Identifying your core values is an integral part of building your brand. These core values are the heart of who you are, what you stand for, and they drive your purpose for doing what you do. It’s part of the process of finding your authentic self so that you’ll be able to maintain a relatable and authentic brand and stay true to your mission. So, I thought I’d share a little exercise that will help you define your core values. And maybe you’ll have fun doing it too!
Your Core Values are the Heart of Your Brand
Core values are the fundamental beliefs that drive your actions and decisions. These values are the basis for what will make you unique and help you remain true to your brand. They’re a reminder of why you do what you do and how you do it. These are the beliefs that will dictate how the world sees you and how you operate the business of YOU.
In other words, these core values are the seed of building your brand. And just like choosing the colors and fonts that reflect your brand, this exercise in self-discovery will spark your creativity and be fun. It will also help you organize the ideas that make up your core values into direct, and definitive statements.
Are You Prepared to Do this 10-Minute Exercise?
Just so you know, you can do this exercise if you already have a solid brand, just to make sure your efforts still align with your core values and your mission. You can do this as a yearly check-in to hold yourself accountable, or to get a clearer view of your bigger picture. It may even inspire you to refocus.
YOU WILL NEED:
- Sticky notes
- A pen
- Some sort of timer
- A large surface to stick the notes
- A quiet space
- Separate paper or document for lists
Let’s Get Started on Defining Your Core Values!
Step One
First, sit down in a quiet space with your sticky notes and pen and prepare to write one thought per sticky note. Then set your timer for ten minutes.
Now, begin writing down things that are important to you, in no particular order. These will become your core values. There’s no need to overthink it because they’re all already there inside you. Things like integrity, kindness, open mindedness, and adventurousness can be core values.
Some examples of what you might write as being important to you:
- Spending more time with my husband
- Eating healthy
- Donating to charity
- Reading one book every month
- Eating more ice cream
- Laughing more
- Being open to new experiences and challenges
- Reacting with kindness
- Practicing patience
It can be anything, really. Every thought counts, so try not to censor your own desires and values.
Step Two
Once your ten minutes are up, take all your sticky notes and stick them on a blank surface like a wall, the fridge, or a window, so you can see them all clearly.
Now, you’ll place them into categories. You’ll probably notice themes related to life balance, connection and belonging, courage, personal growth, health and fitness, creativity, spirituality, loyalty, etc. Group them together accordingly. Your core values are beginning to emerge!
Step Three
If you’re like me, the patterns you see may be things that all have to do with taking more time for you, getting more writing into your days, or spending quality time with your significant other. Notice, these all fall into the Time category. No surprise, since one of the biggest challenges any entrepreneur faces is work/life balance.
Yours may be different too, but if you find that a good portion of your stickies are related to any specific topic, then you know that one of your core values needs to address this.
Now, choose three to five themes from these that are the most meaningful to you and write those down.
Step Four
Next, you will turn these three to five themes(presumably the things that you hold most dear) into actionable statements that will serve as your core values. Be creative, use words that inspire you and get you excited about the future.
Write these down on your paper list or in a new document. These will be clear, concise and active statements that speak to the purpose of your core values.
Examples:
- Believe it’s possible.
- Enjoy the journey.
- Bring characters to life who teach and inspire.
- Make a difference every day.
- Lead with gratitude.
- Commit to authenticity and transparency.
Now you have a definitive list of your core values as actionable statements. This will serve as the heart of your brand. I hope you enjoyed doing this little exercise!
I suggest that you keep this list in your paper files, a dedicated notebook, or a file folder on your computer. You may even want to frame it and hang it in your workspace. You can refer to this list as you grow your brand, and use it to remind yourself of your mission whenever you need inspiration.
I’ll be writing about this topic and other important steps to building a sustainable and joyful brand in the future, so subscribe to my blog feed so you won’t miss out.
What are your core values? How do they affect how you do what you do? Let me know in the comments!
