One common thread among my clients is the desire for meaning in their work and in their lives. I’ve seen a secret sauce emerge in how to achieve that sense of purpose, and that secret sauce is: Think like an owner.

Thinking like an owner shifts your efforts from trading time for money to providing value. Trading time for money looks like showing up for work, maybe even working hard, and doing what’s asked of you.

Thinking like an owner looks like finding ways to use your time to provide the most value. An owner asks, what problem can I solve for my customers? How can I provide value to them?

It’s a beautifully blended concept:

• Think of your work in terms of adding meaning to your life
• Then execute your quest for meaning in terms of adding value to your work

Find a common mission.

Many people don’t yet know what will bring meaning to their careers. If you’re one of them, think about your life and what impact you want to have while you’re alive.  

This is a big deal. It can also be challenging to figure out what’s important to you. (If you’re stuck on this and would like help finding meaning in your career, click here for a free 20-minute discovery call).

Apply that meaning to your work.

Also, attune to the mission or values of your employer and clients. What’s most valuable to your company, boss, team, and customers? What are their pressing problems?

Ideally, businesses are built upon providing real value, solving real problems. Provide value for your employer – rather than just doing what you’re assigned – and your whole demeanor shifts. So does your value to the organization.

One client described it like this, “For the first year I was kind of in survivor mentality. Now I’m ready to step into attack mode.” He’s shifted from a mentality of showing up and completing assigned tasks to one where he hits the ground running with an eye to creating more value and more impact every day. He’s thinking ahead and taking ownership of projects, rather than just following orders.

When you think like an owner, you’ll show up in ways that align with your own values and deliver real value to your employers, customers, and team.

You don’t have to be an owner to think like one.

If you’re a barista, for example, your job duties may include making specialized coffee for clients, cleaning, and organizing supplies.

A solid barista shows up, makes coffee, cleans up, then goes home.

A barista who thinks like an owner will go beyond the job description. You’ll interact with customers in a warm and friendly way that keeps them coming back each morning. You might strive to remember every regular customer’s name and favorite drink, etc. You’ll derive meaning from your work because you love making people’s days.

And you provide value. You’re the valued barista who contributes so much more than good coffee, you build relationships that grow the owner’s business through an exceptional customer experience.

How much time does it take to think like an owner?

You may be wondering, sheesh – how much extra time do I need to spend so I can provide value?

Well, I’m not talking about hustle/overwork/making yourself sick or trading more time for dollars. It’s not about worker longer. It’s about how you spend your time. Thinking like an owner is about connecting to a greater purpose, making a shift in how you operate, and knowing what’s important to you and to the organization.

This guy added major value and the result was very spicy!

Richard Montanez was once a janitor for Cheetos. He worked hard and found meaning in his work.

The President of Cheetos had been preaching to his company staff to encourage them to think like owners. He wanted his team to think bigger and provide value. 

One day there was a mistake on the assembly line that resulted in mass quantities of plain, unflavored Cheetos. Richard took some of white, flavorless cheese puffs home and thought perhaps he could add his special blend of spices to the naked batch. All of his friends and family loved them!

Richard thought like an owner. He recognized that his spicy cheese puffs might provide value to his company. Richard, the janitor, got a meeting with the President, practiced his presentation, and shared his creation. Flamin’ hot Cheetos were born!

Richard’s Flamin’ hot Cheetos added major value to his organization — Flamin’ hot Cheetos became their #1 selling product and he became a senior vice president. (click here for the full story!).

I mean, wow, friends!

Anything is possible for your career path. Thinking like an owner lends meaning to your life and value to any organization.

Bonus points if you think like an owner in your job search! Imagine what’s most important to your target employer when she’s hiring for your position and speak directly to those priorities, in your resume, cover letter, and interview. That’ll bring in the job offers. Not sure how? Click here for a free 20-minute discovery call.