How Do Your Values Impact Your Business?
February 16th, 2010
I’m curious how important your values are to you in running your business. Tell me what your top 3 values are. . .and how do they show up in your business?
Let me know by posting a response below.
Entry Filed under: Heart-based Selling Tips
21 Comments Add your own
1. Marya Miller | February 16th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
My top 3 values are integrity, honesty and respect. They show up in the value I do my best to provide for my clients.
I have firmly refused lucrative copywriting projects when potential clients have wanted me to incorporate obviously fabricated testimonials or “proof”. I write as if I’m writing for myself, which means documenting facts properly, putting in the research time and being able to be proud of what I’ve written - even though other peoples’ names are always on them!
A major part of “respect” for me is practicing the principle of confidentiality, when I ghostwrite.
I’m 55, and I’ve long since decided life’s too short to deal with negative or nasty people any more. I have become ruthlessly choosy, and as a consequence really enjoy the clients I have now!
2. Sue Ann Gleason | February 16th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
My top 3 values are relationship, service, and compassion. They show up in my business in the following ways: I’m far more interested in building relationship than in building “celebrity.” I believe “service” overrides systems so I’m very good at meeting my clients where they are and taking them to the next level regardless of what I had planned for them at that particular session. I believe my clients are drawn to me because they know I have a compassionate ear.
3. Pepper Makepeace | February 16th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Great question, Helen. My values are the most important part of my business for sure!
My top 3 values are:
Authenticity
Compassionate Detachment
Empowerment
They show up in my business in the following ways:
Authenticity - This is what I help my clients discover in themselves. This is also what I’m discovering in myself on a daily basis in my message, marketing style, how I manage my time, and in every decision I make.
Compassionate Detachment - This means always coming from love without any attachment to the outcome. This is what I offer my clients. This is how I embrace all aspects of developing and running my business.
Empowerment - Stepping into my power in all areas of my life and helping my clients do the same for themselves.
I’d love to hear what your top 3 values are, Helen. Thanks again for the great discussion topic!
Pepper
4. Carla Dinneen | February 16th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Peole that know me know they can trust me, interity is very inportant and that I work with every one with the vales I would want others to work with me.
5. Joanne Stein | February 16th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
What a wonderful question, Helen!
My top 3 values are: being ethical, spiritual and of service to others.
Everything I do and every choice I make is based upon these basic values. I treat my clients with respect, give them 110% of my attention, respond with honesty from my heart rather than my ego, deliver what I promise on time and within budget, see the greatness within them even if they don’t see it themselves and look for ways to them make their goals become a reality.
Be in joy!
Joanne
6. Linda Pucci | February 16th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
Top 3 values:
1. Integrity: It shows up in business by doing what I say I will do; I also stop doing business with others who show that they are not in integrity.
2. Growth: It shows up in business in that I’m always growing personally and professionally and my business reflects that. I change things around in my business to reflect the ways that I’m growing. This means adding new programs, and sharing new information as I learn it.
3. Change: It shows up in business in that I’m always assessing how well things are working and if they aren’t working, I change them. Because this is a top value of mine, I am very conscious of my dissatisfaction in any area. And things never stay the same in the business. It evolves; it is not the same business it was a year ago. This can be a mixed blessing in the business.
7. Matt Dixon | February 16th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Without any doubt…
Honesty, integrity and — surprisingly — vulnerability.
I’d like to think they show up everywhere, but in *reality* I know that they really show themselves when I actually put my butt into gear and spend an entire day working on something.
I specifically like showing vulnerability, and, you know, I think it shows through my style of writing and the way I interact with people… there’s a sense of almost being a “child” in it… having fun with business, rather than being all “corporate” and, well, lifeless!
Thank you for asking this question; it’s easy to get swept away with writing blog posts and articles and ezine issues and copy and products and emails and all the ’stuff’ — the ‘values’ part of it all can get a little bit forgotten about sometimes, you know?
8. High Priestess Harriet | February 16th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
optimal bodymindspirit services from the heart, integrity, and prosperity for myself and those I work with, are the guiding principles of The Wright Resort. It’s important that I model these principles and demonstrate expectations of passion, creativity and joy for and with my clients.
9. Beth Lane | February 16th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
1. Authenticity - I have to be who I am to attract those I can serve and to deliver my service with Clarity. Authenticity also resonates with and sorts contacts into ideal clients.
2. Integrity - It’s about delivering what I promise and then more. Truth comes in here also.
3. Creativity - it’s about being flexible and new and creative in reaching goals, helping people and upping the Joy level in everything.
10. Lisa Almeida | February 16th, 2010 at 3:47 pm
Great question, Helen. Thanks for asking and here’s my two cents:
1. Authenticity - A wise cartoon character once said, “I am what I am.” I hope the real me comes thru in my marketing language and how I deliver programs and services to my clients.
2. Service - Knowledge is nice but unless I get to see it come alive in the results I help others get, it’s just empty info calories that don’t feed me.
3. Integrity - this means always striving for alignment between who I am and what I do (hey, that’s numbers 1 & 2) in every area of my life, not just my business dealings.
