It was March 2020 and I was gathering with my global sales team and leaders at an internal kick-off meeting.  The first day we celebrated the wins from 2019.  On day two we started to receive calls from our clients talking about something called "COVID-19".  By day three, customers started cancelling their future events and I was forced to look up the word "pandemic". 

As the virus spread and continued longer than anyone anticipated, difficult decisions had to be made with regard to staffing.  I elected to "take the package" to pursue SPEAKING full time.

 I was shocked when a few industry associates refused to call me back when I was seeking their advice.  Some of these people I regarded as friends.  Without Ritz-Carlton on my business card, perhaps I no longer served a purpose?

I started to doubt myself. 

A friend then told me "You are more than your business card."  My value should not be determined by my title or my company.   

I went through the process outlined below to keep track of what I believed made me special and unique.  I turned to my family and friends for encouragement.  The realization finally occurred that I alone was the only person that needed to identify my self-worth.  My job, my position, my car, my clothes did not define who I was or what I was. 

You can use the same process to help identify your value and your self-worth to the universe. 

"Believe you DESERVE it and the universe will SERVE it."

4 WAYS TO "KNOW YOUR WORTH"

1. WHAT MAKES YOU SPECIAL? - Write down the top things that make you unique. Keep track of what you do that no one else does? Remind yourself when you are feeling "less than".

2. CELEBRATE LITTLE WINS- Enjoy the journey not just the destination. Be happy with progress that you are making daily. Recognize each step toward the achievement of your goal. 

3. SET GOALS THAT DO GOOD FOR OTHERS- This allows you to bet on black and red, so you win every time.  You can control your efforts to help someone else.  During this time, they benefit by receiving and you feel better by giving. 

4. AVOID LOOKING FOR EXTERNAL PRAISE- This may devalue your self-worth.  Knowing you value has nothing to do with anyone else's perception of you.  Look inside to see the real you.