Value – How Do You Determine the “Value”? What Do You Value the Most?

By Chris King

Definition of Value: To estimate the value, or worth, of; to rate at a certain price; to appraise; to reckon with respect to number, power, importance, etc.. To rate highly; to have in high esteem; to hold in respect and estimation; to appreciate; to prize; as, to value one for his works or his virtues.

This past week, I experienced and excellent coaching session with a topnotch business consultant.
He pointed out – and rightly so – that I have so many different career directions in my “Portfolio Career” that I can become scattered and unfocused. Therefore, he gave me the assignment to list the different careers and give each a value of A, B, or C. Not an easy task, because I love all of them.

Along with this homework, I have been reading the wise words of my favorite Internet gurus.
I have encountered the word “value” numerous times. Over and over again, they have stressed the importance of creating content that has value, e-newsletters that provide value, videos with value, and making sure that any product we sell should have more value than expected.

If you are like I am, you have been disappointed with many of the programs and so-called miracle solutions you have purchased. Yes, most are guaranteed, but we fail to send them back.

When I looked up the “value” quotations, I found more than ever, so will share some that stood out from the plethora:

• “The major value in life is not what you get. The major value in life is what you become.” – Jim Rohn, American businessman
• “Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.” – Warren Buffett, American businessman
• “It is the service we are not obliged to give that people value most.” – James Cash Penney, American businessman
• “Too many people today know the price of everything and the value of nothing.” – Ann Landers, American journalist
• “You must look within for value, but must look beyond for perspective.” – Denis Waitley, American writer
• “If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some.” – Benjamin Franklin, American politician

Another way to consider our value and values is through what is often called, “values clarification.”
On a homework handout in a class I teach, I list more than 75 value words – like love, family, flexibility, authority, environment, community, etc. There is a box for rating what that value means to you on a scale from one to ten (warning – one should not have many nines and/or tens.) There is a box for rating how much you are adhering to that value on a scale of one to ten.

When the difference between the meaning rating and the action rating is more than three or four, the last box should be filled in with the action one is going to perform to bring the ratings close together. Or, we need to consider how truthfully we are picking our important values.

Ask yourself what you value the most.
Another great way to clarify our values is to create a collage from photos, pictures and sayings we are drawn to and that we assemble on a colored board. It is a visual way to find out more about ourselves.

I share quotations to spur all of us – including myself – to think and consider life’s questions. Let me know if they are helping you.