Before we begin, I have a question for you. Something that has been on my mind:
Where is the source of change or improvement? Is it internal or external?
For the past two weeks, I have been waiting – with excitement and anticipation - for Eben Pagan’s “Get Altitude” program to arrive. It’s a set of 15 DVDs – his system for being successful as an entrepreneur.
As I waited, I noticed my anticipation and growing excitement and had to wonder:
Why must The Next Big Solution come from someone or something “out there”, from an external source rather than from within?
And, in the end, the ultimate truth is that it never can come from an external source. Even if an external tool or resource or teacher plays a big part, we’re the ones who have made the decision to open up to this solution. “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” As much as we all want to remain non-responsible (in case something goes horribly wrong or something goes “unstoppably” right), we can't. We are, by nature, in a position of Cause and not Effect.
If you will allow me to speak in spiritual terms, another way to put it is: we are always reflecting the omnipotent Cause and Creativity of God. Things never “happen to God” – He makes them happen. And we reflect this making and this responsibility.
Okay so how to I transition from this to our main topic of the day? I know of no way, so let’s just dive into it.
Today’s task: identify our core values.
Only after we know what’s important can we determine what is not important. In Covey terms, only when we know what goes in Quadrants 1 and 2 (fires and the important/non-urgent) can we see what falls into Quadrants 3 and 4 (distractions and escape activities). Then we can systematically eliminate as much of Quadrant 3 and 4 and spend the bulk of our time in Quadrant 2. That's where the magic happens.
(If this Quadrant stuff is making no sense to you, get and read Stephen R. Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”. He gave the world a new vocabulary with this book and many business people around the word use his Quadrants tool often. Over 20 million book-buyers can't be wrong... Seriously, this is a must-read and if your copy is collecting dust on your shelf, pull it down, crack it open and read the first 30 pages. I'm betting you won't want to stop until you're done. It's not easy, but it's a great book.)
I first looked under my own hood and started trying to figure out what was core to me after reading both Covey's book and "Good to Great" by Jim Collins. Honestly, I found the task difficult. After much soul-searching, and much discussion with my wife, my friends, and my favorite authors (through further reading), what I found was:
1. My top values were: creativity/soul/passion/doing what you love, learning/progress/growing, community, recognition for creative excellence.
2. Interestingly, BetterPhoto.com reflected these values (go figure).
So…
Get out your notepad or clear your white board or open up your mind-mapping software. Here come the Big Questions:
What do you stand for? What are the three values that you would still express and uphold, under any circumstances? What are the three things that are not up for discussion, ever?
Here’s another question that may help you get a short list of core values:
What is it that you can’t stand?
If you think up things that are horrible, unacceptable, unjustifiable, then the opposites may just be your core values.
Lastly, think of your top 5 goals (if you’ve defined them) and ask Why? And then ask Why again? This may lead you to an understanding of what you consider most important.
When I opened my much-anticipated “Get Altitude” program this evening, after making the kids Hauf-dogs* for dinner, I listened to Eben offer another way that could help you identify your core:
1. Think of someone you admire
2. Write down one quality you admire in that person
This will likely point to developed or undeveloped qualities that are core to you.
If you end up with a long list of potential core values, you will need to boil them down the to top 5-10 values that are truly the most core… the most important.
You can do this by taking them two at a time and asking, “Which is more important? Value A or Value B”. And once you have the list reduced by 50%, repeat this step until you end up with your essential core.
Please do yourself a favor and do this now. Take 10 minutes and see how far you get. If you need more time, take another 10 minutes.
You may find yourself revising the list later, but getting an initial list shouldn’t take long.
If you want to go public with your core values, feel free to share in the Comments below. If you want to keep them private, that's cool. Just do it.
Okay, silence your phone. Sign out of your email. Close out your IM and Twitter and news feed… See you back online once you have a list of 5-10 core values.
* Hauf-dogs: hot dogs wrapped in a tortilla with melted cheese. Veggie dogs work well too. (In fact, about now, I am wishing I had used veggies dogs... I'm off to make myself a cup of herbal tea. See you tomorrow.)
