Why Values Affect Your Business

 

We live by our values but does anyone actually know what they are or what it means? A value is usually a single word which defines who you are and what you believe in, e.g. Fun, Adventure, Happiness, Integrity, Authentic, Recognition, Wealth, etc.

 As a small business owner, your values are most likely your personal values. If you value “integrity” and “fun”, then your business should incorporate this – it’s a reflection of who you are and also easier to work with. For example, if “adventure” isn’t on your value list, then trying to create a business which has “adventure” as a value will be difficult since you don’t see it as important in your life. You may feel that it’s good for the business to market this, but if you’re heart isn’t into being adventurous, it will be difficult to implement.

Below are some values, there are many more. Which ones resonate with you?

Abundance, Acceptance, Achievement, Adventure, Ambition, Authenticity, Challenge, Charity, Competitiveness, Contribution, Creativity, Excellence, Family, Fame, Freedom, Fun, Happiness, Honesty, Humility, Independence, Innovation, Integrity, Justice, Leadership, Loyalty, Passion, Peace, Recognition, Relationships, Reliability, Respect, Safety, Security, Service, Spirituality, Success Trust, Wealth

Think about your top 3-5 values in life and see how your business is implementing them. If your business is struggling, see what values it is offering and if you resonate with them. The struggle may be because the business values don’t reflect your personal values.

 Once you find your core values, you may find that your website text needs to change, your marketing, etc. Ultimately, sticking with your core values in business means that your clients will be people with a similar outlook and most likely easier to work with. You don’t have to market to people not on your “wavelength”, there are enough people around who resonate with your values who want to work with you. That’s the beauty of diversity in people, so don’t be afraid to embrace your values in your business.