I do a great deal of mentoring and advisory work. This is not just specific to sponsorship and properties and sponsors, it is mentoring/coaching and working with individuals to “get to the next level,” help them start up companies, or find their place in in the world overall. I love this work. I love it because you can find so much talent and value in individuals that they don’t see themselves. And unfortunately, others don’t see it in them either. I do my best to show them how valuable they truly are, and how to get others to see that value and worth.
The most important message I can deliver is that, if you are somewhere, e.g., work, home, team, or club, that others don’t see value in you, it is time to move on. This has happened to me a couple of times in my career. Once was way back in the 1980s when I worked for General Mills – Red Lobster Restaurants Canada. I was not appreciated and neither was my value. I was not a “rock star” general manager, but I was a consistent GM delivering better than average ROI for the company with high profit margins and low staff turnover. But they did not see value in that until I gave my notice. Then they offered me the world. I moved on. I am not the type of guy to make threats. I did not leave them because I wanted something more, I left them because they did not see the value I delivered. It happened again in the early 2000s when I was working for Rogers Media. Same reason. So, I try to share this with all my clients. Go where you are valued.
I remind clients, though, that beauty or value is in the eye of the beholder. Everyone will value you differently. The key is to be with those who value you the most. Here is a great story that Abdullah Bashar Sarker shared online on August 7, 2020. I think you will like it and agree with his advice. It is a great story.
A father said to his daughter “You have graduated with honors, here is a car I bought many years ago. It is pretty old now. But before I give it to you, take it to the used car lot downtown, tell them I want to sell it, and see how much they offer you for it.”
The daughter went to the used car lot, returned to her father and said, “They offered me $1,000 because they said it looks pretty worn out.”
The father said, “Now, take it to the pawn shop.” The daughter went to the pawn shop, returned to her father and said,” The pawn shop offered only $100 because it is an old car.”
The father asked his daughter to go to a car club and show them the car. The daughter then took the car to the club, returned and told her father, ”Some people in the club offered $100,000 for it because it’s a Nissan Skyline R34. It’s an iconic car and sought by many collectors.”
Now the father said this to his daughter, “The right place values you the right way.” If you are not valued, do not be angry. It means you are in the wrong place. Those who know your value are those who appreciate you. Never stay in a place where no one sees your value.
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