Values - they are changing - for the good?

Personal leadership is the process of keeping your vision and values before you and aligning your life to be congruent with them. - Stephen Covey,

It is hard not to notice that our values have changed over the past few years or so. In many cases, what was important to those in career and life have changed - really changed - and what was important before isn't as important any longer.

Case in point. I meet with many clients who tell me that the values they seek to pursue in their next career or their life isn't what we generally have thought about in the past. In the past, it was all about the money, status and prestige as well as winning over others that drove career development and life choices.

That isn't the case today. People are thinking more about the real values that are important to them in their life and career, and turning back to those values that we learned from our elders. .

Value such as:
… community
… giving back to others
… helping others
… providing value in many a way
… being good to others - especially those in need
… protecting work-life balance
… being close to family

… all have taken the forefront.

Over the past few years, I believe --- and countless people tell me - that it isn’t all about the money. Yes - money plays a role, but it is less important. People are willing to sacrifice money for quality in their life and they are changing their lives to accommodate this.

Some have said that a good recession molds people.

And certainly this recession that we all went through ( and many think we are still in) has done the same. It has caused people to think what's really important in their or career in and what they want to get out life. People have new focus - new goals - and new direction. They are in more control - and that is good.

On the treadmill?

If you've been caught on the treadmill of chasing money, chasing fame and fortune in your career and life it's time to reflect and think about what's really important. If you can get off the treadmill and really figure what's important to you, you will be in a better place. If this resonates with you, I would like to offer a few tips you to consider:

Do a budget of budget - This will help you really know what you think you need to make in $$$ vs. reality. I do this often with clients and find that the delta - the difference between the need to make versus the want to make is around 15- 20% - lower. if you can think how to cut expenses and to trim those things just are not as important, maybe you'll find yourself able to take a job or at the minimum be open to more jobs that didn't have the compensation that you thought you needed. One client told me he would be able to save 3% of his paycheck by skipping Starbucks twice a day - that’s a win! He thought before he could not save anything. A bit of a sacrifice yes, but well work it (and likely better for his health too).


Evaluate your values - Understand your values and what your true purpose and calling in life is. This is absolutely critical as many people don’t know this answer and they go around rather lost and without purpose or direction. Sometimes it is not having the time to reflect; in other situations, it is the fear of making that discovery. If one has passion and purpose in life and career, they will feel stronger, more in control and focused in thinking forward and not looking behind. Having trouble figuring this out on your own? Get help for professional in defining your purpose in your passion; it will be eye-opening for sure and put you on a new path.


Be willing to accept the answers - This is most critical and I see it often times with clients who are afraid to admit the perhaps they were going in the wrong direction and they take some time to adjust and accept the fact that they need to redirect. Giving yourself permission to accept is actually critical. Once you do so, you free yourself from the past and, again, think forward.



If you are true to yourself, your family and to those things important to you, you will have passion and purpose and no one will stop you - no one will get in your way to trip you up; you just won’t let it happen!

And thank you for reading this … - Dan