Price tag

I met someone, someone older than I am, more accomplished, someone I definitely look up to in more ways than one. We were at a meeting seated at close proximity. He by virtue of who is and what he has accomplished in life, me courtesy of my surname. At the tail end of the session he walked up to me, greeted me, pulled out a ring from one of his fingers and put it in my palm. He then took a step to go but then seemed to remember something. He walked back to me and whispered in my ear “That ring is very expensive.” And then walked away.

I didn’t think much of it. I didn’t even look at the ring to be honest.

I went my way, got to my office, pulled a drawer and threw the ring in there. I am not a ornament person so you won’t see me flaunting rings, bracelets or even watches so I forgot about the ring. I was looking for something in the same drawer months later when I came across the ring. I took it, looked at it, tried it on. It could only fit on my little finger. I took it off after a minute or two and put it back in the drawer. I was closing the drawer when I remembered what had been said about the ring. So I took it, looked at it keenly I didn’t see anything about it that would make it expensive. I had a contact who worked rings so I called him. He’s Kamba, my home people know their way around rings, precious stones and metals-and they’ll tell you the truth.

Mutiso (not his real name) asked me whether it was silver or gold. I told him it was the latter. Did I know how many carats of gold it was? I said no. He asked me to look at the inside of the ring. He said it might be indicated. I checked, he was right, it was. I told him. He exclaimed in shock and then quickly asked where I had gotten the ring from. I didn’t know whether to be upset or feel insulted. So I just asked why the obvious, “why?”

“That’s a very expensive ring!” He said.

That was the second time I had heard that statement. So I asked Mutiso how much the ring was worth. He said he’d need to see the ring and then give me an actual. I asked him for an estimate. He stuttered a bit and mumbled something that I didn’t even hear then dropped a figure!

Now I was the one exclaiming! “Ati?” I asked.

“And that’s just an estimate. It is probably a little higher than that. I’ll give you a proper figure when I see the ring.” Mutiso said. So I took the ring, looked at it carefully now, shook my head as I put it back to the drawer- I didn’t throw it back this time, I put it back.

Over the years, as I have grown older, I have learnt that just like that ring I will be undervalued and taken for granted until I know my worth and put a price tag on it. People will treat you based on how much value you place on yourself. If you undervalue yourself people will treat you like trash. People pick up on how you see yourself, what you call yourself, and who you think you are.

Listen, the only reason the 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 350 4MATIC Sedan is sold at about $70,000 is because someone put a price tag on it. Anyone given that car without knowing how much its worth can sell it for anything. It wouldn’t be the car’s fault; it would be as a result of it being undervalued.

Do you know your worth? Do you know who you are? If you do you’ll know where to hang out and with whom. You’ll know where to channel your energy. You won’t spend time trying to fit in spaces that don’t recognize your worth and value. Vice versa, the people and spaces that recognize your worth and value, will court and chase you. You’ll never find anyone at DT Dobie bargaining for a better price for a Mercedes, y’all know where that happens though. So once again, do you know your worth?

Know your worth and put a price tag on it.