Nothing Has Value Until We Add This Word

“Mine.”

That’s it.

The shirt in the thrift shop? Somebody gave it away. It doesn’t even exist until we see it and pay for it.

Now, from the point where we say, “that could be mine,” to the point where we have made the purchase and made it our own, the value has risen exponentially.

If we want somebody to value something, find out how to make them say “mine.” Otherwise, it’s just another discarded shirt on a thrift shop rack.

It’s true for products, services, tasks, teammates, kids, etc. If you find the sense of ownership, you’ll find the value.

h/t for this analogy goes to David R. Hawkins’ book, Letting Go.