When Your Value Isn’t the Problem — It’s Your Environment

A bottle of water can sell for $1 at a market, $3 at a restaurant, $4 at the movies, and $6 at an airport. The product hasn’t changed. The water is the same. The only thing that changed was the environment — and with it, the perceived value.

That’s a powerful reminder: when you feel undervalued, overlooked, or underpaid, it might not be you. It might be where you are.

For Individuals

In life and in work, your worth isn’t always reflected accurately by the people or systems around you.
Maybe your skills are underutilized in your current job.
Maybe your creativity is stifled by a culture that values “how it’s always been done” over innovation.
Or maybe you’ve surrounded yourself with people who can’t (or won’t) see your potential.

In those moments, it’s easy to question yourself: Am I really worth more? But just like that bottle of water, your value doesn’t disappear just because it’s not recognized where you are right now.

Sometimes the solution isn’t to change who you are — it’s to change your environment.

For Businesses & Organizations

This principle applies to teams, products, and services too. You can have the best product in the world, but if it’s in the wrong market, it won’t command the value it deserves.

• A business that thrives in one city might struggle in another simply because the audience’s needs are different.

• An event that draws crowds in one industry might fall flat in another because the environment doesn’t match the offering.

• A chamber of commerce, nonprofit, or company may have incredible programs, but if they’re presented to the wrong audience or in an outdated way, the impact and perceived value suffer.

Sometimes it’s not about working harder — it’s about finding the right audience, the right market, or the right positioning.

The Takeaway

Your value is not up for debate. But your environment can dramatically influence how others see it — and whether you’re compensated or appreciated accordingly.

If you’re feeling unrecognized or underappreciated:

• As a person: Ask yourself if you’re in the right place to shine.

• As an organization: Ask if you’re positioning your work in front of the people who will see its full worth.

Because just like that bottle of water, the right place doesn’t change what you are — it simply allows others to see (and pay for) the value you’ve had all along.

If I can help, please reach out!