Knowing your own worth
When we search for “How much is Bill Gates worth”, the internet throws up figures such as 118 billion USD. For most corporate slaves, this worth is determined by the figure reflecting on our offer letter under ‘Compensation and Benefits’. We naively convince ourselves that as the number starts getting fatter year after year, our worth is increasing too. But should a piece of paper determine our worth?
Under the garb of modesty, we are conditioned to undermine our own capabilities. Right from demanding more challenging work to negotiating a salary, we are constantly second-guessing ourselves because we underestimate our own worth. Another enemy of self-worth is Impostor syndrome – the thought that you’ve only succeeded due to luck, and not because of your talent or capabilities. We often feel more comfortable attributing our success to external factors rather than giving ourselves the rightful credit.
The most challenging part in my jump from corporate life to being an entrepreneur was believing in my self-worth. Because if you do not believe you are worth it, how do you expect your customers to believe it? The path to this discovery is often laden with extreme vulnerability and internal conflict. But let me tell you, it’s worth it! Realizing your self-worth is about shifting your focus from what others think and say about you to what you think and say about yourself.
Here’s my five-step process that helped me establish, build and sustain my self-worth:
1. Focusing on self-awareness
One of the first things I did was a SWOT analysis of myself. Conscious self-reflection helps you understand your flaws and weaknesses, so you know exactly what you need to improve. You’ll also better understand your strengths and can use them to your advantage. This is the first step to knowing your value.
2. Learning to say no
Saying no looks simple on the surface, but it is the hardest thing to do for most of us. It often stems from self-doubt and low self-esteem. Saying no gives you a sense of power and increases your confidence. As a consultant, it also helps me establish that authority and courage of sticking to what I
know is best for my clients.
3. Stop that comparison NOW!
The most damaging thing we can do to our self-worth is constantly comparing ourselves to others. From the very beginning, society conditions you to equate your worth to materialistic things. A person in a swanky luxury car or a plush bungalow is not necessarily more worthy than you. You should be able to rise above feelings of self-pity and stand tall.
4. Change your orbits
As you make the conscious decision to deal with self-doubt, ensure you have the right circle around you. People who are also on the journey to self-love will help you grow. People who made sense to you during one phase of life may not be able to do so as you move ahead on this journey. It is
important to have the courage to change your orbits.
5. Recognize your self-worth
When you finally reach a point where you don’t need people’s approval, the external circumstances don’t affect your inner strength, and you no longer strive to please others, you are well on your way to achieving a healthy level of self-worth. Embrace this, as this is your companion in being a successful entrepreneur.
Remember that failures and rejections are an unavoidable part of every entrepreneur’s journey. These are likely to make even the toughest nuts question their worth sooner or later. The key is being able to strike that balance between unabashed ambition and a pragmatic approach towards achieving your dreams.
