{"id":2084,"date":"2019-02-25T04:45:12","date_gmt":"2019-02-25T10:45:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ellevatedoutcomes.com\/?p=2084"},"modified":"2026-06-16T13:06:37","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T13:06:37","slug":"how-values-make-a-tangible-difference-in-your-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zudigitest.com\/ellevatedoutcomes\/how-values-make-a-tangible-difference-in-your-business\/","title":{"rendered":"How Values Make a Difference in Your Business"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As you know, a few weeks ago, Ellevated Outcomes held our first client appreciation event<\/a>. Shortly after, Violet<\/a> and Isaac<\/a>‘s papa Brian asked me a thought provoking question: “Did you learn anything new from it?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He’s a practical and soulful guy, so I don’t know if he was wondering about logistics or deeper insights. But what came out of my mouth, surprised me. I responded with what I’ve learned about company values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You see, when I was presenting our company’s mission and vision<\/a> to our clients, I was articulating this to them for the first time. And that is fair enough, as these aren’t meant to be show pieces that you parade around. It’s an inside-out thing. We get crystal clear on them, inside. Then, we use this to illuminate what we’re doing and how we do it on the outside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I was preparing to share this deeply personal information on a PowerPoint, I became quite emotional. I started reflecting on how lucky I am to work with the people I do. When friends and family ask me about “favorite clients,” it is an impossible question to answer, for I enjoy every single business and every single person in my vie quotidien<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How many business owners can say that?

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As I looked out at the group of 25 people in varying businesses and industries, I said to them: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I care much more about who you are<\/em> and how you do things<\/em> than what you’re doing.”

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They’ve even started buying from each other already, creating their own ecosystem. Be still, my heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, how is all this possible? It sounds like coincidence, but I promise that it’s not. Is there some luck involved? In any good thing in life, I believe that yes, luck plays its part. But luck only happens when there’s intentionality that sets your course and lights your path. Enter: values.

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A value is…<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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a way of being or believing that you hold most important.<\/p>\n
-Dr. Bren\u00e9 Brown <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Brown uses the metaphor that a value is like a lantern. So, if we follow the path lit by our values, we can show up and be seen. I’d argue that this is true in life, and this is definitely <\/em>true in work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The list of possible values is endless. They’re words that may immediately spring to mind, like accountability, connection, quality, generosity, legacy, and optimism – to name a very few (here’s a list<\/a> of 200 more for you).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, especially with a corporate background, I often find values to be used without meaning or accountability. They’re printed on posters on a wall, or sometimes one is graded on them in year-end reviews. But how can we take them off the page and into real life? How do values come through someone, when he’s interacting with colleagues and clients? When he’s stressed about a deadline?

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It’s the operating principles…<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

that explain “here’s what it looks like to act out this value in our company.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I love, love, love using Dave’s company<\/a> as an example for operating principles. They don’t even have what I call values above; instead, they go straight to the so-what. Here’s how they do things.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n