Know Your Worth: Finding the Right Stage for Your Talents

In a bustling New York subway station, the world-renowned violinist Joshua Bell played his heart out for forty-five minutes, filling the air with music of remarkable intricacy and beauty. Few people noticed, fewer stopped, and he collected a modest sum in tips, barely over thirty dollars. Yet just days prior, Joshua had performed at a sold-out Boston theater where attendees gladly paid over a hundred dollars per seat to hear him. What changed? Certainly not his talent, nor the excellence of his performance. Instead, it was the environment—an experiment highlighting a truth that resonates with so many of us: the extraordinary can go unnoticed when it’s set in a context that fails to appreciate its worth.

This story has been a favorite of mine for years because its message resonates on so many levels. Joshua Bell’s subway performance illuminates a critical lesson about self-worth and environment. Just as the world-class musician’s talent faded into the ordinary in the rush of the subway, the skills, ideas, and unique contributions of many individuals can be overlooked in environments that don’t fully appreciate or recognize their value. In places where excellence is assumed rather than celebrated, or where unique talents are brushed aside, it’s easy to start questioning one’s own value, even losing sight of personal strengths altogether. We might begin to doubt whether we deserve more, finding comfort in the familiar even when it no longer serves us.

Talented individuals like Joshua Bell—and like so many of us in various fields—often flourish once they place themselves in environments where their talents are not only recognized but celebrated. In these spaces, a person's work is valued for what it truly is, and their contributions are met with the acknowledgment and appreciation they deserve. When we take ourselves out of spaces that diminish us and move into ones that honor our unique abilities, we create room for growth, confidence, and fulfillment. It's not that our value changes; it’s that the perception of it finally aligns with reality.

Listening to that inner voice can be transformative. It’s the gut feeling that nudges you, quietly insisting that there’s more out there than what you’re currently experiencing. It’s that small, persistent whisper suggesting that you deserve an environment where you’re not just another face in the crowd, but a recognized and respected individual. Honoring this intuition is the first step towards a more fulfilling and authentic path.

I continually preach pursuing excellence in everything you do. And if you find yourself in an environment where your talents, skills, or contributions feel underappreciated, it’s worth considering a change. Just as Joshua Bell’s brilliance was undeniable in the concert hall, your value is real, whether others acknowledge it or not. Seek spaces where your contributions are met with appreciation and where your worth is mirrored back to you. Remember, you are the one who sets your value. When you know your worth, you are more likely to find yourself in places that affirm it, instead of those that disregard or underestimate it.

Take the courage to walk away from situations that make you feel less than you are. Your journey toward fulfillment and recognition begins when you decide to embrace environments that honor your talents. Trust your intuition, find your worth, and place yourself where your brilliance won’t go unnoticed. Just as the finest music deserves a stage that echoes its beauty, your unique gifts deserve to be seen, heard, and celebrated.

#KnowYourWorth #ValueYourself #SelfWorth #GrowthMindset #HonorYourTalents #GoWhereYouAreAppreciated