Your business experience can be what you make of it, not just what you make out of it.
ASK YOURSELF. Why did you open a business?
These reasons for taking the leap into owning and operating a business, together with your Core Values, will help shape your mindset, foundation, and how you make everyday business decisions. Not only is identifying your core values an important tool in business, it is an important tool in life. Taking a few minutes to write down your top 3-5 core values will be a worth-it activity for everyday use, truly, for the rest of your days.
Once your core values are identified, memorize them and keep them handy.
When presented with a decision or obstacle, remind yourself of what your core values are.
This exercise will give you immediate insight into which direction you should choose, in a way that your heart and mind will accept and understand. It will be a decision you will feel good about, can move on from, and a decision that will allow you sleep at night. (If you have been in business for any length of time, you know value of this first-hand).
Business- at its core- is about love and passion. When you take this out of your everyday behavior and mindset, you start to grind again, defeating the purpose of starting your business in the first place. This Core Values exercise may seem too simple to be helpful, but try it, you’ll be surprised.
I personally like this Core Values list from The Happiness Planner:
Have you tried this Core Values exercise? What is your experience with it?