High Salary, Big Title, Zero Ownership: The Trap Explained

Cost number one.

This one is hiding in plain sight.

A title is proof that you created value.

It is not proof that you kept any of it.

For five years, I worked in the heart of the concerts industry in Las Vegas.

From the outside, it looked like the coolest job in the world.

I was backstage at all the biggest shows, working with the artists, the agents, the promoters, the managers, being part of people's special memories.

I had essentially unlimited access to rooms that other people would kill to be in.

But the reality of my day-to-day life was very different than what it appeared.

As part of my job, I would write and sign checks to artists sometimes for more money than I would have made in 20 years.

But it wasn't my money.

It wasn't my check.

I was just the guy holding the pen.

So one night after writing another one of these big checks, the realization dawned on me.

My employer was the one that benefited from all the margin of these shows.

The venue got their fees and ancillary revenue from all the food and beverage.

The artists got an enormous guarantee and a percentage of the back end.

and I got a fixed salary and a discretionary bonus if I was lucky.

The experiences and the access I had masked the fact that I was significantly undervaluing myself.

That is not my employer's fault, but it was my responsibility to recognize it and make a change.

So question number one for you, and it's on the free worksheet.

What percentage of the value you create do you actually keep? My guess is if you're listening to this show, you are likely undervaluing yourself compared to your potential.