Core Values Determine Who You Are and Where You Belong

We all learn about core values at an early age.  I, for one, learned at about the age of 5.  I went to the grocery store with my mother, and upon walking out of the store, she discovered a pack of gum in my hand for which she had not paid.  Nor had I.  She promptly marched me back into the store and straight to the manager's office.  She made me apologize to the store manager, give him back the gum, and explain that I was ashamed of myself for stealing the gum.

On that day, my core values began to take shape.  I discovered that honesty and integrity are not only important, but are non-negotiable.  They became a part of my personal core values.  Over the years, as I grew, more values were added to my list.  And with each, I realized that in order to look at myself in the mirror each morning, I needed to remain true to what I believed... to the values I held dear.

Throughout my career, I have had occasion to work for businesses or people who did not share my values.  Initially, I thought it wasn't that important to share the same values as those with whom or for whom you work.  But I was wrong.  It is critical that values are shared.  If honesty is one of your core values, but your boss tells you to lie to a customer, perhaps stretch the truth, can you do it?

This is when the most important value of all shows up... COURAGE.  We all have values, the question is, do we have the courage to demonstrate, or more importantly not waiver from those values?

This is probably the most important question you'll ever ask yourself.  Do you have the courage to stand up for what you believe in?  Are you willing to admit why you "curse your job..." and discover why you won't go back?  Do you fnd yourself wishing you didn't have to go to work?  Do you get a stomach ache just thinking about going?

When Dad said, "the day you curse your job is the day you don't go," he made me realize that part of cursing my job meant having different values than those displayed or expected at work.  For example, I value work ethic.  So when I saw individuals arrive late and leave early without any disciplinary action taken, I didn't choose to reflect their behavior.  Instead, I knew I didn't belong there.  I knew that my value of work ethic would never be recognized or rewarded; it would never be the respected value that is expected or displayed.

So, this week, as you go off to work, ask yourself, "What are my core values?  What do I truly believe directs my behavior and  my choices?  And most importantly, Do I have the COURAGE to stand up for my values and beliefs and strive to find a job where I can display my values and share them with my co-workers?

May this week be the start of a new view... of yourself, your world, and your possibilities!

Have you painted yourself into a corner?

So many of us have.  After writing my last post, I began to think of all of the teachers I knew who thought that teaching was all that they could do.  They had such a limited view of themselves!  Now, think about this... a teacher manages dozens of children (or teenagers) a day.  They design and organize the lessons, manage the curriculum, facilitate learning, supervise and discipline the masses, manage their own reporting and record-keeping, communicate with their peers, supervisors, and customers (the parents) daily.  They are observed and assessed on a regular and frequent basis.  They are driven to continue their education, to improve their techniques, and stay current on all of the leading research in their fields.

Now, step back from that description of a teacher... if you take a broader look at whatever you do currently, you'll see value that can be applied to a multitude of jobs or careers.

So often we limit ourselves by thinking, "this is all I can do."  We truly paint ourselves into a corner!  Or we think, "I've been promoted and am finally making good money.  If I leave this job, I'll never make what I'm making here someplace else ."  Again, we're in a corner.

Well, it's time to turn around.  The paint has dried!  There ARE other opportunities out there waiting for you!  You have skills, knowledge, and abilities that can be applied to all sorts of other careers!  You have talents that can be utilized in a variety of other jobs!

You can choose to paint yourself into a corner, or you can choose to see the potential you have.  Take a closer look at the knowledge you have gained over the years.  Make a list of what you know, know how to do, and can do well.  Make another list of what you truly enjoy doing.  Then step back from those lists and look at them with new eyes, a broader perspective.  Today it's a new world.  Many businesses have dies over the past year because they had painted themselves into a corner.  But even more businesses have survived because they saw ways to apply their tools and talents in new and innovative ways.

You can do the same thing.  See your value!  Choose to step out of the corner and into a new career!