The Value of Values
Author: Karen Vizer

From time to time, I find myself focused on and reconnecting with my values. Values are the qualities that are the most important to you in your life and are what make your life worth living. Values are activities or behaviors that you are naturally drawn to. There is no push or force in this, it comes naturally. Values are the map to wholeness and unity in your life because you are your values!

In order to orient your life around your values, you must make the distinction between values, needs and wants. What may be a value for one person may be a need or want for another. Needs are defined as those things that YOU need to be your best. Needs include time, money, love, and food. When your needs are met it is easier to identify and orient around your values. Wants are what you ENJOY having and wants provide gratification. These include a gourmet meal, a vacation, or a new car. Thomas Leonard in his book “The Portable Coach” makes the distinction in the following way.
“If there is urgency, it is probably a need.
If there is craving or desire, it is probably a want.
If there is a natural and uncomplicated pull, it is probably a value.”

Another key to being aligned with your values is to be awake, aware and conscious. You must listen to and HEAR the messages that your mind, body and higher self are sending. You must be CLEAR on the distinctions between needs, wants and values.

You know it is time to reconnect with your values when:

1. You find yourself TORN between things. These can be decisions about anything in your life. If you are torn or conflicted, look at your values.

2. You are feeling DRAINED by the projects you are involved in and/or the goals you have set.

3. You have REGRETS.

When you identify your core values and orient your life around these values, decision making becomes very easy. Whenever you are setting goals or evaluating an opportunity you can run it by your values and see if it is a fit. When I work with my clients on identification of their values we start with a list of values and select the top 20. We then look at which of these may be needs or wants and narrow the list down to 5 -10 that are the true values that guide the client. (If you would like to explore this area more deeply, you may request a list of values by sending an e-mail to me.)

I often receive e-mails and information from people who want me to evaluate/or join different business opportunities. In most cases it is very easy to hit the remove button and forget about it. Occasionally, I get hooked. Several weeks ago, a friend called to tell me of this new company that was launching and how much MONEY I could make if I got in NOW. I ran the idea past my values and it did not match. I could not SEE how any alignment with this company was consistent with or supporting of my values. I declined becoming involved with the opportunity on that basis. Had I chosen to participate I would have found myself experiencing regret and feeling conflicted.

How many times have you been approached by others with urgency in their voices about this great opportunity? How many times have you lost precious TIME as you were tempted by the urgency and sucked into the hype? How many hours have you spent in conflict about what to do next? What criteria do you use to make a decision when it is regarding a business opportunity?

Are you someone who is tired of the HYPE and empty promises and missing “sponsors”. Are you someone who is seeking an opportunity that will *create* long term residual income. How would it be for you to be aligned with a company that has great value for the people who participate in it? What if you could demonstrate the value of your product/and services by your life. That is to say you would be a product of the product. How different would your business be if you were part of a team that supports you and teaches you how to be effective in your business?

Next time you look at a business opportunity, ask yourself these questions and run the opportunity past your values to see if it is a fit. Your values reflect what is important to you, how you see the world and what you believe in. What are your values? Are the things you value the most governing your decisions? “Values are not trendy items that are casually traded in”

------Ellen Goodman








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Karen Vizer
760 329-9173 ICQ#148268700
Personal, Executive and Business Coach
Partnering with people to create financial wellness and the time freedom to enjoy it.
It is never too late to create the life of your dreams.
http://evolutionebiz.com
Mail to: karen@evolutionebiz.com

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