What are your personal core values?

I wasn’t always a big reader.
I figured it was a nice thing to do and ain’t nobody got time for that.

(Remember the lady that said that? 10 years later, still a classic.)

I kept hearing people say “leaders are readers” and I was like… k. Got it.

However, about 5 years ago, I came out of my “AHHH ALWAYS BUSY” fog and decided I would be a better person and a better leader if I read at least a couple of books per quarter.

I tell you this because I know I look like a reader today, and I am. Most of the time. But it wasn’t easy for me to get here.

I’m currently reading The Everyday Hero Manifesto by Robin Sharma, and there’s a lot to learn from this author. He has an incredible story of being doubted by pretty much everyone, and rising to be a trusted advisor and coach to some of the most successful people in the world.

One thing that Sharma talks about in his book is his five main values. His theory is that in order to show up every day as the best person (and leader) that you can, your schedule, your decisions, and your actions must constantly align with your five main values.

And your values should not be developed from the lens of who you are today—but as the person you want to be at the end of their career.

(Right here, my mind was kind of blown. 🤯  Who do I want to be at the end of my career? It took me a while to think through it.)

The first value I came up with was impact. This word shows up on my vision board every time I do the activity.

I want to be known for serving others, and this can be accomplished in so many ways. By volunteering time or fundraising. By coaching or mentoring others. By being a servant leader, and hopefully a boss to remember. For me personally, by being a foster and adoptive parent.

There is so much more work to do, and I know that I have the ability to do it. That’s what impact means to me.

To hear about my other four values and learn how to develop your own, be sure to check out my podcast, “What are your personal core values?” (link in the comments!).

If you were to choose five values that you live by every single day, what are they? And what changes would you make to your daily actions and schedule with your values in mind?