The choice of words here also didn't resonate with me.
I think the distinction the author is really getting at is whether the business views you as fungible.
My couch is useful and provides value. It would be hard to relax in my living room without it. But if I had to pack up and move across the country, I'd probably ditch the couch and buy a new one when I got there. It's useful and valuable, but also replaceable.
I don't play it much these days, so my bass guitar arguably isn't very useful or valuable. But I've had it 20 years and have a lot of important memories attached to it. If I have to move, I'm not selling it and buying a new one.
Maybe another way to state it is whether you have more value to the company than your replacement cost.
I think the distinction the author is really getting at is whether the business views you as fungible.
My couch is useful and provides value. It would be hard to relax in my living room without it. But if I had to pack up and move across the country, I'd probably ditch the couch and buy a new one when I got there. It's useful and valuable, but also replaceable.
I don't play it much these days, so my bass guitar arguably isn't very useful or valuable. But I've had it 20 years and have a lot of important memories attached to it. If I have to move, I'm not selling it and buying a new one.
Maybe another way to state it is whether you have more value to the company than your replacement cost.