Want true freedom in your business? Let’s talk about business core values and their importance within purpose. If you are not familiar with core values and the impact they can have on your success as a wedding business owner, keep reading.

Purpose is the foundation.

The foundation of your wedding business is purpose, and clarity of purpose can set you free to fall in love with your work again.

 Do you find yourself shifting the way you approach a decision based on what someone else says? Or maybe you do or don’t do something because you are afraid of what others might think? 

If I’m 100% honest, gotta say – I have. And it always feels terrible, even when just trying to be “sensitive to others”.

Every time we make choices based on the opinions of others – it’s a step a little further away from our own authentic selves. When we start to mimic what we think others want to hear from us instead of speaking with purpose and intention, we are abandoning our true purpose.

There is a better way…

Core values are the strength of purpose.

One day not so long ago, I started to write an Instagram post inside my scheduling app, and then I began to doubt myself and decided to wait. Turns out, it backfired on me. The app settings were on auto-post and I didn’t realize it – so my image went up with just one word. 

VALUES.

Later, when I realized the mistake, I was challenged to do a check up. Was I making decisions based in purpose or based in fear? The answer should have been easy, right? After all, I teach how to do business with purpose and intention…so yeah, it should have been easy.

Wrong. 

Doing the right thing is almost never the easy thing. Doing the right thing means we have to constantly check in with ourselves. It means training our brains to go to a reliable default setting – our business core values.

Concrete is used to pour the foundation of a strong building. Cement is the ingredient used to give concrete its strength. Since purpose is the foundation of a successful business, think of values as the most essential element in purpose. Values are what gives your purpose strength. If purpose is the foundation, values is the cement.

Take time to get crystal clear on your business values so that when it comes time to make important decisions, you will choose confidently because you know you’ve set your business on a firm foundation rather than in the feelings of the moment.

What are “values”?

Oxford English Dictionary defines values as “a person’s principles or standards of behavior; one’s judgment of what is important in life”.

Want to make your own core values list?

Quick tutorial: operate with purpose by finding your business core values

1. Google a core values list or take a look at the one I attached to end of this blog post
2. Circle all the words that resonate with you (hint: don’t obsess)
3. Your list may look messy. You could have 40-60 words circled
4. Group your selections into five columns of words that have a similar themes (there is no “wrong way” to do this as long as you can make the connections
5. Choose one of the words to represent each group
6. You now have five core values!

In order to live out your core values, you must commit them to memory and make decisions based on them. Our core values must be written down, repeated out loud and lived daily – until they become second nature. We need to consistently follow this pattern until making choices that align with our values becomes automatic. 

There are also courses that dive deep into the nuances of elementary and authentic values. These courses explore how to distinguish between values that have been imposed on you and ones that are truly your authentic values. Dream Team Académie has a course exploring values & purpose in greater detail. The course is A Powerful Purpose. It’s here for you in case you want to dive in HERE

Why does it matter?

Clients instinctively know when our attention is divided. When we start looking around at what is important to others or what someone else is doing in business, they can sense it.

If you feel stuck or wonder why you just can’t seem to break past the place you’re at right now…the root of the problem is this – you aren’t focused on your values. It’s easy to take your eyes off the reason why we do what we do – there are SO many distractions.

Our clients feel insignificant when we are distracted. When they feel insignificant, they start looking for someone who is more interested in what they are saying and what they need.

Personal note:

Since my own core values include: relationships, education, encouragement and integrity, those translate into taking action that requires me to show up and talk about what I’m learning and how it can help you grow. I am literally fighting my purpose when I choose not to share experiences that could help you.

I’ve learned that I can never control how others feel about me or what they think of me (hard truth for a control freak – haha), but what I CAN control is making sure I share enough of me so that I am showing up for you in a way that is the REAL ME. 

If I stop sharing my heart because I’m scared, I am ignoring my values of relationships and integrity. Being silent means I am not having integrity with myself or with you. 

So in this first blog post, this is me. Being real. Encouraging you to know your own values and use them to guide you. You aren’t alone – I promise I’ll be right here beside you, using mine to show up too.