{"id":923,"date":"2019-11-18T23:16:08","date_gmt":"2019-11-19T07:16:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dexterzhuang.com\/?p=923"},"modified":"2022-12-15T22:38:02","modified_gmt":"2022-12-16T06:38:02","slug":"how-to-use-your-personal-values-as-a-career-gps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dexterzhuang.com\/blog\/how-to-use-your-personal-values-as-a-career-gps\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Use Your Personal Values as a Career GPS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cYou\u2019re such an overachiever!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I often heard this comment from friends and colleagues. I had unknowingly let it run my life \u2014 with adverse consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a broader sense, I put my non-career aspirations on the back-burner until one morning when I would magically wake up feeling \u201caccomplished enough\u201d (hint: that day never arrived). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a day-to-day level, when I was faced with the choice to give myself a break or push myself to launch one more project, the decision was a no-brainer. I automatically picked the latter \u2014 but then would despise myself for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Achievement had always seemed valuable. So then why was I achieving and yet feeling unhappy and unfulfilled?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reason why is now obvious to me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Achievement was not a core part of my internal belief system. Yet Achievement was dictating my decisions like the Wizard Behind the Curtain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Societal pressure explained part of its influence. Growing up, my parents, teachers, friends, and mentors labeled me as high-achieving, which had a nice ring to it at the time. I can see how I got stuck in a hidden script that went something like this: Achievement is what wins me attention and accolades. To keep getting attention and love from others, I’ll keep achieving.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So even if my heart was elsewhere, I kept on striving… until one serendipitous day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few years ago, a close friend sent me a simple, but powerful values exercise that his team director had sent him. I completed the exercise \u2014 mostly for fun \u2014 and felt shocked by the results.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The spreadsheet revealed that I had actually prioritized accomplishment as one of my lowest-ranked values. My top 5 values were: freedom, relationships, curiosity, courage, and adventure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This insight was the seed that eventually blossomed into other major life decisions. Spending time slow traveling. Starting my coaching business. Pursuing my curiosities like learning languages. Focusing my career on doing the things I was afraid of \u2014 but would challenge me to grow. I started living a happier, more fulfilling existence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using tools and personal anecdotes, I\u2019ll show you how to discover your personal values and start using them as a GPS for navigating your career and life \u2014 in under 1 hour. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The gap between you and confidently moving in the right direction could easily be bridged using a couple of straightforward, yet enlightening tools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Discover Your Core Values (30 Minutes)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Yes, Values are For Real (Comic Credit: Dilbert<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

According to the Oxford Dictionary<\/a>, values are \u201cprinciples or standards of behavior; one’s judgment of what is important in life.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The keyword in this definition is “behavior.” The power behind our values lies in how they help you take action. Similar to how a business may rely on a set of operating principles to make high-quality decisions, we look to concrete values to guide us toward making smart, on-the-fly calls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you view values as a fluffy, non-actionable concept, then I have news for you. You\u2019ve been using them incorrectly.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Values that fluctuate like the flavor of the week are just fleeting emotions. Values that don’t make tangible contact with one\u2019s decision-making reveals that one may be ignoring what’s important to oneself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assuming you\u2019ve read this far, you believe values are worth their salt \u2014 or at least are curious to learn more. So let\u2019s start with the tools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choose From a List<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

A quick Google search<\/a> of “discover your values” returns 189K results, which is essentially a bottomless pit of possible value-finding techniques. So where does one start? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ll share the tool I used, which originated in the New York Times Bestseller Bury My Heart at Conference Room B<\/a> by Stan Slap. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The starting point for this exercise is a list of 50 values:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/th><\/th>50 Values<\/span><\/th><\/th><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Adventure<\/td>Control<\/td>Freedom<\/td>Intelligence<\/td>Relationships<\/td><\/tr>
Accomplishment<\/td>Cooperation<\/td>Fun<\/td>Involvement<\/td>Respect<\/td><\/tr>
Advancement<\/td>Courage<\/td>Harmony<\/td>Joy<\/td>Responsibility<\/td><\/tr>
Affection<\/td>Creativity<\/td>Health<\/td>Learning<\/td>Security<\/td><\/tr>
Altruism<\/td>Curiosity<\/td>Humor<\/td>Loyalty<\/td>Service<\/td><\/tr>
Balance<\/td>Determination<\/td>Impact<\/td>Order<\/td>Spirituality<\/td><\/tr>
Commitment<\/td>Enlightenment<\/td>Individuality<\/td>Passion<\/td>Stability<\/td><\/tr>
Compassion<\/td>Equality<\/td>Influence<\/td>Peace<\/td>Teaching<\/td><\/tr>
Competence<\/td>Fairness<\/td>Innovation<\/td>Power<\/td>Tradition<\/td><\/tr>
Competitiveness<\/td>Family<\/td>Integrity<\/td>Recognition<\/td>Wisdom<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Directions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Read all of the 50 values from top to bottom and left to right. Consider whether they’re of “high” “medium” or “low” importance to you.  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Based on the ones you selected as high, pick ten that you would consider as most important among that list. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Narrow that list of ten down to five. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Download the Tool: <\/strong>Would you rather use a Google Sheet version of this tool? I\u2019ll send you a free copy (complete with all 50 values defined) to the email you enter below:<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n