Doing What Others Can’t or Won’t Do

Have you heard the saying: you don’t earn a lot if you do what everybody could or would do. You can earn a lot if you do what NOT a lot of others could or would do. This applies in business and in all other types of work.

So, if you would like to be more valuable in your field, how can you stand out doing what others could or would not do?

I’m always in awe of people being great at what they do and loving doing it. Whether that’s the ear-nose-throat specialist, the teacher or the arborist. A while ago I was fascinated by watching the tree surgeon cutting back dead branches on the neighbour’s 15-20m high gum tree.

This arborist was swinging from branch to branch way up high. Most people get sweaty palms just watching it. It takes skill, and not a lot of others would or could do it. He was climbing up to the very top, swinging like a monkey from branch to branch, fully trusting the rope securing him, his own knowledge and awareness of which branches to trust and which not, always knowing what to do next.

People sometimes get jealous when they hear about big bosses getting paid millions – but they forget that these people are taking a big responsibility for lots of people and big results that they themselves (and a lot of other people) could or would NOT be willing or able to take.

So, if you would like to be more valuable in your field, how can you stand out doing what others could or would not do? How can you make people see and experience your value? Absolutely fine if you’re not ready to stand out – then accept where you’re at and be grateful for what you have. I was very happy to be on the ground watching the arborist swinging from branch to branch – I know my forte is in a different field. Where is your forte?