Where value grows

THE SIMPLE NEWSLETTER - ISSUE # 043

Value doesn’t come from changing who I am, it comes from finding where I belong. Whether it’s in business, sports, or life, our worth often shines brightest when we’re in the right environment. This week, I want to share some thoughts and lessons on discovering that space where your value is seen, appreciated, and allowed to grow.

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TOM'S THOUGHTS:

I’ve been talking a lot lately with clients about value and how it isn’t something we create out of thin air, it’s something that gets recognized in the right situation. I use the bottle of water story to explain it. You know, the one where a bottle costs less than a dollar at the store, a few dollars at the deli, $5 at the airport, and $7 on the plane. The bottle doesn’t change, but the environment does.

That story has taken on new meaning for me lately as I’ve been helping my son pursue his dream of playing college baseball. Every weekend, we travel to different camps where he can get in front of coaches. He’s been seen by almost a hundred coaches so far, and while not all of them see his value, a few do and those are the ones we’re starting conversations with about his future.

It’s a reminder that sometimes, we have to keep showing up in new places until we find the environment that recognizes what we bring.

If we stop trying, we might never find that place. The same goes for business. You can’t expect everyone to see your value right away, but when you do find the right situation, three powerful things start to happen.

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TOM'S LESSON:

When I’ve found myself in the right environment, I’ve noticed something shift. I start to see myself differently. It’s not that the situation gives me value, it’s that it reflects it back to me. That reflection builds confidence, clarity, and momentum.

1. I Reach My Potential

When I’m in an environment that values me, it pushes me to grow. Feeling valued fuels confidence and motivation, the key ingredients for reaching my potential. When I don’t feel valued, it’s much harder to stretch into what I’m truly capable of. Value acts like a mirror that reminds me of what’s possible.

2. I Become My Best Self

When I’m in the right environment, I don’t have to prove myself — I just get to be myself. That’s when I feel the most free, the most creative, and the most capable. The comparison fades, the judgment quiets, and I can focus on what I do best. That’s where growth really happens.

3. I Recognize I Deserve More

When my value is appreciated, it raises my standard for what I’ll accept. I start to see that I’m worthy of more — more opportunity, more growth, and more impact. That awareness expands who I am and what I can give. I stop settling and start elevating, not just for myself, but for the people I serve.

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CLOSING THOUGHTS

Keep showing up.

Keep putting yourself and your value in front of new opportunities.

The right environment will come, and when it does, everything will change.

- Tom

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