Consider ‘Discovering Your Values’ a Project
By Danny Holtschke from StartupGeist
After I voluntarily left my first startup, I asked myself:
- Who am I? (Or: What are my values?)
- What can I do well? (Or: What are my talents?)
- What do I want to accomplish? (Or: What are my goals?)
- What am I burning for? (Or: What can my mission be ?)
Before starting over again, I wanted to make sure to live in harmony with my values, goals, and mission because they hadn’t been in line before.
I had a hard time focusing, staying motivated and delivering outstanding results with what I did. My actions weren’t heart-centered, but mind-driven.
How can any result be great if it doesn’t come from a place of love, caring, authenticity and integrity?
I don’t think you can ever achieve outstanding results over longer periods of time unless you really believe in what you do.
That’s why I spent a lot of time nailing answers to these four questions.
And you can’t believe how much time I spend? Asking? Searching? Identifying? I still do.
- Is it a waste of time? Maybe.
- Is it overthinking? Maybe.
- Does it help me to understand who I am? Definitely.
- Does it help me to understand who I want to be? Definitely.
- Does it help me to realize with whom I want to work with? Definitely.
- Better understand what kind of things I want to work on? Absolutely.
- Do I grow personally? Without a doubt!
Is it a waste of time?
You might be asking yourself: “So what?” … “I don’t care much. I don’t need this value discovery stuff.”
If you know who you are, what you stand for and what you believe in, then you are right. You might not need to discover your values. You might want to calibrate them. Check in with friends and family. Ask them about what they think you stand for.
If you consider ‘discovering your values’ a waste of time, it’s ok. As always, it’s up to you. I don’t think so. I think it’s time well spent. If you don’t think so, I hope you realize one day and can change your mind.
One last try ;)
If you are not interested in ‘discovering your values’ at all, please let me put it this way:
Are you interested in succeeding in life — emotionally, physically and physiologically? Yes? Then you better discover your values.
Consider it a long-term project
For those of you who already believe in ‘discovering your values’, consider it a long-term project. Over the course of several months or years, you will better understand what your values are. Better define them — with rigidity and honesty.
If you are like me, you might also feel self-doubt. Only a few people understood what I was going through while being in between things and asking these questions.
In anchorless times, footholds are a beautiful thing.
Sadly, you don’t find these footholds very often — as it happened to me. But it doesn’t matter that much. No one can hold, guide or protect you. As an entrepreneur, you have to accept that.
The only one who can hold you is …. right … YOU.
The best tips from your friends are of no help if you don’t believe in them. Most of them won’t help anyway. These can only be directions to help you make your own decisions.
Benefits of discovering your values
Looking back, the ‘discovering your values’ project has made me a lot stronger, self-secure, and self-confident. I started going down the rabbit hole asking uncomfortable questions.
Discovering truths I didn’t plan to discover. I had two options: Cry and run away. Or continue and trust my inner compass that these ugly annoying truths lead somewhere.
In any case, are you curious to know my values? I bet.
My values are
- Fearless love
- Radical honesty
- Health
- Freedom
- Financial independence
My values are not sorted hierarchically.
— Lessons Learned Transition Time: I am happier by nature when I live in harmony with my values. Ever since, I have experienced my most productive and fulfilling phase of life .
— Awaken the Giant Within: Self-doubt and financial necessity are great motivators. Accept your fear. Develop the courage to face your life and your dreams. Pursuing them makes your life outstanding — in so many ways.
In which ones? Know yourself to be yourself.
Feel herewith invited!
Share your ❤ below — and respond with your thoughts.
I am looking forward to hearing from you.
I am Danny and started StartupGeist to help students and recent graduates build a business — and have a good life. Why? To be free, financially independent and healthy. How? Build a growth mindset and deliberately practice skills that turn your ideas into something bigger.
