# Adding Value Source: https://www.theminimalists.com/value/ Published: 2011-06-18 Updated: 2024-09-15 Author: The Minimalists --- Contributing to other people—adding value to their lives—is the only way to gain another person’s buy-in, and it’s one of the few ways to get others to believe in you. For obvious reasons, this is important in many facets of life: leadership, friendships, relationships, [connecting with new people](https://theminimalists.com/connection), and especially with your [family](https://www.theminimalists.com/family). If we want people to respect us, then we must add value to their lives—otherwise we’re just dead weight. Thankfully, there are many ways we can add value… [Create](https://mnmlist.com/empower) something someone can use\ [Inspire](https://www.bemorewithless.com/2011/little-things-to-lift-you-up/) someone to take action\ Lend a helping hand\ Be a shoulder to cry on\ Show someone how to do something\ Show someone a better way\ Provide a new perspective\ Lead by [example](https://inoveryourhead.net/stop-living-the-lie-start-living-the-life/)\ [Listen](https://www.43folders.com/2006/07/10/listening) more\ Give your full attention\ Just be there for someone\ Love them No matter how we contribute, it’s important to add value in an authentic way—without an ulterior motive—genuine and helpful and unassuming. We’ve all benefited from someone’s contribution in the past: The two of us started this website last year (2010) because we were inspired and encouraged by the value created by several people. Those people added value to *our* lives—enough value that we were compelled to change and improve our own circumstances—and for that we are eternally grateful. Thus, we find it important to [pay it forward](https://exilelifestyle.com/paying/) by adding value to other people whenever we can; in fact, you’re reading this because we created this site to add value to other people, to add value to your lives. We also donate our time to charity. We listen more than we talk. We care about other people. And we love. Who adds value to your life? How do you add value to others? Subscribe to The Minimalists via [email](https://theminimalists.com/subscribe/).