V A L U E - FULL ARTICLE

In today’s world, everybody is talking about creating or providing the value for someone or something.

What is the Value?

Value is basic and fundamental belief that guide or motivate attitudes or actions. It helps us to determine what is important to us. Values describes the personal qualities we choose to embody to guide our actions; the sort of person we want to be; the way we treat ourselves and others, and our interaction with the world around.

The value can be many different things. It can be ethical, economics, etc. and what is value or valuable for me might not be for you and vice versa. In the next couple of weeks, I’ll describe my interpretation by using an acronym (my personal discovery) for the value.

From my point of view the value is combination of following

• VISION
• ATTITUDE
• LEARNING
• UNDERSTANDING
• EVALUATION

Let's start.

VISION

The Vision is according to Cambridge dictionary the ability to see.

As Martin Luther King, Jr. said in his famous speech delivered 28 August 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.: “I have a dream”. He envisioned the future for American people, where everybody should live in harmony regardless the color of skin.

The Vision is about the future. It describes positive changes, what will the future look like or what will be different once your vision become reality.

Usually, whatever we are doing in our life, both personal and professional, it is with a goal to achieve something. The Vision is also describing who you are (purpose), where you’re going (picture of the future) and what will guide your journey (values). The dream can come to true, if you truly believe in it and if you work hard for it.

 Think about following when creating your vision. 

1. Own and Share your vision: As a owner of the vision, you should be motivated by your vision and you should share it, very often with people around you. It is important for people to know why you're doing the things you do. It helps in understanding what could be valuable for them and why they should support your vision.
2. Collaborate with people: Keep in mind that whatever positive changes your vision describes, it might impact someone. To develop the vision, collaborate with people who might be impacted by it or who might impact you vision development.
3.  Communicate clearly your vision: Since you will be sharing your vision, with many different types of audiences, you should make a tailor-made pitch for them and make sure to address the things that are important for them.
4.  Validate your vision: Don't try to get it right the first time. Take a couple of iterations to improve your vision. Improve it over time! Validate your vision with people as they might have interesting insights and valuable input to share with you.
5.  Keep your vision short, clear and inspiring: A good vision is inspiring for people. A vision statement should be short, understandable and clear for people. 

ATTITUDE

To be able to create positive and valuable changes, you should be motivated to do so. We know that not every day is a sunshine day. Despite our daily challenges, we should attempt to keep positive attitude even when we have less good day.

How can you do that?

First, you need to discover what’s really motivate you and what you are exciting about. Once, discovered what’s motivate you, you should be enthusiastic and passionate about it.

Usually and unfortunately, I would say, we as human being, focus more on things we lack or things we don’t want to do, as opposed to what it is really that we want.

By focusing on the valuable end goal and focusing the right mindset and attitude – you are going to be moving forward towards where you want to be.

We know, that is not always easy but bear in mind: what you focus on – is what you will get.

Don’t be afraid, you are already truly believing in your vision and you are already motivated and passioned about it. Put yourself in motion where you want to be. Don’t postpone your decision.

Many different researches are shown that humor and exercises are the powerful motivators. The more humor and laughter in your life, the less stress you will have, which means more positive energy to help you have a ‘I can do anything’ attitude. A regular exercise routine can provide relatively quick positive feedback in a sense of doing something positive for yourself.

If you are still in doubt, visualize your journey and write down one or more of the affirmations.

Affirmations are positive statements that can help you to challenge and overcome self-sabotaging and negative thoughts. When you repeat them often, and believe in them, you can start to make positive changes.

Some of the quotes, I’m using as affirmations are from two great leaders.

Mahatma Gandhi:

“Be the change that you want to see in the world”.

Barack Obama: “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek”.

LEARNING

The Learning is according to Cambridge dictionary the activity of obtaining knowledge:

Our life is a long continues learning journey where we are learning new things almost every single day.

Now, that you are excited about the positive change you are going to make, and you’re motivated and enthusiastic about it, it is time to think about, what else do you need to learn to successfully make this positive change. 

You can start by asking following questions: 

Let’s explore these questions.

What do I need to learn to create a positive change?

Think about how you are going to create or implement the positive change. Think about, do you still need to learn something about e.g. people, environment, technology, market, etc.

Ask yourself following questions:

• What is your main concern at the moment?
• What needs your immediate attention?
• What else should you be exploring to clarify the potential effects of the actions you are considering?

What do I need to learn about others?

Make an experiment to learn what other people think about your positive change. Identify people, who are supporting your positive change and those who might not support your change.

An experiment should help you to clarify following:

• Who do you need to talk to in order to move this forward?
• How can he or she help you?
• Who might hold a significantly different view of your situation?

Who can support me in my learning?

Based on your experiment talk with people who support your positive change. This person can be your leader, coach, good friend or good colleague. 

Explain following:

• What is the opportunity here?
• What is the challenge?
•  How does this fit with their plans?

 Who can hinder my learning?

Based on your experiment talk with people or a person who do not support your positive change. Identify and understand the reason behind their not supportive attitude. Be kind and listen to their reason. Accept their answer, be polite and say thank you.

 Explain following:

• What is the opportunity here?

Try to clarify following: 

• What is the challenge
• What is the part that is not yet clear?
• Can you tell me more?

UNDERSTANDING

The Understanding is according to Cambridge dictionary knowledge about a subject, situation, etc. or about how something works.

 Based on your learning your learned about people who might have impact on your positive changes. Therefore, it is important that other people also understand, what are you trying to achieve.

To successfully make your positive changes, you need to consider other people, who might be impacted by your change. You may understand what you want but it is even more important that others understand, what are you trying to achieve.

Get people to understand following:

• What do you want?
• What is your desired outcome?
•  What seems to be the main obstacle?
• What is the part that is not yet clear?
• How will you know you have reached it?
• What would it look like?

EVALUATION

The Evaluation is according to Cambridge dictionary to judge or calculate the quality, importance, amount, or value of something.

You have your vision in place, you are motivated to achieve your goal, you learned what is needed to achieve your goal and your audience understand, why you are doing that and what it is about. We are living in constantly changing world, where things are changing rapidly. Therefore, it is always good idea to look back and evaluate your work.

To make evaluation of your work, clarify following questions:

• What will happen if you do changes, and what will happen if you don’t?
• What did you accomplish?
• What didn’t you accomplish and why?
• Why did it happen?
• Is there something you could do to prevent this from happening in the future?
• What could you do to make things better?
• What can I do even better next time?
• What action will you take? And after that?
• Where do you go from here? When will you do that?

I hope this article will help you, as much as it is helping me in my daily life (work and private), when thinking about VALUE.

What is next?

Suggested readings and Video:

• Friederike Fabritius The Leading Brain: Neuroscience Hacks to Work Smarter, Better, Happier
• Marty Cagan Inspired : How to Create Tech Products Customers Love 
• TED Talks: Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action

If you would like to discuss further or if you have a feedback, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best regards,

Allen