“You don’t get paid for the hour. You get paid for the value you bring to the hour.” Jim Rohn

I came across this quote again while reading over the weekend, and it struck me that this statement has application to all of us, not only in our business world, but also our personal, everyday, lives.

First, business. I have written about this issue as it relates to lawyers and personal responsibility. (See: http://valentilaw.com/2009/05/07/lawyers-billing-and-personal-responsibility).  The principles espoused in that post apply to all hourly professionals — accountants, consultants, healthcare professionals — really anyone. However, whether or not one gets paid ” by the hour” for a service, should not be the determining factor in assessing whether we bring value during the hours of our life. Professionals are hung up on time tracking and billing and rarely lloko at whether the work for which they charge has produced “value” to the  person they are charging. They view their role as a time/money maachine, not a value generating person. They are best left, in  my view, to prey upion others. When you find them or they find you, run the other way.

Lets take a look at opportunities to bring value during  our jobs or work time — even a clerk in a dry cleaning establishment can bring value to the customers he  or she encounters. I can remember back to a couple of different shops that I used in the past, and no longer use. One  shop had hired a young student to take care of early Saturday mornings, my usual time. I was gernerally the first cusomer. This young girl always had a smile; made a point of remmebering who I was; asked about family, work, etc; and shared a bit of herself on each visit. She brought value to her job, and ultimately to those she encountered. She made a rather mundane experience, pleasant. Let’s face it — usually all you want to do at the dry cleaners is get in and out before the fumes overwhelm you.

A relative recounts regularly about her visits to the manicurist, candy shop, etc., and folks that she encounters. These people get invited to her annual family Holiday Party because of the value they bring during these visits. We have all met them and understand why they get invited. Service providers being brought into a family event — interesting. “Tom, I would like you to meet my manicurist ….   my trainer …. the lady who sold me the candy you are eating.”  These people come and stay until the end and come year after year.

Most days we visit  our favorite coffee shop. Even the encounter with the barrrista can be pleasant or not so memorable at all. These people can make you feel better or can have no effect on you at all. The ones that make you feel better, you remember, you call by name, and they make you want to come back.

What about the thought of bringing value during random encounters?  I happened to attend an ethnic festival this weekend with some family. We shared our table with a group of familes who asked if there was room. There was. But by the time their whole entourage appeared, we were squeezed into a small corner of the table, and our former space was entirely theirs. What resulted was a sharing of food and drink and conversation. We no longer minded being elbow to elbow. The lesson — value can be brought or given in many forms. These folks made our evening much better  — in a very simple way. And, they most likely felt that they were intruding.

Where do we go from here?

If we, each, look at each task or encounter as an opportunity to bring value to those we meet, we serve, we encounter — we have the opportunity to bring value to them and have value brought to us.

Bring value to the moment. Try it.