The importance of values
“Know your values to know your value"

These past weeks we encountered a lot of ethical discussions: about the controversy in the FIFA World Cup Qatar, about the storm in Silicon Valley,… So I found the time right to talk about… VALUES!

My core values are my non-negotiables that I will defend no matter the odds, even when I am the only one in the room sharing them. I believe upholding strong values shows who you are underneath the surface and helps you to live authentically. My values are Authenticity & Truth, Fairness, Knowledge, (Personal) Growth and Be of service in an empowering way, all of this topped with a thick Excellence sauce. (You can find more info about my values here).

Here is my point of view when it comes to values:

• Know your values to know your value

When I knew my personal values I actually also found myself for a large part, because they form the foundation for the purposeful life I want to lead. Your values are an inherent part of your personal brand. Knowing them helps you live authentically and be your authentic self, because you understand the core of yourself. Finding your values lets you find yourself, your added value and what you stand for no matter what.

• Your values add value to those around you

By determining my values mentioned above, I also understood the value I want to add to you: I want to share with you my knowledge about personal branding, fascination and content marketing (Knowledge!). In that way you will discover your authentic and true self (Authenticity & Truth!) and grow as a person and authority (Growth!). All of this in a set-up of equality and empowerment (Fairness & Be of service in an empowering way!).

To give an example of a well-known personal brand: Elon Musk. Most people are aware of the layoffs. But few people know he also shut down the Employee Resource Groups at Twitter. These are voluntary, employee-led groups aiming to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace (women, people of color,…). We will need to see now if diversity, equity & inclusion are part of his value set and if he is committed to add value in these areas and to minority groups…

• Act upon your values

I quickly had a look at the core values of FIFA. Let me pick two of them, including their own description: Integrity (integrity can stand in opposition to hypocrisy) and Courage (choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty or intimidation). Do I need to elaborate more when it comes to acting upon your values?

My credo is that you never put money before your principles. If you do, those values probably didn’t belong to you anyway. And the impact on the credibility of you and your personal brand are tremendous. Look at David Beckham, the ambassador of the controversial World Cup. For so many years he represented a lot of things people value like dedication, patriotism, humility,… Remember he was queuing for hours to see the Queen’s coffin? Will his role in the World Cup (which he claims is a platform for inclusivity and tolerance) kill his (personal) brand? He is no longer a gay icon for instance, as confirmed by the LGBTQ+ magazine Attitude. Could this really be terminal for his name and brand?

• Your values will attract like-minded people who share your values

Since my values are also the bedrock of my business, I am convinced I will attract like-minded people with shared values. People who want to show their authentic self and share their expertise with the world, but don’t yet dare or don’t know where to start. People who are kind and appreciate fair play. People who want to grow as a person and have an impact on others. Do you recognize my values in this description? Do you recognize yourself in this description? 

If you didn't list your values yet, maybe it is time to do so. It can be liberating to be able to take the right decision based on your value set. Know your values and act upon your values so that you can add value to those around you and attract like-minded people with shared values.

What are your values? I am curious… Don't hesitate to send me a message at [email protected] 

As said, your values contribute to knowing your value… Did you know I can help you with discovering how you add distinct value, having the words to communicate your uniqueness, knowing how the world sees you, identifying situations where you excel and can play to your differences? All of this not by changing who you are, but by becoming more of who you already are!

Interested? Have a look at my unique program Your Personal Brand kickstart with Fascinate® HERE