Value what you do.

It can be so easy to dismiss the level of knowledge and experience we have gathered over the years in our chosen field, and the value of it to others. To us, we see how much more there is to know, how much better we want to be. We’re looking forward.

It‘s not uncommon to assume that everyone else knows all the stuff that we do. If we know it then everyone else probably does as well, right?

I initially thought those kinds of thoughts when I started my bookkeeping business 9 years ago, because numbers are easy right? But then I started talking to other business owners who told me that numbers did their head in.

Today I was a bit nervous going into a WorkflowMax and Xero training session at an accounting practice. Even though I know my stuff, I know what I’m talking about and I’m a good trainer, I was anxious that I wouldn’t be able to teach these particular people anything they didn’t know already, because these are my peers in a way. Surely they know at least what I know, probably more, I thought.

I don’t know why I was worried. They had called me in specifically because they needed help, and turns out they got huuuge value from our time together. As a result of my training they will save hours of time each week and have far more streamlined and efficient processes.

I recently coached a lovely guy who was running a large company. He was wanting to secure another job, largely because he was working so many hours each week and kept being given more, and he didn’t feel valued by the owners of the business.

He had learned on the job and didn’t have educational qualifications, and was lacking in self-confidence around his worth as an employee. That’s what brought him to me.

We talked and out of our conversation I was able to pull out so many skills that he had gathered along his way, such a variety of experience, and some key achievements and responsibilities within his current role. I could see it but he couldn’t until I pointed it out to him.

So my message that I’d like to give to you today is to please value the skills and experience that you bring. If your experience were that of a friend would you be able to see the value in what they do? Are you being hard on yourself?

Write it all down if you don’t believe yourself. Chat to a friend or a business mentor about what you’ve done and are doing. As you go about your day take particular note of instances where someone gives you great feedback, or where you notice yourself doing a good job.

There are so many people or businesses out there who need what you do. Do not underestimate how valuable you are.