The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted nearly every industry in the world. As many of us seek to realign ourselves and our businesses, being able to pivot with grace is crucial.
What do you value? What do you prioritize? What is the biggest dream you have for your life? Answering these questions and noticing what your answers have in common is a great place to start. But to get even more focused on your values and goals, I recommend using the following three techniques.
1. Do a “why” assessment.
According to New York Times best-selling author and motivational speaker Simon Sinek, “people don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.” Have you ever stopped and considered the “why” behind what you do professionally?
At my own career crossroads, I asked myself these three questions:
- What would I do if no one paid me to do it?
- What would I do if I knew I couldn’t fail?
- What makes me come alive?
None of my answers aligned with my current company or job title, so I decided to reimagine what my life might look like if they did. I then quit my job, turned down a handful of outside offers and started my own speaking business. Seventeen years later, I feel extremely unified to my why.
2. Build your skills.
Next, I’d suggest looking into leveling up or creating an “x-factor” through skill building. What strengths could you easily add or expand upon? What skillset would help you stand out in your field?
Improving your skills and learning new ones can help prime you for countless opportunities that might come your way.
3. Assert your value.
The last step is to recognize and assert your value. Small business owners, entrepreneurs and freelancers are uniquely disadvantaged to charge their worth.
A few years into my speaking career, I was chatting with a colleague when the topic of value came up. Based on his reaction, I began to sense I might be undercharging for my services. I gave him a scenario and asked what he would invoice for similar work. His response? Five times what I was charging. When I asked what made him feel comfortable billing at that rate, he looked me square in the eye and said: “It’s all between your ears. What do you think you’re worth?”
You owe it to yourself to evaluate your personal and professional alignment. After all, we spend one-third of our lives at work. How would you spend that time if given the choice?
This article originally appeared in the November/December 2020 issue of SUCCESS magazine.
Photo by @canipel/Twenty20.com
