During these difficult times, it’s more important than ever to define your company’s core values to not only survive this tough time, but thrive when it ends (and it WILL end). Core values are what define your company and your culture. They guide your decisions for hiring, firing, and how your business will grow.
Recently, I was meeting with a client tackling a list of Core Values. It made me think about character traits and how they’re developed. If you take a moment to think about it, what is a short list of character traits that you might admire in a person? Various things come to mind such as:
- Strength/Endurance
- Persistence/Determination
- Courage/Bravery
Think a little harder and you may realize that all of these character traits are born out of some sort of adversity. One does not develop physical strength laying around on the couch doing little if any strenuous activity. Similarly, physical endurance is developed through practice such as running a mile, then 3 miles, then five or 10 miles or more. A marathon runner does not develop endurance by walking around the block once or twice.
Persistence by definition suggests an obstacle that must be overcome: A firm course of action in spite of opposition or difficulty. Courage or bravery are never recognized when everything is going well. Those traits reveal themselves only in troubled times.
Life is full of peaks and valleys. Too many of us yearn to view the world from the peak and yes the view is magnificent. However, very little is learned or developed at the peak. Furthermore, once you are at the peak there is only one way to go, down.
Reciprocally, life in the valley is where all the growth occurs and admirable character traits are developed. Again, when you’re at the bottom in the valley, there is only one way to go and that is up.
So during these tough times, when you may be struggling to get out of the valley, realize that you are being shaped and molded for the better. And when this is over and you reach the peak, don’t get too comfortable.
If you’d like to discuss how defining your core values can help you and your business in these uncertain times, schedule a time to chat. Or, give me a call at 1-800-344-1272 ext. 2.
I look forward to hearing from you! Take care and God bless!