What is Your Worth?

A violinist played for 45 minutes in the New York subway. A handful of people stopped, a couple clapped, and the violinist raised about $30 in tips.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He went ‘busking’ to see what would happen and in that subway, Joshua played one of the most intricate pieces ever written.

Two days before he played in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out a Boston theatre, and the seats averaged about $100. The experiment showed that even the extraordinary in an ordinary environment might not stand out, and is so often overlooked and undervalued. Was Bell less talented or noticeable? Of course not. Are you any less kind and valuable if a group of strangers you pass in the hall, airport, do not acknowledge your presence? I once had dinner at a conference early in my career with 2 long-standing deans of admissions with an incredible amount of experience between them. they didn’t say a word to me the entire dinner at the table of three. Even then, in my 20’s, I knew this was a reflection of them, not me.

There are brilliantly talented people everywhere who aren't receiving the recognition and reward they deserve. But once they arm themselves with value and confidence and remove themselves from an environment that isn't serving them, they thrive and grow. Your gut is telling you something. Find where you are appreciated and valued and stay there. Your worth has always been and will always be within you. And if you are taking the time to read this — I highly suspect you have and are continually working on yourself, and that your worth is without measure.

-Mike Spivey

We are our own griefs. We are our own happinesses. We are our own remedies.