n. 1. An amount, as of goods, services, or money, considered to be a fair and suitable equivalent for something else; a fair price or return.
tr.v. val·ued, val·u·ing, val·ues 1. To determine or estimate the worth or value of; appraise.
2. To regard highly; esteem. See Synonyms at appreciate.3. To rate according to relative estimate of worth or desirability; evaluate: valued health above money.4. To assign a value to (a unit of currency, for example). val·ue (vly)
In our materialistic and consumer driven culture within North America, we always look at objects and determine what it’s worth to us, whether it’s worth the price that’s listed on the tag and whether that price is worth it’s value to us. That’s the beauty and art of sales. Everything has a value to somebody whether it be a $1 chocolate bar to a $2000 laptop to a $240 pair of jeans. While materials are easy to determine their value because they’re all created with a purpose and for an target market, how easy is it to determine the value of a person? How valuable are you?
If you’ve been looking for a pair of jeans that fit comfortably and suit your style and find a pair that costs $240, then you will pay $240 and not fret about the price. But if you just ate and couldn’t stomach another bite, the $1 you spend on the chocolate bar is $1 too much. The value has to match the price or there will be no worth to you. Of course, this is subjective and similar to the rule that applies to opinions, value carries different weight with different people in different circumstances.
The difference with a chocolate bar and you, however, is that the chocolate bar has no sense of self worth. It merely exists for one purpose while you exist for multiple purposes and carry many values, each worth something to someone. To your employer, your skills and experience carry value and they pay you for that. To your friends, your friendship, kindness and loyalty are the value. To your significant other, perhaps your sweetness, sense of humour and support carry weight. The better rounded you are, the more you can provide, the more valuable you are. The problem with value comes in when people wrongly think they have it and flaunt it shamelessly, or flaunt it in the wrong light. If youwork in sales but instead of selling you end up providing great customer service without turning any profits, then you aren’t worth much to your employer. If you’re really hot and attractive, but you’re self-centered and conceited, then you wouldn’t make a very good girlfriend but a great model you’d be.
The value has to match the situation, or there is no worth to whomever you are presenting yourself to. Whether it be your employer, your family, friends or partner, you need to determine what your own strengths are and exhibit them in a light that best showcases your values in a venue that they would prove useful. When you’ve found your niche, that’s when you are most productive and most valuable.