11. Cindy Schulson | February 16th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Thanks for asking! Here you go.
Honesty - To be honest with myself about areas I need to change or grow, and to be honest with my clients about how I can best help them and if I can’t
Passion - To only work in areas about which I’m passionate, and to only work with clients who I’m passionate to help succeed
Fun - To have fun with my business and keep my priorities straight when it comes to balancing work and family. To work with clients I enjoy working with and who have a positive outlook on life.
12. The Energizer Bonnie | February 16th, 2010 at 7:32 pm
What I value and how they tie to my business:
Learning, integrating, synthesizing, creating and innovating, then sharing — I love learning things, letting them bounce around in my brain so they can integrate with what’s already there, then I can create, innovate, then during conversation with or when thinking about a client, coming up with something new for them.
Spirituality - in my model of the world, one’s business is a reflection of one’s unconscious blueprint. I love helping people become more conscious, more fully themselves, more aligned, and such by becoming aware of the blueprint, then deciding what of it is currently supporting the person’s success, and what isn’t and need to be modified. Then we go inside and upgrade the blueprint.
Integrity, authenticity, impeccability — all how I want to show up… wanting the best for my clients and doing everything in my power to help them achieve what their best is.
13. Bob | February 16th, 2010 at 9:02 pm
1. Ethical treatment of everyone that comes to my site. I signed the business ethics pledge at http://www.business-ethics-pledge.org.
2. Personal and professional integrity. Do and say what you mean, then follow up.
3. Growth. More clients that value my services and are willing to pay commensurate for the project. I value my abilities and will not lower my standards.
14. Stephanie Watson | February 16th, 2010 at 10:13 pm
Thank you for asking the question Helen. Values are very important to me in my business. Not necessarily in this order but my top three values are:
Ethics - I cannot do anything that seems unethical to me and legality and ethics are often very different. If something comes up that goes against my basic values and principles I won’t do it, no matter how much money it might make me.
Empowerment - Giving the knowledge to others to do what they need to do within their own minds, families and communities is what we are all about.
Generosity - Abundance is there if you give of yourself and I want to always be open to give of myself in any way that I can.
15. Adele Howell-Pryce | February 16th, 2010 at 11:49 pm
As a Business Coach it is really important that I have strong values as that keeps me grounded for my clients. My top 3 values are:
1. Learning - It is important that I keep growing and that I understand that although I am a great Coach it is not possible to know everything and that new ideas are created all the time.
2. Integrity - That my clients are comfortable sharing their business ideas, dreams and shortcomings with me & know that they will not be used or shared with anyone else.
3. Honesty - That I am able to be truly myself and that I am able to be honest with my clients if the path they are on is going to be a really difficult one or the wrong direction for their success.
16. Giulietta Nardone | February 17th, 2010 at 7:36 am
Hi Helen!
Fun exercise. Here are my top three values.
1) Fearlessness - I urge my clients to go beyond the cliche into unchartered territory because that’s where the real life treasures can be found. And since I walk my talk, I also go beyond the cliche into emotionally scary places.
2) Inspiration - I inspire my clients to inspire themselves. Running my business successfully means giving people their power back, not holding onto it so they need me to direct their every move.
3) Freedom - I show folks how to set themselves free from the business or life status quo. We talk a lot about freedom. Too many of us walk around in mental chains. Here are some chain cutters…
Giulietta, Inspirational Rebel & Disobedient Chick!
17. Sue | February 17th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
1. Honesty/Transparency
If there is any “fluttering” in me that would suggest I shouldn’t come full out and say something, then it doesn’t belong in my life or in my business.
2. Outstanding Service
Of course, #1 fits in here perfectly, but more than that, if I am not actively standing behind my offerings as well as being willing to help customers “over the hump” or with technical issues, then they will leave in droves. Going the extra mile consistently builds trust, recognition and value.
3. Exceptional Value
All the honesty, transparency and customer service in the world will not make up for a substandard product or service. All the extra “bonuses” on the net won’t make up for a bad product or service, either.
Sustaining these three values in both my business and my personal life allows me to also enjoy the benefits that most of us seek when we start a business - time, freedom and money.
18. Helen Graves | February 17th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Love to see both the uniqueness and commonalities of the values you all are sharing.
Thanks!
19. Marcia | February 17th, 2010 at 11:11 pm
Authenticity - truly being myself and encouraging others to do the same.
Integrity - Always treating others with respect and doing what I say I will do.
Value - True desire to help others succeed as well as myself.
20. Betty Powell | February 18th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
What a great question, Helen! My top three values in business are spirituality, empowerment, and integrity.
Spirituality - because I feel my work, my calling, is the essence of my business, and my business is the way my spiritual essence shows up in the world.
Empowerment - because I see my work as empowering women to claim our own spiritual authority and power in the world - so they - and I - are fully expressing our love and potential in the world, which has the power to change to world.
Integrity - because the more we know who we are and express that truthfully in the world, with all the seeming pros and cons, the more fully we gift the world with our individual brilliances, our true power, the power of love.
Betty Powell
21. Miriam Ortiz y Pino | February 21st, 2010 at 8:36 pm
Integrity, simplicity and fun.
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