When I was a student in London, I had a part-time job working in a new-age bookshop near Camden Town. One day, Robert Plant, the lead singer for Led Zeppelin, came into the shop and walked up to the owner.
"What have you got that's good?", he asked.
After a few moments thought, the owner walked over to the shelves and handed him one of our most popular items - a subliminal "Abundance" tape that promised to 'condition your mind for wealth'. Plant looked at the tape in amusement.
"Actually," he said, "I think I've got that one covered. What else have you got?"
For the rest of us, here's some thoughts....
Your ability to make money is intimately linked to your ability to add, create, and provide value, whether to a person, a project, a company, or an enterprise. Add more value, (providing that value is recognised), and you have the potential to make more money.
In fact, I'll say it even more clearly:
Money is one of the rewards you get for adding value to the lives of others.
There are essentially four keys to making more money by adding more value:
1. Uniqueness
The more unique the value you provide, the more you will be able to exchange it for. While there are tens of thousands of actors in Hollywood, there are only about six who can reliably put "bums on seats" regardless of the movie that they're in. That's why there are only about six actors who are paid in excess of $20,000,000 a movie.
2. Scope
The more people you add value to, the more money you get to make. Whatever you might think of Bill Gates and Microsoft, their billions of dollars in net worth is largely accounted for by the millions of people whose lives are impacted daily by the development of Windows and its competitive Operating Systems (including all of us reading this article!)
3. Impact
The more of a difference you make in the lives of others, the more money you can demand in return. Why does a doctor get paid more than a teacher? Because most people value their health above their education.
4. Perception
If a monk adds value in a forest but no-one sees what he has done, has he really added value?
In one sense he has, but unfortunately for our poor monk, it is only PERCEIVED value that can be exchanged for hard currency.
Here are a few simple ways you can begin to put these ideas to work in your own life:
1. Rate your current job and/or business on a scale from 1-10 in relation to each of the four keys listed above. Add up your score for an added value "snapshot".
Example: Selling life insurance
"Our product's not very unique, so I'll give myself a 2. I reach a few hundred people a year, so I'll give myself a 5 for scope. I've seen first-hand the impact a good life insurance policy can have on a family in crisis, so I'll take a 6 for that; however, most people people seem to view life insurance as a necessary evil, so I'll give myself a 3. My current score overall is a 16."
2. Brainstorm ways to increase your score by 10 points over the next month.
Example: Playing guitar
"Lots of people play guitar, but the more I work on developing my own unique sound (as opposed to just 'improving'), the more irreplaceable I become.
So far, only a few thousand people have heard my music. By uploading MP3 files to the internet, I can reach a far wider audience in a lot less time than I would just by playing clubs.
Also, while playing guitar might not be the obvious path to resolving the crisis in the middle east, Live 8 and other concerts like it have shown that music and musicians can make a difference - maybe some of my friends and I can put together a special track in aid of the people who are suffering as a result of the conflict. This might increase the number of people I can reach as well as increasing the impact of what I do.
And in terms of perception, it's the record companies I most need to recognise the value of what I have to offer. If I can get some of the industry people I know to write great things about me and why they think I'll do well, I can put together an even stronger package in pursuit of a new deal."
3. Take the next step - put the best of what you've learned into action.
Have fun, learn heaps, and remember to add value to everything you do!
Michael Neill is a licensed Master Trainer of NLP and has written over 450 articles on in the areas of business success, money, relationships, health, happiness, well-being, and spirituality. His weekly coaching column is reprinted in newspapers and magazines throughout the world, and can be found online at http://www.geniuscatalyst.com
limousine chicago serviceThere could not be a better time to mull over... Read More
Many of us do not consider the underlying belief system... Read More
If you're wondering where to create passive income, then you... Read More
There are plenty of people who are in love with... Read More
Why is it that the older and richer people become,... Read More
There are many forms of investing online. While I can... Read More
At any time in history, no matter what the current... Read More
To budget, to have a budget and to be on... Read More
It is sometimes pitful how many projects are never born... Read More
Paper burns and large companies can go bankrupt, but if... Read More
I'm constantly reading articles on the internet and in financial... Read More
No matter what income level you are currently at, generating... Read More
Almost all of us go to work everyday and do... Read More
The idle are a peculiar kind of dead that cannot... Read More
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:6... Read More
Financial planning is an ongoing process individuals and businesses should... Read More
Everyone dreams of early retirement. The idea of no longer... Read More
Some people in this world are thinking that their poor... Read More
You have $100 in your bank account, your rent is... Read More
"Any fool can rich, the wise get wealthy." Chris WidenerGetting... Read More
This is a true story about a homeless man from... Read More
Let's quickly review the principles discussed in the first part... Read More
This retirement account is so new and unique that you... Read More
Ever think about how eating all those fast food meals... Read More
Steve Martin once delivered an opening monologue for Saturday Night... Read More
ornamental street lighting led light bulb replacement Pete's produce ..Many people don't realize how much money they spend on... Read More
E-currency is very popular on the Internet today. People use... Read More
There are few things in life that are more stressful... Read More
Financial planning often gets a bad rap. Part of the... Read More
I have a good friend who works in an area... Read More
The business of banking has changed dramatically over the last... Read More
My First Million took me exactly 27 months to achieve.... Read More
Every day you work is one day closer to your... Read More
According to Wallace Wattles, in his popular wealth treatise called... Read More
Retirement Planning the Offshore Way Why do so many of... Read More
At any time in history, no matter what the current... Read More
Is accumulating wealth as easy as following a 3-step plan?... Read More
When you purchased your home, you most likely got a... Read More
Financial planning is an ongoing process individuals and businesses should... Read More
Here are some thoughts about the morphing of thought and... Read More
As you know, we're now well and truly in theInformation... Read More
Most people know it's important to keep and organize all... Read More
A surprising number of readers want to know "Can a... Read More
It is with great pleasure of having you here at... Read More
"Money Doesn't Grow On Trees."Some of us even believe it.... Read More
Is the ghost of "Money Past" haunting you? Do you... Read More
Financial planning at an early age may seem complicated, however... Read More
Anyone knows that material wealth is measured in goods: apples,... Read More
Everyone wants to be wealthy. Only a few actually achieve... Read More
In my last article on Creating Residual Income I mentioned... Read More
Wealth Building Wealth Building |