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Question of the Day: How can you be valuable to society so it gives you money?

Question of the Day / by

September 18, 2025

Let’s be honest, this question sounds a little like it came straight out of an economics textbook, but it’s actually one most of us wrestle with every day. How do you turn what you’re good at (or at least tolerate doing) into something society values enough to pay you for?

The trick here is that “valuable” and “profitable” don’t always line up. Teachers, nurses, and caregivers? Incredibly valuable. TikTok influencers selling shampoo? Society seems to value them more financially. That doesn’t mean society’s right, it just means money tends to flow where problems are recognized and solutions are marketed well.

So how can you be valuable to society in a way that pays?

  1. Solve real problems. People will pay to stop their roof from leaking, to save time, to reduce stress, or to make their kid eat broccoli without tears. Sometimes the value is in skills (plumbing, teaching, coding) and sometimes it’s in presence (a good listener, a patient coach).
  2. Tell the story of your value. You might already be valuable, but if no one sees it, the money doesn’t follow. This is where marketing comes in, whether it’s on a résumé, a landing page, or just explaining to your boss that your work actually saved the company $10,000.
  3. Keep learning how to live. (Shoutout to today’s Thought of the Day from Seneca.) Value isn’t static. What society pays for shifts over time, and the people who keep learning and adjusting are usually the ones who keep earning.

Here’s the kicker: being valuable to society doesn’t always mean society will write you the biggest check. Sometimes your paycheck won’t reflect your true worth. That’s frustrating, but it’s also freeing, you can choose where to show up, how to grow, and how to tell your story. And in that mix, you’ll probably find both meaning and money.

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💬 Your Turn

So… how can you be valuable to society so it gives you money?

Share your answer in the comments or on social—your weird little truth might be someone else’s comfort zone.

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