The VALUE Assessment isn't just a framework—it's a lens for viewing all professional decisions. Every task, project, and opportunity can be evaluated through these five dimensions.
When you consistently choose high-VALUE activities, your income grows not through luck or politics, but through systematic value creation. You become the professional who works smarter, delivers more impact, and commands premium compensation.
In Chapter 3, we'll explore how to position yourself in the highest-paying segment of your market—because being good isn't enough if you're in the wrong category.
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# Chapter 3: Market Value Optimization
Jessica T. was frustrated. As a User Experience Designer with eight years of experience, she created beautiful, functional designs that users loved. Her work had measurably improved customer retention for three different companies. Yet at $77,000, she earned less than junior developers with half her experience.
Meanwhile, her former colleague David—with similar skills and experience—was earning $165,000 at a different company. The difference? David had systematically optimized his market position, while Jessica had optimized her craft.
This chapter reveals how to position yourself in the highest-paying segment of your market, because excellence in the wrong category still pays poorly.