A question asked as an exercise in my writing group. We had only 5 minutes to write about this topic, but it got me to really thinking. Are we as business owners a good investment? What are we worth?
What is your ROI?
If worth is measured buy ROI (return on investment) what would you be worth? I have spent years learning my craft and years creating stories and characters. I read anything and everything I can to learn more, learn new techniques to be better at what I do.
These things I feel are worth investing in. Education is a constant return. My talent was given to me at birth. I feel I must honor the giver and use it to it's fullest potential. I must grow with it and get my own skin in the game. This is invaluable.
Do you have sellable assets?
It seems that everything lately is a commodity. People, products, businesses. Yet we are not valued by ourselves, so in turn our value in the commodities market goes down. Are we setting our own price to low?
It takes time and experience to grow a business. Yet we tend to think that anyone can do what we do. "It is easy for me, so it isn't really worth that much." We devalue our assets and then wonder why we are not paid what we are worth.
Do you present yourself as a good investment?
We all need an arsenal of assets a.k.a. accomplishments that we can present to our investors. These accomplishments are our currency if you will. The more we collect, the more we will be worth to potential investors. Say what I want to do is start a toy line to sell in retail stores. In my accomplishments database I have 25+ years of retail experience. I would be worth more as an investment.
When looking at yourself as an investment, look at the whole picture. Look at the years of education, not just school but what you have learned on the various jobs you have done. Look at your talents. What are you good at, passionate about, love to do more than anything. These too are assets.
Now look at the work you have done. What projects have you worked on that feeds into your assets. Do you have testimonials from former clients. Big assets value in there.
Do What You Love. The Money will Follow
If we present our case with passion and love of what we are doing, we will be valued at a much higher rate. Our ROI will be through the roof. Gone are the days of taking risks, but too gone are the days when investors only look at physical assets. They want to know your passions, your assets in how you started on this journey and where you want to go.
Could you stand in the mirror and talk about what you do with true conviction, true passion and tell those investors just what you are made of, what your true assets are?
I have now at this middle age of my life have come to realize that my quest to learn, grow, create and teach my passion are truly a highly treasured gift. A gift that with further investment will grow, flourish and create something of unimaginable proportions. I am worth any investment of time, love or money.
What will you say to the mirror or the investors in your life? Can you present yourself as a person worth investing in?
Learn more about the author, Susan Straub-Martin.
Susan,
I love this article and I especially do because I know where it originated from!
"What will you say to the mirror or the investors in your life? Can you present yourself as a person worth investing in?"
Powerful Questions to ask as many times as we need to.
You have so blossomed as a writer and blogger and really know how to touch a nerve in the readership.
Cheers and Bravo!
Deborah Drake
Authentic Writing Provokes
Thought provoking article, I really enjoyed it!
Thank Deborah and Sandy. I really do love the exercise of writing and will continue to put forth more as my brain is inspired.
Susan, That's a good way to look at personal development/self image. I like the fact that you know you are worth any investment.
Hope I can get there too.
Thank you Timothy. I am glad you found my article useful.
You just keep cranking out insightful stuff, Susan. Please continue.
Calculating one's personal ROI is tough. I know a guy who built a career using the following six-step model and in the process determined his own worth:
In conjunction with the operations person with P&L responsibility for the problem:
Step 1: clearly define the scope/facets of the problem, paying particular attention to what's at stake (short- and long-term) if the problem is not fixed
Step 2: Calculate all aspects of the cost of the problem
Step 3: Create a unique, custom solution to address the unique problem (no generic cookie-cutter solutions permitted)
Step 4. Implement solution and monitor all aspects of its implementation
Step 5. Track and tally results
Step 6. Calculate ROI and share the credit, being careful to neither hog the limelight nor hide from it.
Thank you for your wisdom and your heart.
Don Burrows
“Think there’s no work? Nobody’s hiring? Burn your résumé. It’s time for a Professional Profile©.”
No hiding a light under a bushel for me any more. I think my lantern has a 1000 watt bulb in it as of late. Thanks to great mentors like you Don.
Thank you, Susan. What precious little I have contributed, it has been my pleasure to do so.
Don -
“Think there’s no work? Nobody’s hiring? Burn your résumé. It’s time for a Professional Profile©.”
The difficulty might lie in the "Supply and Demand" scenario. While your points are well made and looking in the mirror at one's self with daily challenges is profound, understanding the supply and demand is so very important.
Fortunately the Internet has eliminated the need for a middle man which allows the small business owner to pursue their passions a bit easier.
The digital camera has made "anyone" a photographer and YouTube makes everyone a broadcaster.
eBay taught us that value may be in the eye of the beholder.
I appreciate the aspect of "true conviction". This is about "vision" and "mission".
Thank you for sharing the thoughts and inspiring others to look at themselves more deeply.
Great article....A lot to think about. I want to have a high ROI & I hope that is what I deliver to my clients
So true! I used to be uncomfortable charging (appropriately) for my services until I did a few ROI exercises. thanks.
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