We’ve spent some time talking about adding value at work and those activities that both add and remove value. The final question that needs to be asked is:
What do YOU really value?
What we value, we take care of. We protect. We cherish. When something threatens that, we fight. Sometimes these things are personal. Family and faith fall into that category. But there are others that show up even if you’re not looking for them.
I recently spoke to my Great Uncle. Now 90, he has a wealth of business experience from his long career as an entrepreneur, business owner, and real estate developer. He told me that many years ago, in his masonry shop, his workers brought in the union. While it bothered him because he felt he treated his workers well, he also had a plan. Rather than take the union dues out of each employee’s pay, he let them know they would actually have to write the check. After just a few months, the workers voted to kick the union out. You see, they valued their PAY much more than the idea of an third party advocating for them. What they THOUGHT they valued was not nearly as important as what they ACTUALLY valued.
Knowing what you ACTUALLY value helps you make wiser decisions and better choices. It will be the deciding factor when you can go either way in an important career dilemma. It can be your “true North” if you can’t find your way.
There’s no easy formula for finding what you really value. You’re just going to have to think about it. Here are some questions you can ask:
- What’s most important to me besides just family and faith?
- What are some of the reasons I’ve changed my mind before making a major decision?
- If I have the choice between a much higher salary or staying in my current position, what would make me stay in my current position?
- What do I want to be remembered for at work?
Don’t leave your decisions to chance. Take some time to identify those important values and work to build on them.
