It’s impossible to monetise something before you crystallise it into shareable value.

But there’s something else that precedes the crystallisation process. This prerequisite is possibly a little more mysterious and difficult to quantify than the other two. In fact, it determines and flows into every part of our life and business in ways that are boundless.

What is it?

You must first RECOGNIZE your value!

One of my business mentors, Daniel Priestley, eloquently speaks about this in his book “Becoming A Key Person of Influence”. In his book, he points out that each of us already stand on a mountain of value. The problem is that when we look down at our feet to locate where we are, all we see is the dirt we are standing in.

From our vantage point, we look out on the world and view the other mountains. You see and recognise the awesome in other people, but fail to appreciate the wealth that you yourself stand upon. You can’t see your own mountain of value clearly because you are standing on top of it.

We need a vantage point that places value on who we are and what we do. A way to step back and fully appreciate our unique ability to contribute to others.

Recognising, appreciating, and celebrating yourself and all that God has made and placed within you is a big deal!

Your history, your experience, your unique take on the world, your voice, ideas, and genius. All of these are deep mountains of value waiting to be mined.

It’s difficult to step out into the marketplace if we have a low estimation of the value that we bring, and in truth, it’s scary to step out. It takes courage to practice in public. It takes gumption to give what you have and believe in yourself. But it is worth it.

Despite the sales page fanfares about overnight success and viral breakthroughs, promising push-button results, most likely the journey for most will take time and testing. You’ll discover your awesome in the same way that a man digging in the dirt might discover nuggets that eventually become a fortune.

Through the process of intentional digging and discovery, coupled with the dirty work of actually DOING something with what we find, the depth of our uniqueness will be surfaced and become clearer and more defined.

Landing a million-dollar idea is often the result of many iterative thousand-dollar ideas that grow and respond to criticism and feedback over time.

The value-adding, life-changing journey of entrepreneurship is not an overnight quest – it is a lifetime of contribution and public practice that flowers into a fruitful business that serves its customers and followers well.

You have what it takes because all it takes right now is your next small step.

Believe in your value, dig up a nugget of wisdom or whimsy, and share it with the world today.