Career Values: Part 1

Identify Your Life Values

One of my favorite quotes is by Confucius: "Find work that you love and you'll never work another day in your life." This is about doing what you are good at rather than expending energy shoring up your weaknesses. I call this working in your "sweet spot."

If you're a golfer, you may be familiar with the concept of the "sweet spot." In golf, the "sweet spot" is the very center of the golf club head. When the ball is hit from this place, you get the most power, distance and control in your swing.

Isn't that what you want in your career as well? When you work in your "sweet spot," you are well positioned with the power and control to take your career as far as you wish. When you're in this zone, it doesn't feel like work. Your job feels like the right fit for you, and success - both internal and external rewards - comes easily.

Everyone can have the job of their dreams if they're willing to take the time to discover their greatest aptitudes and what truly makes them happy. It's all about identifying the highest and best use of your gifts and talents as well as your greatest interests and passions.

This month, I will guide you through a four-part process of discovering your career "sweet spot." We will start by exploring your life values. I suggest you use a folder or notebook that appeals to you. This will serve as your designated career book.

Life Values

Identifying what's most important to you - your life values - is the first step in designing a fulfilling life and career. Once you know what's most important to you, you can design your career around those things. That way, your career will fit into your life, rather than forcing your life to somehow fit into your career.

Values are unique to each individual. And, of course, there are no right or wrong value choices. For example, the following could be the top values for three different women.

Person One

Family
Security
Community Service

Person Two

Independence
Adventure
Fun

Person Three

Professional Success
Monetary Success
Status

As you can see, each woman has a different set of core values. Again, there is no judgment; each woman's individual choices are respected.

Now, let's get you on the road to discovering your core values. The following exercise will start the process:

Brainstorm and write down the things that are most important to you in life. Remember, there is no right or wrong. Take as much time as you need to create your list. Many women find it helpful to work on their list for a few minutes a day. Ideas often surface over the course of a few days. Once you have completed your initial brainstorm, identify your top three or four values. Narrowing down your list allows you to get very clear about what is most essential to you in life.

Idea Sparkers

The following exercises will help you kick-start your life values brainstorm:

Exercise One
What are the highlights of your days? Identify the things that you enjoy most throughout a typical day. They could be certain types of interactions you have, contributions you make, activities you engage in, etc.

Exercise Two
Imagine you are independently wealthy - you never have to work again in your life. You are financially set. How do you choose to spend your days? What do you do with your time?

Exercise Three
Imagine yourself at 100 years old and surrounded by your descendants and/or descendants of your friends. You are in a warm and relaxed atmosphere (such as around a fireplace). What would you say to them is important in life?

Schedule time in your calendar to complete this exercise in the next seven days. Next week, I will guide you through the process of identifying your work values - another key element to discovering your career "sweet spot."