What Is of Value To You??

The essential purpose is to decide for oneself what is of genuine value in life. And then to find the courage to take your own thoughts

seriously. Albert Einstein

Definitions

• Value: the ideals, customs, institutions, etc., of a society toward which the people of the group have an affective regard

• These values may be positive, as cleanliness, freedom, or education, or negative, as cruelty, crime, or blasphemy

• to regard or esteem highly

• to feel like that you have a purpose, instead of walking through life with no direction

• You publicly affirm them

• You prize some top values – freedoms, family heirlooms……

Values versus Needs

• Values are learned and chosen from one’s life experiences

• Values will change very little over time

• Values change due to life adjustments and/or personal growth that comes from changing circumstances

Values

• Values serve as guides to current and future choices of actions

• Clear, consciously held values aid you in making consistent decisions about appropriate choices.

Values versus Needs

• Needs arise out of perceived deficiency in a physiological or social settingExamples:

• Once that deficiency is fixed that need is gone

• Needs change more than values because they are often more quickly satisfied

Needs

• However, as crises occur and circumstances change over time, needs reemerge up and down the hierarchy

• If a need continues remains consistently strong, it can become a value.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

• When we examine the lives of famous people, we often see how personal values guided them, propelling them to the top of their fields. – For example, one actor was motivated by his

commitment to social justice, which led to important acting roles related to that value that made him world famous.

– Likewise, a well-known business CEO was motivated by the personal value that technology should be easy to use, which caused his company to spawn a technology revolution.

Just as individuals subscribe to values, so do organizations and institutions. In fact, if we were to examine any company, we would discover that one or more business values was the key to their success. Examples are –

• -- Sears' commitment to trusting the customer. [From the 19th century onward, any product could be returned to the company with a money back guarantee, which engendered great trust in both directions, enabling booming sales, and, the great success for the firm that followed.]

• -- Apple Computer's belief in the values of solving problems of society. [The company created the IPod player and ITunes online music store to overcome a conflict between those who sought to download copyrighted music for free and the music industry which sought to protect its artists and its revenues.]

• -- Marriott's values of systemization and standardization. [The company created a standard model hotel, and then duplicated it hundreds of time around the world, enabling it to grow incredibly fast, and become the leader of its industry.]

• Likewise, we see how political parities and politicians subscribe to certain core values– helping the poor – easing the burden of the middle class– improving the environment– making government responsive and efficient– Improving our role in the world– engendering loyalty and unity, and so forthWhat are some others that are important to

you?

• The key point to keep in mind about values is that implementing them energizes everything concerned with it.

• For an individual, committing to and applying values releases fresh energies, which always attract success, achievement, and well-being.

Common personal values

• Integrity, Honesty– Sometimes people don't say what they mean

in order to hide something, protect themselves or someone else, or simply because they are trying to deceive in order to gain from circumstance.

– If you value honesty, you would not do this.

Defining and Clarifying Values

• You can carefully examine your life experiences to discover the strength and content of your own values system

• Some values can be seen clearly in your everyday life

• Do you shop for nutritious foods or do you go for fast food?

• Do you live at home where is comfortable or have you chosen the more risky choice of living independently?

• Men and women of all ages ponder whether to contemplate a new relationship and terminate an old one based on values

• Values are powerful determinants of human accomplishment, progress, fulfillment and evolution.

• Discover the power of values and how to apply them to elevate your life and your world

Homework

• Values Worksheets – Due the 18th.

• Go back and try to finish chapter 11 of the SQ book after you finish your worksheets.

• Remember MBTI interpretation on Monday.