Unearthing your Core Values: A Practical Guide · High Intensity Business (Free)

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Dec '24 (edited) • 💎 Resources

Unearthing your Core Values: A Practical Guide

When helping clients implement EOS (a wonderful operating system for managing growth), I’ve noticed that defining Core Values is often one of the hardest exercises. It’s not for lack of effort—it’s because the process requires deep introspection and a level of clarity that’s challenging to achieve.

What Are Core Values?

At their core (pun intended), Core Values are fundamental beliefs. They’re encoded in your DNA, representing the principles you live and operate by, almost without thinking. They’re not aspirational ideals but inherent truths about who you are and what drives you. They’re the default behaviors and principles that guide you when no one is watching.

When implementing EOS in your business, you and your team undergo this exercise to uncover the Core Values of your organization. These values then become the foundation for critical decisions: you hire, fire, review, reward, and recognize team members based on them. They are the bedrock of a strong culture and, ultimately, a great business.

Why Defining Core Values Is Difficult

Defining Core Values is tough for a couple of reasons:

Avoiding “Permission to Play” Values Values like hard work, integrity, or caring are non-negotiables—they’re expected of anyone in a professional environment. While important, these aren’t unique to you or your organization. They’re the bare minimum, not what sets you apart.
Steering Clear of Technical Work Core Values should reflect how you operate, not what you do. For example, if you run a high-intensity strength training business, "practicing high-intensity training" isn’t a Core Value. It’s a method or technical skill, not a guiding principle.

Because of these challenges, many people struggle to articulate their Core Values in a way that feels both authentic and actionable. But I’ve discovered a method to make this process much easier.

Enter ChatGPT: Your Core Value Discovery Partner

Recently, I turned to ChatGPT for help. I asked: "I’m trying to figure out my core values. Can you ask me questions to discover them and codify them? Before we start, they can’t be permission-to-play values (expected, like ‘integrity’)."

ChatGPT responded with a series of thoughtful questions designed to help me reflect and dig deeper into what truly drives me. It became a conversational partner, guiding me to refine and clarify my values. For example, I could say, “I don’t like this Core Value name, but I like the meaning,” and it would adapt the suggestions.

After a few iterations, I arrived at three Core Values that feel deeply authentic to me:

CRITICAL CURIOUSITY - Challenging assumptions, seeking evidence, and pursuing truth with intellectual rigor. I value critical thinking and am driven to base actions on high-quality, well-reasoned insights.
INTENTIONAL LIVING - Combining structure and flexibility to prioritize what truly matters—whether it’s work, family, health, or personal growth. Disciplined scheduling enables the freedom to live fully and purposefully.
VALUE FIRST - A passion for providing immense value—whether through free content, client services, or personal interactions. I believe in helping others without immediate expectation of return, trusting the long-term impact of giving.

Progress Over Perfection

This is the closest I’ve ever felt to truly defining my Core Values. While I may refine or add to these over time, this exercise was a significant breakthrough for me.

If you’re struggling to define your Core Values—whether for yourself or your organization—give this method a try. With the right prompts and a little introspection, you might uncover values that deeply resonate and guide you toward living and leading with greater intention.

If you’re ready to create a clear, actionable plan for 2025 and beyond using EOS as your foundation, explore the "High Intensity Business Blueprint" in the Classroom. Built on the principles of EOS, this course is designed to help you maximize profitability, achieve your goals, reduce stress and overwhelm, and gain the clarity needed to move forward with confidence.

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