What’s important to you?

What's important to you? I mean?really?important.?

At the beginning of the year I sat down and wrote out my values - my personal values and my business values.

Over the years I have found that writing them down has helped me to make muc better decisions.

Every time I have a decision to make I pull out my values and say "how does this opportunity help me live my values?" If I can't align the opportunity with my values, then I know that it's not for me.

I wasn't always like this. I remember years ago, when I first started my business I said yes to everything.?

I worked in the Middle East for the first time, delivered workshops in Thailand and China, discovered warm toilet seats and met some wonderful people (but not at the same time). For a while I loved the excitement and adventure of saying YES to everything but I felt something was lacking, something was missing and I couldn't put my finger on it.

I shared this with my coach and he asked me if what I was doing now aligned to my values. I hadn't written out my values for a few years and I struggled to answer his question. As our conversation deepened I realised that I had been ignoring one of my most important values - spending quality time with my family. When I was home I was always planning for the the next trip and although I spent a lot of time with my family, my mind was elsewhere. Plus as a business I wanted to help people make better decisions and yet here I was making decisions with very little thought into the consequences of my actions.

I developed a strategy with my coach that allowed me to move towards leading a life that was more closely aligned to my values. More importantly I learnt how to say no again and not feel guilty about it.?

Today, I still have many adventures but they are on my terms. Whenever I have to make a decision, whether it's working with a new client or starting a project I look at my values and ask myself two questions. Depending on my responses I can quickly decide YES or NO. Not only does it save time, it also helps me make decisions that I fully commit to and enjoy.

Do you know what your values are and more importantly are you living them on your terms?

Take 5 minutes now and write out what's important to you. Create a list.?

Besides each value write down how you are living each one of those values.?

My 2 questions

When you have a decision to make, look at your list and ask yourself these 2 questions:

1. Which values will I live if I say YES;
2. Which values will I suppress if I say Yes.?

We all have values, we all make decisions, but unless those two are aligned then you will always be in the shadows. Once they are aligned, then that's when you start to shine and others start to notice your brilliance. Being part of this is one of the reasons I love helping others showcase their brilliance.?

Learn how to showcase your brilliance and join our next programme in March.