At a workshop at Manhattan School of Music, two recent alumni spoke about the challenges and surprises they faced in transitioning from students to professionals.
They each described how important it is to know who you are and what it is you have to offer that other people want or need. They emphasized knowing what you are actually providing that other people value.
In other words, what problem do you solve for others? What is it that you make possible for others?
The trick here is that how others view and value us may be different from how we’d like to seen and valued.
Knowing who we are and what we have to offer is key to networking, freelancing, interviewing, self-promotion, and for developing ensembles.
To view ourselves in the context of others’ needs calls for introspection and objectivity. Self-knowledge only comes with honest self-assessment.
Questions for the week: Reflect on the feedback you’ve gotten on your work recently; think about when and how you’ve been hired and re-hired. What are the specific skills and work habits you have that others value?
Knowing Your Value
