A running theme of my career has been looking for ways to add value. But how do you actually know where to look? If you’re not careful, you’ll try to add value in places you don’t belong or use the wrong definition of value.

For instance, sending an email to your company’s CEO about how their last keynote could have been improved will certainly get you noticed, but probably not in a good way.

Some people—including those in the C-suite—think value is only found in job descriptions, performance metrics, or quarterly goals. But real value lives in the margin, in the overlooked, the underappreciated, and the unglamorous moments.

If you want to become indispensable, you’ve got to train yourself to see what others don’t.

1. Notice the Trash.

One of the most iconic photos of Walt Disney is of him picking up a piece of trash at Disneyland. Even if the photo was staged, it doesn’t really matter. Because to this day, every Disney park employee is taught that “it’s everyone’s job to pick up the trash.”

When I worked at Disney World, it was quite literally my job to pick up the trash. But the underlying value was about the experience we were creating: Every guest’s day at the park should be magical. And trash is anything but magical.

The “trash” at your work might look a little different. It might be the water cooler jug that no one ever wants to change out. It might be the microwave that needs to be wiped down. But it’s always the stuff people don’t want to deal with. The “not my job” stuff.

When you make that kind of stuff your job, you’re showing a willingness to go above and beyond, that nothing is beneath you.

2. Find the Win for Others.

Father Scott Donahue has led Mercy Home for Boys & Girls in Chicago for many years. But when he spotted a group of Target execs scouting locations for a local office, he didn’t see dollar signs. He saw neighbors in need of a place to work. Instead of pitching his nonprofit for donations, he offered them an interim working space. No strings attached.

Soon enough, they came to him and said, “We have to do something for you. What do you need?” This led to an unexpected partnership of food donations that added value to both parties.

That’s how value works: it starts with service, not strategy. Find a way you can help someone else win.

You might ask, “But what if they never return the favor?” Well, that could happen, especially if that was your only motive. But when you genuinely find ways to help others win, then you’ll add up many wins for yourself along the way. And it becomes much easier when the day comes you need to ask them for a favor or a reference!

3. Work Harder To Work Smarter

My beef with the whole “work smarter, not harder” saying is that people use it to lord their intelligence over others or as an excuse to do less. However, what I consistently found in my career is that the smartest strategy was making an extra effort.

For instance, let’s say you’re in a customer-facing role and have a great exchange with a customer (thanks to your smart work). Don’t let the moment end there. Take the extra step to email the marketing director and say, “Hey, here’s a great experience I had with a customer. Is this something that you could use in a marketing piece?”

Sending that email may not be in your job description, but working a little harder to document the experience and help another department is a great way to get noticed. You’ve helped them win by giving them an idea they can use,  and put yourself on the radar for new opportunities. You’ve worked harder and smarter.

Start with These Questions

To start spotting opportunities to add value, ask yourself:

• What’s a recurring problem no one else is fixing?
• Where are people struggling but too tired to speak up?
• Is there a process that “has always been this way” but doesn’t actually work?
• How can I take something invisible and make it more visible?

When you take only fifteen minutes a day to brainstorm the answers, you’ll start spotting opportunities all around you. When you find ways to incorporate the answers into your daily routine, you’ll consistently add value.

If these ideas added value to your day, let’s  look for ways to add value together.