The Power of Core Values

On any given day, there are infinite number of distractions that can pull us away from what’s important – whether that’s writing our next post, promoting something new we posted on the blog, or getting ready to launch a new product.

In those moments of distraction, we need something to propel us forward. And the best thing we can use?

Our core values.

When we use our core values as a compass, we’ll always be moving our blogs and businesses – and our lives – in the direction we need to go.

And, for our team, our core values are important in steering the direction of everything we do. For example, one of my company’s core values is “we don’t peddle fluff.” So everything we create — whether it’s a free blog post or a paid product or a podcast interview or a worksheet — has to deliver real value to our audience.

Another value of my company is “grace under fire.” We have thousands of customers — and let me tell you, those customers keep our customer service team busy! It can be easy for people to get frustrated in customer service, but our team uses the “grace under fire” value to drive their interactions, and as a result, they are gracious and patient and amazing — something our customers really appreciate.

Another example of a core value that really drives us is “we can change the world.” We truly believe that, through our products, we can change people’s lives. And that those people can change the world. YOU can change the world — especially when you use your core values to lead the way.

See where I’m going with this?

We all need guideposts to keep us grounded and moving in the right direction. When we’re faced with a problem and we’re not sure what to do, we can use those core values to help us make the decision that will ultimately take us where we want to go.

Let’s take a look at how to use our core values to keep moving forward in our blogging journey (and in life!)

Know Which Values Come Before Your Blog

Now, obviously, our blogs are important. But for most of us, they’re not the most important thing — so it’s crucial to know which values come before our blog.

For example, another value we have is “family first”. So many of our team are moms (myself included!). And sometimes, situations arise in which family obligations and blog obligations compete with each other.

When that happens, it’s not even a question — family always, always comes first.

This core value drives so much in our business. If we’re having a staff meeting and someone has to bring their child because the babysitter got sick, no big deal! In another business, that might not fly, but in our business — a business that values family above everything else — it’s a no-brainer.

What are the things that are most important to — even more important than your blog? Is it spending time with your partner? Or making the time to exercise every morning?

Whatever it is, make it a non-negotiable and always put it ahead of your business. It might seem counter-intuitive, but protecting the things that are most important to us and giving them the time and attention they — even if it takes time and attention away from our blogs — will actually help our businesses, not hurt them.

Defining Your Core Values

Now that we know core values are essential to build the kind of businesses we’re proud to call our own, let’s talk about how to make that happen.

There’s no magic formula to figuring out our core values, but there are definitely steps we can take to get the ball rolling.

Look for Inspiration

The first thing that’s helpful when defining our core values is looking for a bit of inspiration. Click to Tweet   The first thing that’s helpful when defining our core values is looking for a bit of inspiration. When I was starting to come up with my core values, I literally googled “company core values examples”. And there were so many results!

Seeing the core values other companies are use as a compass can help get the wheels turning and get us thinking about the values that feel meaningful to us.

If you need it as a starting point, here is a list of the 10 core values for my own company:

DO IT SCARED

Courage doesn’t mean we are never scared; courage is being willing to take action despite our fear.

EVERY PERSON MATTERS

Our character isn’t built by how we treat those who have everything to offer us, but by how we treat those from whom we have nothing to gain.

WE LIVE WHAT WE TEACH

We cannot eliminate overwhelm for our audience if we are feeling overwhelmed and over-stressed ourselves. Click to Tweet We cannot eliminate overwhelm for our audience if we are feeling overwhelmed and over-stressed ourselves.

WE ARE PROBLEM SOLVERS

If a problem can be solved in less than 10 minutes or for less than $100, we solve it, right then and there.

GRACE UNDER FIRE

Always, always, always be kind, because we never know what struggle someone else may be facing.

EXCELLENCE IN EVERYTHING WE DO

Simply put, we will always strive to be the best in the things we undertake.

WE PROVIDE REAL VALUE

We don’t peddle fluff; every blog post, every email, and every product that we sell must legitimately benefit our audience.

DETAILS MATTER

We pay attention to the little things, and take extra care to always connect the dots so that nothing slips through the cracks.

FAMILY FIRST

We believe a strong company and a strong family can and should coexist. We will not pursue success at the expense of our families.

WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD

We believe that we have the power to effect positive change in lives of the people we serve through providing practical solutions for everyday overwhelm, and that those changed lives have the power to change the world.

Define Your Most Important Value

Once the idea wheel is turning in our heads, the best way to start defining our core values is by defining our most important value. What do we stand for above everything else? What is THE most important thing to us? If there was only one value we could live by, what would it be? When we know the value that’s the most important to us, we can use that as a jumping off point for defining the rest of our values.

If you’re not sure what your most important value is, start by answering this question: “Above all else, we strive to…” We have two core values we consider the most important. The first is “do it scared.” Do it scared has not only become a motto for our team, but for our community, and pushing through fear is something we incorporate into everything we do. The other is “live what we teach.” We know we can’t help people eliminate overwhelm if we’re not actively working to eliminate overwhelm in our own lives. This core value reminds us to always practice what we preach, which helps us stay authentic.

Decide the value (or values) that are most important to you. What do you stand for? Then use that value as a starting point to build the core values of your company.

Remember — Values Don’t Happen Overnight

Now, some of us might not know just what our core values are. And that’s totally okay! Values don’t happen overnight.

For us, it took a few years to really drill down on what our core values were as a company. And as we’ve grown and changed, our core values have grown and changed right along with us!

So, if you’re struggling to define your core values, don’t sweat it. You don’t need to have the answers right this second. But even if you’re a one-person show, start thinking about what values you want to drive your business. There will be situations that leave you confused and cause you to question yourself, and if you don’t have an idea of your core values, you won’t have the compass to steer yourself in the right direction or hit your goals.

Our core values make up who we are. They’re the heart of who we are as bloggers and as people, and they act as a compass, making sure we’re moving in the right direction — which is why it’s so important for us to define them.

So what are your core values? What values drive you in your blog (and in your life)? Share in the comments below!