WALK IN EMPTY, WALK OUT WITH A BAG

"I will like to walk into a place empty and walk out with bags," I said with an air of carefreeness.

"You are on a road trip to being a bandit," My friend chuckled.

Come to think of it. Only a woman with a gun walks into a place with an empty bag and walks out with a bag full of goodies. What direction is my merry-go-round talk headed?

The unwanted marksman who never misses a shot in a squad, the industrious wife of a lazy man whom he never sends away, the arrogant ultra-skilled employee who can't be fired, and the badly behaved yet talented Mario Balotelli of the 2010 Inter Milan squad all have something in common.

As much as they are not totally indispensable, they had value to offer. This is what kept all the individuals mentioned in place.

I am no proponent of behaving in an uncultured manner but suffice me to say, that the good, bad and ugly is a triad.

Value is the leverage that enables you walk in as a nobody with an empty bag and walk out with your head high and a bag full of goodies. Value is evident irrespective of wherever you are; home, school, work, organisation or even in the clouds ...ask the sun, everything smiles when it's out.

One sweet thing about your value is that it is returned to you in the form of appreciation. We have different names for this: commendations, recommendations, fees, costs, charges, tickets, etc.

Did you notice something interesting? The word “value” and the word “money” are both five-lettered?

But, hey! Do you have value? You are trying to figure this out, I know.

Do people recommend you, pay for your services, ask for advice, appreciate your presence, see the need to partner with you or even look for you? Then you are the MVP!

On some days, I wish value is something we could build like a skyscraper along the street of Lagos Island and walk away but that's absolutely impossible.

Creating or building value is a continuous activity. It is a lifelong journey.

So how do you about this 'abstract talk' on creating value?

Build your personal brand
Build your competence and sharpen your skills
Build your self-worth
Toot your horn
Be fierce about your pursuit of excellence

"Try not to be a man of success but a man of value" - Albert Einstein.

Is creating value a priority for you?

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