The Visibility Mindset

2Knowing Your Worth

Jessalin Lam

Self‐worth is how you value yourself. It's not based on what others think of you or the things you have or haven't accomplished—it comes from within. But it's easy to forget that our worth isn't determined by outside forces.

—Stephanie Jade Wong, writer and editor

Self‐worth is an internal measure of how you value yourself and how you trust your own judgment in making decisions. The concept of self‐worth was not introduced to me until my adulthood, and I now know the importance and benefits a focus on self‐worth has throughout life.

This chapter will teach you the importance of self‐worth and provide you with tips and examples for how to leverage it to benefit yourself in the workplace—from negotiating your salary to asking for a promotion and more. Typically in Asian culture, we are not taught to ask for more, and we embrace the freedom of silence. We do not think verbalizing everything is necessary. But to be successful in the western workplace, Asians must unlearn some of the cultural beliefs they have been taught throughout their lives and learn to embrace their self‐worth.

Understanding What Self‐Worth Is Not

To understand what we mean by self‐worth, let's discuss some negative examples that do not define your self‐worth:

• Your performance review;
• Your job title;
• Your financial status and salary.

Asians are often known to value hard work and career success and focus too much on achievements. However, a score on a performance review ...