The Case for Valuation
Money is the lifeblood of our exchange system, allowing goods and services to flow between people. Yet, our current monetary system reduces value to mere numbers, failing to capture the richness and complexity of human contributions. This one-dimensional lens neglects the immeasurable aspects of life—friendship, trust, caregiving, and even transformative moments that shape our futures.
What price can be placed on acts of kindness, support for a new business, or the care of an elderly loved one? These vital contributions remain invisible within our existing frameworks. Our society struggles to quantify qualities that can’t be reduced to numbers—love, happiness, or even the health and well-being of a community. Without better ways to measure these elements, we undervalue the very foundation of what makes life meaningful.
Imagine if the true worth of a loyal employee was measured beyond their salary—companies would be structured differently. If sickness was valued appropriately, health services would operate with greater compassion. If holy wells were valued for their healing properties versus sewage being dumped into our waters. A society that fails to account for these invisible contributions is inherently incomplete, and its systems inadequate.
A future rooted in multidimensional valuation systems will transform how we perceive wealth and success. By embracing tools that recognise the full spectrum of human and societal value, we can shape a world that rewards care, innovation, and connection. This shift isn't just about better numbers; it's about creating a society that genuinely values life in all its forms.
Social enterprises will find the standard of particular interest as they continue to strive to find the optimum – the balance point between financial and social return, but it is largely hit and miss, with continuous battles and struggles to survive and self-sustain the business. The Be Responsive method provides pointers to the right direction so that social enterprises can find that sweet spot, the optimum point where social value can be maximized for all stakeholders and where the balance point is between social and financial return.
The challenge is clear: We need to go beyond money as the sole metric of worth. Instead, we need social values that reflect the depth of human experience and inspire change. There is a hidden value of life—an untapped potential waiting to be acknowledged and celebrated. When we value things correctly the world will be a completely different place and the government will no longer be fit for purpose.
