"Discovering Your Core Values: A Guide to Building a Business Aligned with What Matters Most."
In 2022, I realised something important was missing in my efforts to build a strong community of women in business. I had spent a lot of time skimming over what the group was truly about. To address this, I invited a group of GTB Leaders to join me at a leadership retreat, where we explored ways to improve our content and communicate more deeply about the group’s purpose.
Around the same time, I had started a daily practice with my husband, sharing a word of encouragement each morning—words like gratitude, love, and happiness. During the retreat, I shared this practice with the group, and it sparked a lively discussion about expanding this idea. That’s when it hit us: why not bring this practice into the Girls Talk Business Facebook group?
We talked about which words were meaningful to us and aligned with our values. From that conversation, we identified 12 core values to focus on—one for each month.
We encouraged our Facebook members to join the discussion around these values, and it led to deep, meaningful conversations. This exercise was powerful. It did require a bit of effort, but the results were worth it. Even now, I revisit those 12 words to ensure they still align with our values.
Understanding your core values is essential for building a business that truly reflects who you are and what matters most to you. These values guide your decisions, shape your brand, and help you stay true to yourself, even when challenges arise.
Below, I’ve put together a guide to help you identify your core values and explore how they can influence your business.
Your Guide To Help You Identify Your Core Values
Introduction:
Understanding your core values is crucial for building a business that reflects who you are and what you stand for. These values act as your compass, guiding your decisions, shaping your brand, and helping you stay true to yourself, even when challenges arise. This one-pager will help you identify your core values and see how they influence your business.
Step 1: Reflect on Your Personal Values
Prompt: Start by thinking about what truly matters to you in life. These are often the things you’re most passionate about or principles you won’t compromise on.
Example Questions:
What qualities do I admire in others?
What principles do I live by, even when no one is watching?
When I’ve felt proud of my actions, what values were guiding me?
Step 2: Identify Your Top 5 Core Values
Prompt: From your reflections, choose the five values that are most important to you. These should resonate deeply with who you are and what you believe in.
Examples: Integrity, Creativity, Community, Growth, Authenticity.
Step 3: Align Your Business with Your Values
Prompt: Think about how these values can be reflected in your business practices. Consider how they influence your customer interactions, product development, marketing strategies, and company culture.
Example: If "Integrity" is a core value, ensure transparency in all your business dealings. This could mean being honest and upfront in your marketing, providing clear and accurate information to customers, and maintaining high ethical standards in your business operations. You might also implement a policy of fair pricing and honest communication, ensuring that your customers feel they can trust your brand completely.
Step 4: Use Your Values as a Decision-Making Tool
Prompt: When faced with a tough decision, revisit your core values. Ask yourself which option aligns best with these values and will help you stay true to your principles.
Example: If you value “Innovation,” you might opt for a bold, creative approach to solving a problem, even if it involves taking risks. This could mean choosing to invest in cutting-edge technology or adopting a new business model that sets you apart from the competition, staying true to your commitment to forward-thinking and progress.
Step 5: Review and Reflect Regularly
Prompt: Your values might evolve as you grow, both personally and professionally. Make it a habit to review your core values and ensure they still align with who you are and where your business is headed.
Example: How Girls Talk Business Uses Core Values
At Girls Talk Business, our core values guide everything we do. Below is a list of our 12 core values in action that shape our business:
Fun - Embracing joy and creativity in our work and interactions.
Proactive - Taking initiative and driving progress within the community.
Sales - Focusing on strategies to improve and excel in selling our products or services.
Money - Understanding and managing finances to build wealth and sustainability.
Influence - Leveraging our voices and platforms to make a positive impact.
Visibility - Enhancing our presence and recognition in the market.
Gratitude - Acknowledging the good in our journey and appreciating those who support us.
Collaborate - Working together to achieve greater success collectively.
Vitality - Maintaining energy, health, and enthusiasm in all that you do.
Niche - Identifying and mastering our unique place in the market.
Networking - Building strong, meaningful connections that foster growth and opportunities.
Winning - Striving for success and celebrating our achievements.
These words encapsulate the spirit of your community and can guide discussions, activities, and growth within "Girls Talk Business." Each value can be explored deeply to help members align their businesses with what truly matters to them.
Hi I'm Ines, an experienced life coach and founder of Girls Talk Business. With over thirty years in business, I've built three successful ventures, spanning from product-based to service-oriented. My journey has provided me with extensive knowledge in entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal development equipping me with a profound understanding of what it takes to succeed in the business world.
I’m driven by a passion to help women uncover their true selves and connect with their deeper "why"—beyond just what they do. My goal is to guide you in creating a business that not only aligns with your core values but also reflects your authentic self.
I believe that you are not defined by what you do, but by why you do it and how you do it. While making money can be straightforward, making money doing what you love requires intentional effort—and that’s where I can offer the most support. I understand the fears that can hold you back—whether it's the fear of being too sales-y, concerns about others' opinions, or the habits that keep you from moving forward. I’ve been there myself, and I’m committed to helping you overcome these challenges, so you can pursue your passion and thrive doing what you love.
Lets Connect :
Join our Facebook Group: Girls Talk Business
Email: info@girlstalkbusiness.com
LinkedIn: Ines Curin
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