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
Airbnb cleaning service Arlington Heights ..It all begins with a simple calculation.You are home on... Read More
Six out of six people who were asked to list... Read More
Have you seen a picture of the Parthenon in Athens,... Read More
What if I were to tell you that almost everything... Read More
If you're wondering where to create passive income, then you... Read More
Whether an established conglomerate or a fledgling company, a business... Read More
Perhaps the primary message of Rich Dad, Poor Dad is... Read More
What does becoming rich mean to you? Is it early... Read More
You can learn the secrets of world monetary flow if... Read More
Any successful person, or any anyone interested in self improvement... Read More
Everyone wants to be wealthy. Only a few actually achieve... Read More
I want to share an experience I had in common... Read More
Recently I was reading a book called The Millionaire Mind.... Read More
Have you wondered why financial experts only tell you certain... Read More
Now is a great time to make it a habit... Read More
Almost all of us go to work everyday and do... Read More
They are the object of thinly disguised envy. They are... Read More
As many people have observed, "Success leaves clues." If you... Read More
Every day you work is one day closer to your... Read More
Points to ponder as you consider what can be done... Read More
Steve Martin once delivered an opening monologue for Saturday Night... Read More
"It's the business of your life?and you're the CEO!" Gala... Read More
The word 'diversity' is a unique one. It can represent... Read More
Part of learning to become financially free is to begin... Read More
How many people search Google, Yahoo and MSN each day... Read More
reliable maid service Winnetka ..Parents must give serious thought to protecting their family through... Read More
I recently came across startling figures about the average American's... Read More
Articles on 'How to make money' come a dime-a-dozen. How... Read More
If you don't have discipline then walk away from the... Read More
This new way is catching on around the world. People... Read More
Many people don't realize how much money they spend on... Read More
As you sit in traffic, inching along between irate drivers,... Read More
Like I said, If you are poor and on social... Read More
A surprising number of readers want to know "Can a... Read More
In my last article on Creating Residual Income I mentioned... Read More
One very important wealth creating habit is to set up... Read More
Is it hard to get rich? If you're young, not... Read More
I have given many prosperity lectures over the years and,... Read More
Wealth - an abundance of values. Each of us determines... Read More
An ellipsis to your success is hidden in the word... Read More
Have you any idea how many people search Google every... Read More
A mole travels one road, according to the way nature... Read More
Vacation season is upon us and it can be tempting... Read More
You may think you have to be an entrepreneur to... Read More
You can learn the secrets of world monetary flow if... Read More
There once was a hawk, ferocious and swift. He was... Read More
When I was a student in London, I had a... Read More
Loose change that is, if you want a easy way... Read More
Many of us do not consider the underlying belief system... Read More
1) Pay off your loan, credit and store card debt... Read More
Wealth Building |