Where is the source of change or improvement? Is it internal or external?
For the past two weeks, I have been waiting – with excitement and anticipation - for Eben Pagan’s “Get Altitude” program to arrive. It’s a set of 15 DVDs – his system for being successful as an entrepreneur.
As I waited, I noticed my anticipation and growing excitement and had to wonder:
Why must The Next Big Solution come from someone or something “out there”, from an external source rather than from within?
And, in the end, the ultimate truth is that it never can come from an external source. Even if an external tool or resource or teacher plays a big part, we’re the ones who have made the decision to open up to this solution. “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” As much as we all want to remain non-responsible (in case something goes horribly wrong or something goes “unstoppably” right), we can't. We are, by nature, in a position of Cause and not Effect.
If you will allow me to speak in spiritual terms, another way to put it is: we are always reflecting the omnipotent Cause and Creativity of God. Things never “happen to God” – He makes them happen. And we reflect this making and this responsibility.
Okay so how to I transition from this to our main topic of the day? I know of no way, so let’s just dive into it.
Today’s task: identify our core values.
Only after we know what’s important can we determine what is not important. In Covey terms, only when we know what goes in Quadrants 1 and 2 (fires and the important/non-urgent) can we see what falls into Quadrants 3 and 4 (distractions and escape activities). Then we can systematically eliminate as much of Quadrant 3 and 4 and spend the bulk of our time in Quadrant 2. That's where the magic happens.
(If this Quadrant stuff is making no sense to you, get and read Stephen R. Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”. He gave the world a new vocabulary with this book and many business people around the word use his Quadrants tool often. Over 20 million book-buyers can't be wrong... Seriously, this is a must-read and if your copy is collecting dust on your shelf, pull it down, crack it open and read the first 30 pages. I'm betting you won't want to stop until you're done. It's not easy, but it's a great book.)
I first looked under my own hood and started trying to figure out what was core to me after reading both Covey's book and "Good to Great" by Jim Collins. Honestly, I found the task difficult. After much soul-searching, and much discussion with my wife, my friends, and my favorite authors (through further reading), what I found was:
1. My top values were: creativity/soul/passion/doing what you love, learning/progress/growing, community, recognition for creative excellence.
2. Interestingly, BetterPhoto.com reflected these values (go figure).
So…
Get out your notepad or clear your white board or open up your mind-mapping software. Here come the Big Questions:
What do you stand for? What are the three values that you would still express and uphold, under any circumstances? What are the three things that are not up for discussion, ever?
Here’s another question that may help you get a short list of core values:
What is it that you can’t stand?
If you think up things that are horrible, unacceptable, unjustifiable, then the opposites may just be your core values.
Lastly, think of your top 5 goals (if you’ve defined them) and ask Why? And then ask Why again? This may lead you to an understanding of what you consider most important.
When I opened my much-anticipated “Get Altitude” program this evening, after making the kids Hauf-dogs* for dinner, I listened to Eben offer another way that could help you identify your core:
1. Think of someone you admire
2. Write down one quality you admire in that person
This will likely point to developed or undeveloped qualities that are core to you.
If you end up with a long list of potential core values, you will need to boil them down the to top 5-10 values that are truly the most core… the most important.
You can do this by taking them two at a time and asking, “Which is more important? Value A or Value B”. And once you have the list reduced by 50%, repeat this step until you end up with your essential core.
Please do yourself a favor and do this now. Take 10 minutes and see how far you get. If you need more time, take another 10 minutes.
You may find yourself revising the list later, but getting an initial list shouldn’t take long.
If you want to go public with your core values, feel free to share in the Comments below. If you want to keep them private, that's cool. Just do it.
Okay, silence your phone. Sign out of your email. Close out your IM and Twitter and news feed… See you back online once you have a list of 5-10 core values.
* Hauf-dogs: hot dogs wrapped in a tortilla with melted cheese. Veggie dogs work well too. (In fact, about now, I am wishing I had used veggies dogs... I'm off to make myself a cup of herbal tea. See you tomorrow.)
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