Mid-November reflections during the Black Friday rush. A moment to talk about value.
The past few weeks have been intense, and yesterday was another packed Monday. I’ve been trying to write this piece for days, and in between everything, I came across a lesson Chris Do teaches often, a reminder about worth, especially for creatives, and something I am grateful I continue to learn.
I think many people, especially creatives, go through life the way I did. As a kid, I was confident. Then life happened. Family challenges appeared. Reality hit in ways I did not expect, and that confidence slowly cracked. At work, I learned to keep my head down, smile through situations that felt unfair, and carry the weight quietly.
But through reading, mentors, workshops on both technical and soft skills, and a lot of reflection on how to rebuild myself, I realized something important. Confidence can be relearned. It can be reclaimed. And I think it is slowly happening.
Over the last 12 years, I moved through roles: web developer, marketing manager, junior designer, assistant team lead, business development, team lead, independent consultant, project manager. Different hats. Different expectations. One pattern: growth.
Here’s what I eventually understood and hope to keep holding onto. The work I do has value. Real value. Tangible. Measurable. The same is true for you. And if we do not articulate that value, nobody will. You have to be your own advocate. Your own amplifier. And on the tough days, your own cheerleader.
Here’s an example. When I was servicing enterprise accounts, my seat rate was roughly 7,000 dollars per month. In my first year as a business development manager, I closed around 3 million pesos in deals. At the time, I did not think much of it. I was simply doing the work and learning as I went.
With distance, the picture becomes clearer. Those numbers were not just billings or quotas. They were evidence. Proof of impact. Proof that every challenge, every setback, and every hard-earned skill was building toward something.
Here is the truth: once you understand your value, really understand it, everything shifts. How you negotiate. How you make decisions. How you carry yourself. Insecurity gives way to clarity.
Most people underestimate their contribution because they are too close to the work. You cannot see the label from inside the jar. Sometimes you need to zoom out and look at the data of your own life. And when you do, confidence follows. Not loud. Not performative. Just grounded. Logical. Inevitable.
Think of it like a mooncake. From the outside, it may seem ordinary—just a round pastry. But inside, layers of richness, sweetness, and complexity reveal themselves if you look carefully. Your value is the same. The layers may not be obvious at first glance, but they are there. And documenting your wins, reflecting on your growth, and learning from mentors helps you slice through the crust and truly see the treasure inside.
Know your value. Then show up like you do. And if you’re wondering where to start, begin with documentation. Document your wins. Document what you learn. Document the impact you create. Then reflect. And keep learning from mentors, conversations, and the world around you.