiffy. Love it or hate it – if you aren’t making the kind of money you need – you’ll never make it UNTIL you take the following two actions… GULP – Yep I said it!
Numero UNO- Your value to the world is impacted by both the power of your message AND the people you successfully impact to invest in themselves and take action and put the message you teach into action in THEIR lives.
Developing a communication strategy to reach your prospects and bring them to a decision is your responsibility – not the responsibility of your prospects. So if you’ve got something with a value contribution of 100 and you’re getting ONE person a month to use it – your impact to the world is far less than someone with a service that has a value contribution of 2 and is getting it into use by thousands. Nuf said…
Numero DOS- (and a HUGE dose this one is to swallow)
You know yourself better than ANYONE else in the universe. If you’re not investing in YOURSELF regularly – then you have determined just how worthless you really are!
Your prospects cannot be expected to invest in you when you’ve made the determination to try to avoid investing in yourself!
I had several communications this past week with HUGE players in industry and each of us had randomly invested tens of thousands of dollars into our own professional development. And at a time when we were arguably doing so well – we were each scrambling to do anything possible to do even better.
Meanwhile – I constantly hear feedback from those who ‘just aren’t consistently making it’ telling me that they’re waiting to invest in themselves until they can make some money.
Kind of like waiting to invest and plant a tree until some random fruit just shows up so that you can eat for free and use the seeds…
Oooops!
It is really sad that with so many contribution ‘gifts’ available in the world that the stewards of those gifts would hold them hostage to their small thinking in the areas of taking responsibility for who invests with them AND in investing in their ongoing growth to set a precedent for excellence for their prospects to follow.
And… it happens all the time.
So – the next time you see a competitor with an ‘inferior contribution’ blowing past you in the area of income (and thus value!)…
Ask yourself how YOU can change it! Find a mentor that can help you develop a communication formula that is worthy of that great contribution you offer. And who can help you get your gift in front of as many people as possible and change the value formula for what you offer. It IS within you to do this…
The question is will you?
Be vocal – Post your confessions of how this is ‘SO YOU’, your commitments to change as a result of this post, your celebrations of how you broke through this challenge or your challenges to the truth of it all in the comments section. Hey, this is a volley of thought that is intended for your response. I leave ALL respectful comments up regardless of your position on the topic so weigh in now!
Watch TNA Victory Road 2012
Mar 16th, 2012
Definitely believe that which you stated. Your favorite justification appeared to be on the net the simplest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get annoyed while people think about worries that they plainly do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top as well as defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people could take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Cheers Watch TNA Victory Road 2012
Nikkea B. Devida
Aug 11th, 2010
Hi Kevin,
What you said here really rings true. I actually DO regularly invest in myself and I definitely see how that directly corresponds to how much others are willing to invest in themselves through me.
Yes, I’m one of those who invests 10′s of thousands in myself to make sure I’m at the top of my game. After all, it’s what I teach my clients.
So, for my own integrity, I definitely need to walk the talk so I can speak congruently about having them step up and invest in themselves via one of my programs.
Thanks for the post!
Nikkea B. Devida
When Is Investing In Yourself A Waste Of Money? « Purpose, Passion & Profits
Aug 10th, 2010
[...] question ‘Are You Worth What You Think You Are’? ( click here to read it for yourself http://kevinnations.com/blog/mindset/are-you-worth). And it got me thinking, when is investing in yourself a waste of [...]
Kevin Nations
Aug 8th, 2010
I’m honored and humbled by the thoughtful responses on both sides of the conversation!
In a future post, I’ll address the difference between VALUE and IMPACT. Some people here and most likely elsewhere confuse the two.
As challenging as this may be to digest – one can have massive IMPACT and not much VALUE!
-
… just because a reality is challenging doesn’t make it less real!
An amazing contribution I love making is taking someone who delivers IMPACT and level-set their VALUE up about 1000 notches!
It’s amazing how the world changes when that happens.
For those of you who’ve made that shift – CONGRATS! I’ve LOVED working with you and am so blessed to be your mentor!
I’ll be posting here sooner rather than later. Sorry for the slight hiatus. I’m developing some cooooooolio stuff to share with you guys!
Lots of Love
Kevin
DENISE HALL
Aug 7th, 2010
Kevin is ‘right on’, and I appreciate the comments!
Thank you so very much!
Julie Bernstein Engelmann
Aug 7th, 2010
Addendum to my previous post: Okay, I have to add that I do appreciate the point you’re making now that I can digest it after having defended the good hearts of mankind.
Julie Bernstein Engelmann
Aug 7th, 2010
Apparently I am the only one willing to put myself on the chopping block.
