Understand Your Value

One of the greatest aspects of hacking your job is finally understanding your worth and value as a human. This is likely the goal of what we set forth to accomplish in this book. Everything we explain in the book is paramount in leading a fulfilling life, but nothing is above understanding your worth and value.

When I was working as an engineer I was bombarded with tireless deadlines, unappreciative clients, and people that didn’t value hard work or efficiency in our profession. In one instance I was dealing with one of our biggest clients. This specific client was used to pushing people around as they were considered a “Big kid on the block” in New York City and treated myself and our firm as if we were just another pile of shit in the cantaloupe patch.

This company had been our client for years and I would always tell them yes no matter how stressful the circumstances because I didn’t want to lose their business. Then one day, after extensively looking over our books, I realized they were skimping on an exorbitant amount of money. This was it. I couldn’t take it anymore and we decided to tell them to pay up and we would then permanently terminate our business dealings with them.

Telling them this was such a great feeling, and it lifted such a weight off my shoulders, however, it didn’t compare to the feeling that followed. News quickly spread to the top of their company, and they called us begging and groveling to make things right. It gave us the value we were seeking, and it proved to their company that we were more than just an expendable company that was easily replaceable.

Once I felt that incredible feeling of value and worth within the work I was doing, I realized that was what the purpose of my new side hustle would be. It also inspired what “Hack Your Job” is all about. Finding purpose, value, worth, and fulfillment in what you’re passionate about.