Have you ever tried to buy a home in a competitive real estate market? The prices seem to rise infinitely with little to ground them in reality. But then again, the only truth in a marketplace is what people are willing to pay to acquire what they want.

When many people want the same thing, and that thing is limited, the prices rise rapidly – so the perception of real value flies out the window.

Chances are, the marketplace you operate in works the same way. The question becomes, how do you make yourself the limited asset? If you can make yourself invaluable, it won’t matter if the market floods with supply; you will be worth more than the competition.

Becoming invaluable is the secret to success if you own your own business or are an employee. The hard work is defining what creates that kind of value and bringing that to your marketplace with consistency.