Same benefit, different value

Alright—let’s plan a trip abroad.

How much would you pay for a hotel room with just a single bed and barely enough floor space to walk around it? Your luggage wouldn’t even fit inside—you’d have to store it elsewhere. The walls might not be fully enclosed, so staff could see you at all times. You’d share a communal bathroom with strangers. Sounds like a bad deal, doesn’t it?

But if we move this entire scenario onto an airplane—suddenly you’re flying First Class. You get two or three windows, your seat reclines into a bed that a flight attendant makes for you, and your meal is served on linen. Your luggage is handled carefully and arrives before everyone else’s. The bathroom is spotless, and on some airlines, you can even take a shower mid-flight.

It’s fascinating how the same benefits can have different value depending on the space they exist in. And I think this applies to our careers, too. The same skill, when placed in the right space—team, company, or context—can create exponentially more value.

Space is finite, but value is not. Value can always be created anew when your skills meet the right environment.

Are you using your skills in the space that values them most today?