How to Create a Values-Based Career
Dear Subscriber,
Over the last several months, I have experienced a lot of CHANGE. In my family, in my businesses, in my living situation. CHANGE. And let’s face it – we, as humans, are hard-wired to resist change. Change is scary. It’s unsettling. And it’s inevitable.
So, on the one hand, I can chant my mantra – Change is Good… Change is Good… Helping my reptilian brain to keep breathing and functioning when all I really want to do is be the deer in the headlights and FREEZE!
Breathing allows the higher brain functions to kick in and I can begin to see the opportunities, the gifts, in this transition. And when the bright headlights of the oncoming car — I mean – inevitable change — throws my life into relief, what I can see, if I choose to look, are my values.
So what are values – really? We hear the term battered around, but do you really know what your values are? Values are what you, personally, consider to be really and truly important. And here’s the challenge – this is completely subjective.
There are no objectively “correct” values. And yet people die every day over values-based disagreements. But that’s different conversation.
What’s important for our purposes is choosing values that inspire behavior that gets you where you want to be.
Warm regards,
Debra Russell,
Certified Artist’s Success Coach
www.Artists-EDGE.com
How do I Create My Business to Suit My Values?
First, we have to discover what our values are. In order to do this, we must, in the words of Bill W., make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
And let’s be clear with our terminology. The dictionary definition of moral is “conforming to the rules of right conduct.” In other words, morals are just values that lots of people have agreed are “good”. So the essence of this step is to take a searching and fearless inventory of our conduct.
What we do reveals what we believe is important. It may NOT be what we would like to think we believe is important. This is a critical distinction.
So, sit down and make a list of your values. Create some space where you can be uninterrupted and brainstorm a list of all the things that are important to you. Use these questions to stimulate your thought process:
- What is important to me?
- What else is important to me?
- How am I spending my time and what value does that express?
- How am I spending my time at work?
- How am I spending my time with regard to family and friends?
- What are my self-care habits?
- How do I treat others?
- How do I allow others to treat me? And what does that tell me is important to me?
You must think of this as a brainstorming exercise. It is critically important that you write it all down. Be courageously and brutally honest with yourself.
DO NOT EDIT OUT THE VALUES YOU ARE EMBARRASED OR ASHAMED OF!
The first step is to look at yourself with curiosity, generosity and love. What is true now? When it comes to values, our judgment of what’s Right or Moral can destroy our objectivity and our ability to change.
If you look at your behavior with judgment and shame yourself for what you see, you will not change! Your very judgment of your behavior as “bad and wrong” keeps you frozen in your growth. It actually reinforces the behavior.
SO STOP BEATING UP ON YOURSELF!
Begin this process with the determination that no matter what you discover about yourself, no matter what “bad habits” or “wrong behaviors” you discover, you are OK, just as you are. Without this basis of love and acceptance, there can be no growth, no development, and no real internal change.
This may feel counter-intuitive. If I don’t disapprove of my behavior, what would motivate me to change? Think of it this way – if you beat a dog into submission, to get him to behave, he will behave as long as you are watching him. But when you aren’t there, his bad behavior will return or even get worse. And one day, while you are beating him, he will turn on you. Any dog trainer will tell you, it’s much easier to get consistent good behavior through loyalty and love.
So with a fearless heart, notice “the shoulds” – what “should” be important to you? Notice the gap between what you want to be important to you and what your behavior demonstrates. You’ve heard the saying, “Actions speak louder than words.” What are you doing? What are your current values?
The truth is that you are already creating your business (and your world) to suit your values. If you don’t like what you’re creating, if you’re not satisfied with your outcomes, then begin to choose different values. This is the secret of real and sustainable success
Coming up in the Artist’s EDGE Membership:
How to Create a Values-Based Career
Wednesday, February 27th at 6:00 PM PT/9:00 PM ET
What does that mean, really? We talk a lot about values, family values, good values – whatever. But do you really know what your values are – consciously? And how exactly do they affect your career choices and path?
In this interactive class, we’ll look at:
- What your values are, right now
- How to choose values that will create ethical success
- And how to build those values into your life, moment to moment
Your values are the basis of your self-esteem, self-confidence and how you experience the world. What could be more important?
Are you ready to Create a Values-Based Career? Then join us on the next Artist’s EDGE Toolbox Teleclass.
Attend the call for only $1! Become an Artist’s EDGE Member.
Check out the New and Improved Artist’s EDGE Website
If you haven’t been to the Artist’s EDGE website in the last few months, you should definitely drop by. I have completely revamped the look and feel as well as the offerings.
While you’re there, take a look at my Fr** report “Success Solutions for the top 10 Obstacles in the Business of Arts and Entertainment.” This e-course will arrive in your mailbox once a week for 10 weeks, filled to the brim with suggestions and solutions to the most common challenges facing you as you strive to make a prosperous living doing what you love.
This is just the first of many new and exciting projects for Artist’s EDGE. Stay tuned for announcements of a series of free Teleclasses, new products and more live events. 2008 is shaping up to be a very exciting year!
Resource – Your Personal Breakthrough
Two weeks ago, I went through an amazing weekend. Now I’ve done a lot of this kind of work and I am NOT easily impressed. But Chris Howard absolutely blew me away.
Because I want to share with you access to these powerful tools, I’m thrilled to be able to offer you, at a pretty steep discount, this powerful 7 CD Course.
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Sounds incredible doesn’t it? To achieve these results, you will need to set aside some time every day to listen to the CDs and follow the directions. That’s it, just follow the directions.
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