The Secret of Your Success

By Dan Kennedy
(Special to the Northwest Career, Job and Education Expo)

In the world of work, these are the good old days.  Jobs are as plentiful as they’ll ever be and employers are doing all they can to find and keep good people.  There has never been a better time for you to do work that fills both your pocket book and your soul.

Whether you are looking for a new career or want to stay where you are and improve what you’ve got, there is one thing that will significantly increase your satisfaction on the job.  It will have a greater impact on your happiness at work than how much you make, or even what you do.  And what’s the secret of such sweet success?  Your values.

Values? 

I’m not talking about the values that others tell us we should have.  I’m talking about what’s already there within you—what really energizes and motivates you now.  Things like creativity, learning, independence, trust, honesty and humor.  Things that matter to you without even thinking.  Feelings.  We all have different and many values and when they’re being expressed, time flies.  Have you ever heard people say they love their work so much that they would do it even if they didn't get paid?  Those are people whose values are being totally met in their work.

The words that express values rarely show up in job descriptions.  And most of us pay no attention to our values when we look for new work or try and make improvements in our present positions.  Instead, we often focus on a change in what we do or an increase in salary or benefits. Yet, in survey after survey, workers continually indicate that the sparking of their values is what they really crave.  A U.S. Department of Labor study shows, for instance, that nearly half of all people who quit their jobs do so because they aren’t getting enough appreciation, one of the most popular and important values.   

Values Spotting 

Your values are easy to spot. Here are some simple ways to do it:

• Flip it.  Think of something that angers you, then ask why it makes you mad.  Flip the answer and you have some of your values.  For instance, if you get upset when waiting in a line for a long time, you may think that whoever is responsible is inefficient and inconsiderate.  Okay, now flip “inefficient” and “inconsiderate” to their opposites and you can see how efficiency and politeness may well be two of your values.
• Heroes.  Think of someone you admire.  What kind of person did that person have to be to accomplish what they did?  The answer will point toward more values.  For me, my Uncle Bill would come to mind because I like the way that he continually took risks in business.  So, risk is one of my values. 
• Fire!  Imagine coming home to find your house is ablaze.  The fire chief says that your family and pets are safe and that there is time for you to rush in to save only one thing.  What would you rescue and why?  If you chose your photo album because the  pictures inside of it reminded you of your family and friends, one value might be the value of  belonging or feeling connected.

Putting Values to Work

Try these exercises several times and note your answers.  Then, keep them in mind as you investigate job and career opportunities.  For example, let’s say you love to make presentations.  Expression, then, may be a key value of yours.  Good to know.  Chances are you’d enjoy yourself much more in that sales position you’re considering rather than that other opening as a data analyst.

Values can help you make more of your present situation, too.  What if you do programming and work pretty much by yourself all day?  If you discover that one of your values is connecting with others, then instead of quitting to find that elsewhere, you could be on the lookout where you are now for more team oriented projects. 

The feelings that are wrapped around your values play a significant part in your happiness at work.  Values are very much a part of who you are, so the idea is to take on work that lets you express them.  If you do that, then you can discover how to bring more of who you are to what you do.  And once you do that, work will never be the same again.

[Back to Top]

For more information, please contact Kennedy & Company at:
206-783-6829 or info@ResultsThatMatter.com

| Home | About Us | Services | Clients | Coaching | Free Info |