Old, ugly, tired, mean, fat, and broke
I recently overheard a conversation between two Southerners.  One man asked how the other one was doing.  The other man answered saying, “I am old, ugly, tired, mean, fat, and broke.”  Now there, I humorously thought to myself, is a man who really knows who he is!  He was in touch with his identity and he responded with simple clarity.  Most of us, however, have a difficult time simply and succinctly answering the question, “Who am I?”

          
What are Your Core Values?
 
What are the principles, standards, or qualities that you live by?  Most importantly, what are your top five core values?  The easiest way to make your list is from a larger list of possible core values.  In the GPS Life Journey curriculum we use a list of 90 possibilities.  E-mail me and I will send the list to you.

Knowing your core values will help you demonstrate character and get and stay motivated.   They are formed in us through people we know and experiences we have.  To be successful in our life purpose it is essential that we know them and reflect on them frequently.  Fernando Cardoso, accomplished sociologist, professor and politician has said, “It is impossible to build enduring institutions (or a successful life) without solid values.”  Much like spokes in a wheel, our values help us move through life honorably, consistently, and successfully.

Directive: Write down your top five core values.  Display them.  Review them.   Live by them.

Successful Organizations Know their Values.

Earlier I recounted the story of the young businessman who did not understand the values that had made his family’s business successful.  Organizational Coach Jeannette Buller Slater says of an organization’s values, “They are deeply held convictions, priorities, and underlying assumptions that influence your attitudes and behaviors.  Core values describe the unique way people in an organization work and relate to one another.”  She continues on to say that core values are the “personality and character” of an organization.

Like in a family where core values come first from a mother or father, in business core values first come from the founder or its’ leadership.  Great organizations spend time making sure that everyone in the organization understands and demonstrated its’ values.  It is not unusual for the top values to be visually presented and frequently quoted.   Speaking on the importance of knowing ones’ values, Roy E. Disney, who was the last active family member in company that bares his name said, “It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.”