Recently, I have seen more than a few things happen – both in the online space and in the world around me that have made me question the moral character and values of some people.   What the actual things were, is not something that needs to outlined here. Suffice to say, they situations made me turn my head more than a little.  Really, the greater issue is about the fact that the actions in question bumped up against certain values and/or ethical beliefs that I hold close to my heart – both in my life and for my business.  As such, my opinions of the people and/or businesses involved shifted more than a little bit.

Why Values Matter

It is important to understand what matters the most to you.  By being clear on this, you set yourself up for better success in life and in business.  Once you are clear on your values you can easily use them as a compass to guide you in terms of the decisions you make, the relationships you build and the places you spend your time.  Knowing who you are, what you believe in and what you stand for makes all the difference in the world.  Once you put your values out there and truly begin to live by them you will find that you attract others who also believe in what you believe in.  Ultimately, this makes relationship building so much easier – because you already know what one another represent.  Everything else just grows from there.

Values Can Evolve Over Time

I grew up in a family that spoke about values and ethics frequently.  As a child, I clearly knew what my family stood for and what ultimately mattered. In school, my thinking expanded further.  Finally, as I grew into an adult, I was able to carry forward the things that mattered the most to me while also letting go of what didn’t align with my heart. Over time, life experiences enabled to me to think about my values further. Often, as we increase our awareness and knowledge of the world around us we further refine our values over time. This ensures that we continue to grow and expand our thinking as well as the way we respond to what life puts in front of us.

Do You Know What Your Values Are?

• When is the last time you actually took time to think about your own personal values?
• Can you name your values?
• Does your life align with what you actually believe in?
• Does your work align with your beliefs?
• How do your values impact how you live your life?

If would like to learn more about becoming clear on your own values and how you can apply them in all areas of your life then I suggest you have a look at the posts below as they are quite helpful.

Living Your Values – Part 1 and Part 2 by Steve Pavlina.

Whose Values, Rules and Ideas Are Running Your Life and Your Business? by Liz Strauss.

Why do values matter to you?  What difference do they make in your life and business?