“Your income is a direct reflection of the value you are currently delivering to the market. I mean – hey – the universe isn’t in the habit of making mistakes!”
How about when a person simply doesn’t ask the universe to pay them, or doesn’t think they are worth being paid? In that case a person can deliver value and still the universe isn’t making a mistake when it doesn’t deliver the income.
For example, a member of our local theater group just became homeless. He has given tremendous value to our community (and, I would say, to its marketplace) – directing plays, involving and teaching hundreds of children over the years, holding the group together through thick and thin. But it was volunteer work. His efforts have meant the theater group survived financially, but he did not.
Of course there were reasons he didn’t have money, probably having to do with seeing himself as a square peg in a round hole and not valuing himself.
And here’s a different example. My nephew is a wonderful and sweet occupational therapist who does not earn much money. Someone in the big HMO where he works is earning a lot of money from the value my nephew offers to the marketplace. And a lot of clients gratefully benefit from that value.
The universe will bring him more money – it would be impossible for that not to happen. But if you looked in his bank account right now you would not see the income; it is sitting in his “vibrational escrow” as Abraham-Hicks would say, waiting to show up when he aligns himself with it.
But if he were to judge himself as not delivering value to the marketplace just because the money hasn’t shown up yet would be a terrible disservice to himself.
Your message is harshly spoken, which is counterproductive to the reader feeling worthy. The net effect of reading your words is to think, “The fact that I don’t have a lot of income means I’m doing (or being) something wrong.”
As long as someone thinks they are doing or being “wrong,” there is no way the universe is going to shower them with money.
If you can encourage people that they are doing something right, you will be one step more helpful and kind.
Who knows, maybe you will deliver even more value to the marketplace.
Nancy Marmolejo
Aug 7th, 2010
Whoa! You spare no mercy.
Actually, I was really moved by this post. The passion and the “telling it like it is” made me read it twice before commenting. I wanted to absorb it fully and not comment from a place of reaction.
Your numero uno is perfect. If you have a masterpiece, you don’t hide it under a blanket. You showcase it and fill the world with the “medicine” it holds. Invisible perfectionists do more harm than good.
Numero dos is one I’ve learned by putting it into action. And I see over and over again the people who think they can build a business solely on free info or free teleseminars- it just doesn’t work. You need the mentoring to go with it. Information without mentoring is like sheet music without the music teacher.
Nancy
Dr. Adam Sheck
Aug 7th, 2010
LOVE the metaphor of the fruit tree! It’s definitely about the flow. And while “value’ is one of those interesting words, I would definitely agree that most of us don’t have an accurate sense of our value (self-esteem versus self-respect) and are even WORSE at sharing our value with others. Certainly my growth edge.
Adam
Michael Anderson
Aug 7th, 2010
Thanks Kevin,
I’ve been saying similar things to my list at sellmyknowledgonline.com for a few months. But you have captured it much more concisely. But as internet marketers we also tend to preach to ourselves (my communications to my prospects are also communications to myself!!!) to invest more in our own education. I think you acknowledge this immediately in your post. My mentors have been Bernadette Doyle and Carrie Wilkerson. I’m also thinking of adding Kevin Nations!!!! Since our business needs change and develop over time so can our mentors.
Your post is both challenging and prophetic. Love it!
Michael
Jhet aka Juliet van Ruyven
Aug 7th, 2010
Kevin you hit my head on that. Numero uno and numero dos ring true for me.
Guilty as charged. While I continue to be a life- long learner, I keep on investing on myself, I must admit that I got to do something by being responsible, accountable of following thru what I learened.
I know I have a message to the world that only me an no one else can deliver this message. I have now to lay the plans and strategies how to make a quantum leap with that.
a) Investing in one self is the best investment one can never go wrong.
b) Implementation and following through is the key
c) It it’s to be it’s up to me
d) The value of our income is in direct proportion of what we give to the world!
More power to you!
In love and gratitude
Jhet aka Juliet van Ruyven
Jacqueline
Aug 7th, 2010
Hey Kevin,
I absolutely love your candor, and I agree with you 100%. If you don’t invest in yourself, that is the exact message that you are sending to what could be your ideal client. Why should they invest in you?
This is a huge factor with the Laws of the Universe. Pay it forward, and it will come full circle. This is truly a big energy message!
The pig wearing the lipstick is probably the same one that some great coach cast his pearls infront of. As leaders, we not only need to keep current with the cycle of pay it forward riches, but we must avoid “casting our pearls before swine”!
Smiles,
Jacqueline
Anthony
Aug 6th, 2010
I’ve been able to improve my communications strategy by… actually communicating with my prospects.
