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Adam Smith | October 3, 2022 | Leave a Comment

Add Value

The goal is to add value in whatever you do. Whether we are talking about person to person in your daily relationships, or business to customer in your dealings with clients, adding value to people shows up in the experiences that people encounter. So how do we create value? Some would call it ”going above and beyond”, or “giving a remarkable experience”, or ”going the extra mile.” Whatever you want to call it, value is given when the experience is above the expected encounter.


There are many definitions for the word ’value’ but the best definition I have seen is ”the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something.” Making things or living your life where it adds value to the lives of others almost guarantees success.

There are many ways to sell more products and make more money, but at the most basic level you can either charge more for your product hoping customers will pay for it or you can make your product more valuable by adding value in other ways than just charging more, making it much more probable that people will pay more in the end.

Don’t expect success to come without first doing the work to add value.

Adam Smith | September 29, 2022 | Leave a Comment

Books I’m Listening To…

I travel quite a bit these days, and find myself listening to books more than reading through the pages of hard copies. It seems to fit into my workflow better, although I still prefer the feel (and smell) of a good old fashioned book. Plus, even if the content of an audiobook is good, the narrator of a book really makes or breaks it. Don’t you agree?

Anyway, what are you reading/listening to these days?

Adam Smith | September 27, 2022 | 1 Comment

Motive Matters

I recently read this from Ryan Estis and it resonated with me. I think maybe to some extent we all can relate with his words. Earlier in my life I definitely did things at times because I had a chip on my shoulder and had something to prove. Now, I try to do things that make me happy and better the lives of others. Oh, and doing cool, big things is just fun.

The part I do struggle with sometimes is to give generously, while not keeping score. If I’m honest, doing good for those that have hurt me is difficult. Life has a funny way of reminding you of the things you need to work on. These ideas came up with Bob Goff back when he was on the podcast and now again with Ryan’s email newsletter that he sent out this past Sunday.

But most of all, these ideas remind me that motive matters. In our work, in our relationships. Maybe, at times, the motive matters even more than the work itself? The ‘why’ matters more than the ‘what’, because the ‘why’ drives the ‘what’ and even the ‘how’.

Why do you do what you do? Because you desire it or because competition has gotten the best of you and you feel the need to prove yourself to everyone else in the room? It’s a question to at least ponder, I think.

I’ve been quiet on the blog as of late because I’ve been trying to be a good dad and husband, while balancing my career, and everything else in-between. If the beginning of this post didn’t resonate with you, I know that this idea does.

We are all busy with life, racing for the pursuit of better, whatever that means to you. This will look different for all of us, but the idea is the same—that we are all headed in a direction, some direction. And on the road to your destination, remember that motive matters.

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About

Hi, my name is Adam Smith and welcome to asmithblog.com. I am the author of the new book, The Bravest You. Because of my work as an entrepreneur, consultant, writer, and speaker, I have been named a top industry influencer by American Genius. I live with my wife, Jasmine, and three children in Shenandoah, IA.

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