Connecting with your values directly relates to your productivity as a business owner!
Knowing yourself is the most powerful thing you can do as a business owner. When you really know yourself, you can give yourself what you need to succeed. It allows you to finally accept that you’re really a night owl, so you ditch the 9-5 schedule and start working 11-7. As a result, you’re so much happier and as a knock-on effect so much more productive. It allows you to truly be yourself and that energy attracts your dream clients with a cherry on top. Do I hear big business growth calling?
A big part of knowing yourself is knowing your values. When you are aware of your values, it’s so much easier to make decisions in business, letting go of what doesn’t feel right and generating more opportunities for what does. I know the thought of values can feel a little bit confusing so let’s define what values are, the impact they have, and how you can start taking value-driven action.
Defining the Abstract: What Are Values?
Values are the ingrained principles, non-negotiable priorities and heart-felt beliefs you live by. They’re not things we actually have to do but we feel like we do. It’s too important to you to not. For example, sustainability could be a value close to your heart. So while you could buy any old envelopes for your product packaging, it only feels right to look for the most eco-conscious envelopes that are biodegradable. It gives you a greater purpose because you are able to contribute to something that matters to you, sustainability.
I’m not going to separate personal and business values here because I think, especially us small business owners, it makes sense for them to mirror each other for the sake of authenticity, integrity and the feel-good factor. Your values are part of your vibe. Hiding from that tends to only make business harder as values bolster your resilience, persistence and determination because they give you a ‘why’ worth fighting for.
To help you uncover your unique set of values, journal on these prompts and be curious about what comes up.
When are you at your happiest? Write about what you are doing, who you might be with, or where you might be
When do you feel most comfortable? Write about what you are doing, who you might be with, or where you might be
What makes you feel proud? Write about what you are doing, who you might be with, or where you might be
Look over your answers – what values are being met at these times?
Business Life When You Honour Values vs When You Don’t
Sceptical about how much of a difference values can actually make to how you show up in your business? I explain it like this: Living according to your values drives you forward and helps you to stay productive even during difficult times. Living in misalignment with your values weighs you down, drains your energy and productivity, and can create inner conflict without you knowing why. So, what does that look like in a business context?
Motivation
Maintaining at least a semblance of motivation is massively important to business success. If you just don’t feel motivated to put in the work, you’re probably not going to produce much of quality. Running your business according to your values gives you something to be motivated by. Give yourself a good reason to go for it.
You’re not just doing what needs to be done in your business because you feel like you should or something not very meaningful like to grow your bank account for the sake of it. You’re doing it because it’s important to you and it will help you to achieve the outcomes you’re excited about; like prioritising family time by having the financial stability to take time off to make memories with them.
Decision making
Being a business owner means making lots of decisions on a regular basis. You’re the big boss! There’s no one else to make these decisions for you! That can feel overwhelming.
What direction do you want to take your business in? 🤔
What strategies do you want to use to get there? 🤔
How do you move forward when things don’t go as planned? 🤔 There are so many options! 😖
When you are running your business according to your values, it’s easier to narrow down your options to what feels right and what isn’t for you. It can even highlight why things didn’t go as planned because a disconnection from values can cause stress and discomfort and that’s when things tend to go off the rails. You waste less time on the fence and feel more confident in your decision because you know it is leading you to where you want to go.
Attraction
Now I’m not talking about the prettiness of your face, although they say you’re never fully dressed without a smile and aligning with your values can give you a big smile on your face. I’m talking about the kind of people you attract by modelling the values you live by.
People with similar values are going to be drawn to you, whether they realise they have similar values or not, because it feels right. They like what you do and what you’re all about. You can work with more of the clients you love to work with, that’s a massive productivity booster. If you ever build a team in your business, values will help you to find suitable team members who are on your wavelength as well.
Everyone has values - things that excite, impassion and energise them. The key is to tap into your values so being productive and growing your business doesn’t feel like a fight with yourself but a fight for something meaningful. Do what you do according to your values and you’ll find your flow.
A Fun Way to Identify and Honour Your Values
I’ll admit that by encouraging you to look at your values and how they can influence your business success, I am asking you to do the deep work. That’s my job as a business coach!
A long hard look at what’s going on internally can accelerate you towards the outward success that is much more Instagram-able like more clients and more money. It allows you to understand yourself better. Instead of living on autopilot and getting stuck in vicious cycles of behaviour that get you nowhere, you can double down on your strengths and navigate your limitations.
It’s powerful stuff. Although not always easy. That’s why I created a safe, judgement-free community to learn about yourself and your business in your own time in order to grow. I’ve called it the Find Your Vibe Business Club. Each month we explore a new business-related theme (January’s theme is Values and Boundaries) through private journaling and multiple group sessions throughout the month. These sessions help you to go deeper by sparking new ideas and revelations while keeping you accountable for taking meaningful action.
A very important value of mine is fun. So while we will do the hard work (I’m not afraid to give members a kick up the bum if they need it), we also have a laugh. Yes, we’re a group of business owners but we’re also a big bunch of quirkiness! (See, I work in alignment with my values and I’m attracting business owners who don’t shy away from the important stuff but have fun at the same time 😉 )
If any of this has piqued your interest, experience for yourself what we’re all about by joining the Find Your Vibe Business Club this month and exploring defining and living out your values with us.
