This life is a market, you get what you price yourself period. There is nothing that hurts me more than seeing people who have skill sets Microsoft or Amazon would pay heavy American dollars for, getting ‘chicken change’. This is often because these individuals do not know the skill set, they possess. Much worse is that they are acclimatized to showcasing the wrong audience their skill, that they have become accustomed to underpricing their abilities. It is the typical case of driving a Porsche car in a rural village – so much shine, but no glory.
To know ones’ selling point is the awareness of those talents, giftings, and abilities that sets us apart and command the price tag we put on ourselves. This makes it one of the most important life skills to acquire in early career life. This explains why two individuals with the same qualifications and class of degree are not exactly enjoying life on the same plain. If you look deeper, a critical point of distinction is how these individuals have chosen to market their selling point. One may be content to grasp at straws for a long time, while the other is continually seeking opportunities for upward mobility.
I do not mince words when I say there are opportunities in this world. At a conference in Vancouver, Canada, I was stunned when one of the participants used his 15 minutes paper session to land investors for his idea. I have heard countless tales of individuals who pitched their innovative ideas to investors and venture capitalists and are currently reaping the goods. I personally, landed a scholarship by selling my research proposal to a supervisor in the most remarkable way after previous failed attempts. Just last week, my friend landed a job at Deloitte after a grueling interview where he beat other five well qualified candidates for the top position. His selling point was the difference maker.
In short, in this life, whether it is to marry, get a job, change your network or upgrade, you must consciously know your selling point. There is no worse disease than not knowing what makes you different or lack of knowledge of what you bring to the table. Everything in this life has a price and this price is determined by value placed on whatever is being sold. What are you worth? What are your skills worth? What is your skill performance index? How do you rate yourself? These questions and more should inform our internal conversation on this subject.
Underselling ourselves is act of inhumanity to ourselves. Every day is a fresh chance to reevaluate and rate ourselves. However, our selling point is however not cast in stone. It can be changed, redefined, or improved upon. It may require you to read new books, seek newer challenges, apply for a mentorship, scholarship, or internship, or even change your network. In all you do, remember that every day is another chance to sell ourselves differently and redefine our possibilities.
Life is simple, you get paid for your selling price not for talent.
Know your selling point and place a premium on it with
