“The Core of Your Values”

September 19, 2011

“The Sales Moment; Issue #87″

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I have heard it said that if you don’t stand for something…you will fall for anything.

When was the last you were challenged on what you believe or value? I heard business coach Chuck Bowen ask a group of entrepreneurs, “What do you value so much, that if given the choice, you would rather die than violate that principle?”

Great people and companies have a clear set of core values that form the foundation on which they live their lives, perform work and conduct themselves.

Core Values: A principle that guides a person or organization’s internal conduct as well as it’s relationship with the external world.

Branding expert Jimi Gibson and I recently conducted a three hour class for Free Agent Academy helping entrepreneurs clarify who they are, what they believe and how they should treat their customers. Answering these questions along with a clear set of core values can determine the brand, marketing and sales process of your business.

My good friend, Pastor and writer Jason Cruise, advised me on the importance of speaking and writing on the undeniable truths of life. Truths that will hold up over time, like those found in God’s scriptures.

Core values determine how you treat your family and other people including your customers. Core values also determine how you conduct business or what kind of employee you will be. The face of business is being challenged by the culture and positive values some companies are choosing to adopt.

Your core values permeate every part of your life. Some examples of these principles are integrity, honesty, respect, excellence, family and service.

A mission statement full of cliche’s is fine but your core values will SHOW the world what you truly stand for.

Question: What principles do you value and why? Please leave your comment here.

Have a great week!

Pierce

Andy Traub

Joanne totally stole my line. Integrity in everything isin't complicated, it's just really hard. I like to remember that telling the truth means you never have to remember what you told one person or the next because you tell everyone the same thing. I think telling the WHOLE truth in my dealings with clients, friends and MY WIFE is what I won't compromise. There is no such thing as a half truth. That's like being half pregnant or half married.

Joanne Miller

It seems that every time I read your blogs, the subject is something Dan and I have recently talked about and mulled over. (we do a lot of mulling!)........... Several years ago I bought Dan a big metal wall decoration that spelled out INTEGRITY . Every time anyone walks into that office they can't help but see it. It never ceases to amaze us how often people skirt the edge of what we term core values in so many areas of their lives. A little white lie here, a breach of fidelity, a small act of cheating the system in some way. I talked to a girl the other day who actually asks people coming out of the movie if they are finished with their bag and she goes and gets it refilled with fresh popcorn because the large bags are "refills free". Everyone else in the group laughed at her cleverness but I immediately saw into her true self. Perhaps those little breaches of honor are what escalated into sending her to prison for many years. Most people know right from wrong. And Most people will find some way to justify their breaches of integrity. I so agree with you on the importance of this issue, Pierce. Establishing one's core values is ESSENTIAL for success in every area of your life. Good post!!!