Instead of working like a mad scientist, creating the perfect message I thought everyone wanted, I started to actually call my customers and start telling them what I can do for them.
With all these extra interactions I was able to adapt my message and actually start seeing the pain points my prospects were dealing with and offer solutions.
Your RAPID selling system is amazing, and I have been using it as my model for interactions.
Letting them talk through their pain is a very practical way to find the key selling points.
My only issue is, as a website presence/internet marketer, a lot of companies already have a “guy” to do it all.
I need to find a way to become their “guy” or offer a complimentary service.
NUMERO Dos is great… But unless you apply or go through the teachings you will waste your money, and get frustrated.
And when you REALLY don’t have enough money, and are just getting by, it can be almost impossible to invest.
I guess that is why you have a free blog for us to enjoy and learn from!
Malinda Williams
Aug 6th, 2010
Kevin you are right. We must be willing to invest in ourselves first, no excuses. We have to be willing to purchase the seed not wait for the tree to produce fruit to get the seeds free.
I guess many people do want to make money online but they do not want to do what it takes and it takes work, honest work and investing in yourself. Investing in myself is something that I do believe in.
I can see that if we would like to see more business come our way it does make sense that we should change our communication strategy. Then maybe we would begin to see our incomes rise.
Thank you for this article Kevin and I am going to remember what you said and apply it I am still learning and that is something we should never stop doing. Because I too, want to be able to earn an income through my efforts online, as well.
I do want to communicate my true value and I am willing to do what it takes to get the job done.
Nitsan
Aug 6th, 2010
To my mother I am priceless. But to the marketplace I am worth exactly what they are actively paying me.
Marketing is a game like any other. So if I want to win I had better get a great coach and work out according to a master.
Not having money to invest in a coach is a problem. Not succeeding when I am training with a coach is a problem. But only a problem.
As Les Brown says: if you have a problem that money can solve– you aint got a problem.
Each time I get stuck and broke I know that the way out is going to cost me money and I need the guidance of someone wiser than I. I have found that looking for cheap solutions is a frame of mind that keeps me stuck. The most effective and cheapest solution is to hire brilliant and wise persons to solve things once and well.
Bill
Aug 6th, 2010
I think I have to respectfully disagree with you on this Kevin. Plainly, if you are referring to the idea that the worth of something is whatever the market will pay, I’ll agree, but just because you see a lot of smoke from something, it does not mean there is any fire.
This line of thinking is precisely the same that makes Alan Greenspan teach the gospel of “Debt equals Wealth,” and while that is true for 1% of the world, the other 99% get to foot the bill, and in the last year or two, to one degree or another I think most of us have tasted a little of it.
Where I will definitely agree though is, no matter how powerful and world changing your information is, unless you get really good at not only being visible, but also in expressing what it is you bring to the table and why everyone should be eating it, you could have free energy and no one would be buying.
That said, I will maintain that the “Peter Principle” is still a very real phenomena, and a pig with lipstick is still a pig.
Elaina
Aug 6th, 2010
Note to self – Do NOT ask Kevin if these jeans make me look fat, because not only will he say YES if it’s true, but he’ll also point out that jeans don’t “make you” look fat.
Once again Kev, you have your finger on the pulse of where people get stopped. We wonder why our prospects won’t take the leap, yet we practice that very same “someday” mentality that so perturbs us about them, (as if it’s ever about THEM.) Maybe it’s time to give up being bewildered and just start practicing what we preach about action.
Thanks for always shaking things up so that we may grow!
Carolyn Small
Aug 6th, 2010
Kevin, you hit the nail squarely on the head. Thanks for a great post. Be Blessed. Carolyn
John Susko
Aug 6th, 2010
Ouch! That did sting.
After just having lost losing one of the biggest potential clients for my web video SEO services I had to take a good hard look at what I did wrong. (Sure, at first I really wanted to blame them for just not being ‘smart’ enough to see all the value and the 20X ROI, and the beautiful 28-page proposal and all the free advice given along the way and etc., etc.)
Then I re-listened to your “Sales Call Secrets” audio program and, naturally, the answer was plain as day. Failing to qualify their marketing budget was the mistake I made, and the reason I believe I wasted my time AND did not get the sale.
So now my immediate investment becomes re-learn the process you outline and deeply internalize it so it is more automatic.
Andrea|Empowered Soul
Aug 6th, 2010
I love it, Kevin! Our circumstances ARE a perfect mirror – and you’re right, our bank accounts DON’T lie.
I’ve been doing really well, but I just made a fairly uncomfortable investment in myself and now I’m working like crazy on my communications strategy to make it even better!
Who cares how brilliant we are in our own four walls if we can’t make an impact!
Blessings,
Andrea