How Good are You at Creating Personal Value?
Paul White's nationally distributed syndicated column, “How Good are You at Creating Personal Value?” is published in 22 publications across seven states. This includes the following newspapers and digital publications: Midland Daily News (MI), SFGate (CA), Seattle PI (WA), Connecticut Post (CT), Laredo Morning Times (TX), Huron Daily Tribune (MI), The Telegraph (IL), and more. In this week's article, Paul presents a worthwhile thought process of Creating Personal Value as a simple, and enjoyable, experience… And most importantly, a gift you give to yourself.
Creating Personal Value is probably not a thought process that you’ve ever considered. That’s why I’m asking you to consider it today. It can end up being one of the most important self-analysis tools that determines the amount of consistent joy you experience each day. Don’t like the term self-analysis? That’s a shame. I’d guess that you may not like it because you pay attention to the spin that drives self-analysis in the negative direction pointing out what your faults are rather than the positive spin of all the attributes you, as an individual, have to offer our society and the world. Take note that pointing out your faults is much more profitable for people pursuing taking your money and making it their money than encouraging you and acknowledging all that makes you unique and wonderful. I admit that I’ve become obsessed with creating a list of what’s right with an individual to the point I’m nearly a professional at it, and I’m pretty much a total failure at creating a list of what’s wrong with an individual. Maybe that’s why I’m so happy pretty much all the time.
Back to creating Personal Value. I’m a big fan of lists. They help me focus. They can also be fun and exciting when you’re looking for the good…especially in yourself. A great place to begin creating Personal Value is to create three lists specific to yourself. The first list is comprised of all the things you’re capable of. Can you read? Mark that down. Are you curious? Mark that down. Do you understand BASIC math? Add that to the list? Are you nice? What are 10 things you’re capable of? What are the 5 best qualities of your character? What are 10 things that you’ve accomplished in life so far?
The second list is comprised of all the things that you’re good at. What’s great about this list is that no two lists, in the entire world of people, are exactly the same. This is what makes you unique and so valuable to our society. These are the skill sets you possess that can drive much of your purpose in life. Isn’t it logical that if we’re all doing the things that we’re best at each day, our personal value exponentially increases to our family, our employer, our community, and to the greater world? This list may be the one that’s most fun to spend time creating. It’s a form of positive self-analysis and will put you in a great mood every time you think of something to add to it. This is NOT the time to allow any negative thoughts to hinder this process. It’s the time to be completely honest with yourself and take note of even the smallest of attributes that you possess. I’m reluctant to make any suggestions because this is one list you really don’t need any help from anyone else. This list will become one of the greatest gifts you will ever give yourself. Embrace the joy of creating it.
The third list may require some deeper thought. It’s a list of all the areas you’ve made improvement in throughout your life. What are you better at today than you were in the past? This list can include going all the way back to your childhood. I’ll bet you can walk better (maybe even run), you can talk better, you recognize social cues better, you’re more compassionate, caring, loving. You’re better at managing money (it’s okay that there may have been missteps along the way). You’re better at shopping, creating lists, being organized, managing a household, being on time, handling responsibility, taking pride in the work you do,
A sub-list to this third list, which is more important than the actual list itself, defines HOW you accomplished the improvement and WHY you pursued the improvement in the first place. This sub-list will become the most powerful encouragement tool in your plan to create even greater Personal Value moving forward. Just like the second list, this sub-list is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. It will bolster your confidence, help define your character, and help you create a personal roadmap guiding you to putting your newly defined Personal Value to it’s best use in your life.
I’ve attempted to present this worthwhile thought process of Creating Personal Value as a simple, and enjoyable, experience. It can be a gift you give to yourself. ALL of us benefit from an individual who has defined their skills and the things they’re good at, who has recognized the things they’ve improved in over their lifetime, and who’s recognized the HOW and the WHY of what drove that improvement. If you take the time to follow the lists I’ve shared, then you’ll be better prepared for a re-introduction to the world at large: Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you an individual who offers Great Personal Value to our current society, (insert YOUR NAME here). And the crowd goes wild!!
This article was especially fun to write. Why? Because I really do believe in the best of every individual. It’s what I seek when I meet someone new, and also with people I’m familiar with. Plus, I’m hooked on the benefits of encouraging others to realize all the things that are RIGHT with their life. So, PLEASE…GiddyUp and start creating the lists mentioned above right now. Don’t overthink it. Just get busy doing it. Remember…I Believe In YOU! GiddyUp!
In addition to being a nationally syndicated columnist, Paul White is an author, motivational and inspirational speaker, entrepreneur, podcaster, and life coach located in Midland, Michigan. His new book, “The Answer Discovery – How to Change the World by Helping Others…and Ourselves,” is available to purchase today. If you’re interested in getting in touch with Paul, please submit an inquiry via our Contact Page.