What is Your Worth?

This article emerged from a conversation with a remarkable colleague at the New Jersey Department of Labor, Leslie Alvarez. During our conversation, she shared a story about her young daughter, who was asked in school whether she would like to change something about herself. Interestingly, none of the boys in her class expressed a desire to change anything, while the girls, including her daughter, did. This observation sparked a discussion on how males and females perceive themselves, revealing that females could struggle to recognize their worth or value.

In response, we decided to write an article aimed at helping individuals—regardless of gender—discover their intrinsic value. We believe there are five key strategies that can assist anyone in finding their worth, especially when the right support system is lacking.

1. Build a Support System: Having a solid support network is crucial for recognizing your worth. This could include parents, grandparents, friends, or colleagues who can affirm your value and contributions. Ms. Leslie Alvarez found that building your support system with individuals who are either going through the same life stage or with whom you share a common bond with can be beneficial. During some of her biggest times of self-growth, Ms. Alvarez had these support systems in place. In particular, at one point in her career, she lacked confidence due to being the newest employee in a group of seasoned workers. Luckily, Ms. Alvarez had several nurturing and supportive seasoned female colleagues who not only taught her the logistics of the job, but also asked her for help with things they were less familiar with. Thus, Ms. Alvarez collaborated toward developing a new program at work, and she felt a sense of worth because of her significant contributions to the project.
2. Leverage Your Skills: Reflect on your current skills and identify areas for improvement. It’s also helpful to reflect on skills you've improved in the past and use that as a template. Think of how you improved that skill, what methods you used, and what worked best, or what didn’t. What are you good at? For instance, Dr. Nicol Nicola has been taking classes and reading books on AI to broaden her expertise. Embracing your strengths while working on weaknesses is essential for personal growth.
3. Be Open to Pivoting: Sometimes, strategies or approaches may not yield the desired results. A valuable lesson Dr. Nicola learned from her former manager, Hannah Lim Johnson, is the importance of pivoting when necessary. If a project or team isn’t working out, don’t hesitate to explore new opportunities until you find where you truly belong. Flexibility and adaptability are key to finding your path. Many people Ms. Alvarez has encountered in her career started on completely different paths and had very different ideas of how their careers would look. Those who had no choice but to pivot – ended up with careers even more gratifying than they had envisioned.
4. Enhance Your Education: Investing in your education—whether through traditional schooling or certifications—can significantly impact your career trajectory. Even if the idea of furthering your education feels daunting, remember to take one step at a time. You can start with educational opportunities offered by your employer, such as in-house webinars or courses, then consider certifications or programs. Every class you take and certificate you earn will take you further and further along your career path. For example, Dr. Nicola pursued a doctorate in business administration because research positions often require advanced degrees. This decision has opened doors to rewarding opportunities. 
5. Embrace Experiences as Learning Opportunities: Every experience, whether positive or negative, offers valuable lessons. It's essential to challenge yourself and seek diverse experiences that promote growth. By stepping out of your comfort zone, you can elevate your understanding and capabilities, ultimately moving toward higher goals. When faced with something new or uncomfortable, remind yourself of your end goal and move forward with intention. This is also another good time to reflect and think of all the lessons you've learned and things you've achieved when you've embraced different experiences, even the negative ones. The lessons learned from difficult experiences often become clearer in hindsight than they were in the moment.

Bottom Line:

We encourage you to reflect on how you can implement these strategies to discover your worth, whether at home, work, or in social settings. Take the challenge to uncover your value and share your journey with others. Your story could inspire someone else to recognize their worth as well.