This post resonated so powerfully when I initially posted it back last fall that it made it into “Forbes for Women” magazine and I got a lot of great comments.

We think that volunteering will come back to us and people will value our service – and they do value us in terms of being a nice person. But it lowers our value in terms of being thought of as a highly-paid professional. It totally boomerangs. And yes, acknowledging that value must come from your core – no one else can give it to you. This is another one of those reasons why I says that owning a business is like one of the biggest kick-butt personal growth seminars you’ll ever get involved with. Often, the personal growth stuff has more to do with your success than understand business concepts and strategies.

Always great to connect with you, Chrysti.

Denise Michaels

I can’t tell you how many times I have volunteered and given away my labor and whenever I do, it seems to devalue the product in the eyes of the receiver. Often I feel taken for granted. While I may make it look simple because of the years of practice, if someone were to attempt to do what I do, they would see that it can be tedious and time consuming. I have spent years perfecting and researching and learning. Yes, it has value.

We all have value, but believing in that value has to come from our core (without any doubts) in order for it to be perceived as having worth by those who need our products and services.

Great article. I will want to post this link to my page on facebook and twitter.