Afraid you're making the wrong career choices? Sort your values.
“When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier.” - Roy E. Disney
This week, Disney released the 28-minute season finale of Bluey and it got me thinking about the importance of personal values and how critical they are to making huge life and career decisions.
"The Sign"
Spoiler Warning - This article discusses the episode "The Sign" in detail. I highly recommend that if you or your kids are Bluey fans then check it out on Disney+ before reading any further.
If you’re unfamiliar with the show – it's a cartoon about a family of Australian Blue Heelers that celebrates their every life in Brisbane. Recently, amidst the adventures of Bluey, the 7-year-old main character, – we find Bandit, her dad, wrestling with the weight of significant challenges. While we don’t fully know the details, throughout season 3, we watch Bandit grapple with deep thoughts, his physical health, and how to best support his family. This culminates in his decision to accept a new, higher-paying job in a completely different city, uprooting the entire family.
In the season finale, "The Sign," we witness the Heeler family navigating the bittersweet farewell to their cherished home. As the reality of leaving their beloved neighborhood and friends sinks in, the family stumbles with uncertainty about the future. Bandit, in particular, feels the weight of his decision, asking his supportive wife, Chili, if he's made a terrible mistake.
Just as the family prepares to drive away from their home for the last time, Bandit receives a call informing him that the offer on their house has been rescinded. In a moment of clarity, he realizes the significance of this unexpected turn of events. He exits the car, walks over to the large “For Sale” sign outside their house, pulls it out of the ground, and throws it to the street. The rest of the Heeler family enthusiastically tackle him, realizing they won’t have to start a new life and instead continue to make memories in their home and with their friends.
I love Bandit as a character, and while I don’t think he decided to uproot his family for a high-paying job with much consideration, I have to question whether the decision was rooted in his personal values.
Discovering and expressing your values
You have to make important life and career decisions every day, and there's one tool that could help you filter through the tough decisions like the one Bandit faced: the value sort exercise. A values sort, or values assessment, is an exercise in which you read a list of values (or sort through a deck of values cards) and find the top 5 that resonate the most with you – the values that motivate you to be the best version of yourself. It's not just words that highlight your talents, or words that other people expect of you; it's about uncovering the heartbeat of who you are and what truly matters to you. Not only do you identify these values, but it is just as essential that you define them for yourself. Exploring and defining your core personal values isn't just a self-discovery exercise; it's a journey of self-compassion and understanding. These values guide you toward your true north in every life and professional endeavor. If you've never done a values sort or assessment before, you can find the "Expressing your Values" Worksheet here for free.
While I’m glad the Heeler family ended up staying in Brisbane, I wonder if a values sort would have helped Bandit and Chili better understand whether the initial decision was aligned with their values.
Here are 3 ways identifying and expressing your values can help enhance your life and career:
Reflect and Reconnect: Life moves fast, and it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters to you. That's why it's important to pause, reflect, and reconnect with your values regularly. Consider doing a values sort every six months, not as a chore, but as an act of self-care and self-discovery. And don't keep it to yourself; share your insights with your family or manager. It's not just about keeping them in the loop but inviting them into your journey and fostering a deeper understanding of what drives you.
Building Bridges Through Values: As a leader or a senior team member, your role isn't just about steering the ship; it's about nurturing the crew. Encourage your team members to explore their own values and create a safe space for open, honest discussions. By recognizing and respecting each other's values, you create a foundation of trust and collaboration that better establishes how everyone can work better together.
Finding Your Tribe: In the vast sea of career and life opportunities, finding a company that truly resonates with your values can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. But it's not just about finding a paycheck; it's about finding your tribe. Take the time to assess whether the company's values align with your own. It's about feeling seen, heard, and valued for who you truly are. And if you find a company that respects and celebrates your values, hold on tight; you've found more than just a job.
In essence, the value sort isn't just a tool; it's a compass guiding you towards a career journey that's as authentic as it is fulfilling. Hopefully, Bandit will utilize his values in future episodes and better identify what he really wants when making life-changing decisions. And you can too. Head over to AM Creative Coach and download the "Expressing your Values" Worksheet for free and let me know if it helps you with your next big career or life decision.
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