Courage is one of my minor values…..
Now you may be wondering, why am I writing about a minor value, rather than one of my
major values. Or you may be simply wondering what is a minor value. Or you may be wondering what are values?
Values are those principles that guide our life.
I have a tool, a card deck, that is full of great values (approximately 42). We all make decisions based on our values and principles. The problem is that I cannot make decisions based on 42 values, even if they are all good values. Having this many values becomes competing values because they are not all created equal … for me.
Let’s look at an example.
Maybe you and I are having a discussion about careers. In fact, when I recently reviewed my values, the money/wealth card was the last card to be placed back in the tin, as in Not one of my values. Then I took it back out. Let’s be clear, I am not about becoming financially wealthy because I think of myself better than others. No, but I do believe people ought to be compensated for the value they bring to the table. And the compensation should be commensurate to the value that I provide. If I provide a minimum value, then I should be compensated minimally; and if I provide significant value, then I should be compensated similarly (ie. significantly). Two other factors play a part in my thought process. The first is that I was able to make the shift to a new career because of the financial steps that I have put in place over my life. These steps include everything from mindset - debt, savings, investments and abundance thinking. The second is that I have invested in myself to learn from some of the greatest abundance mindset people that John Maxwell knows. I have the right beginning perspective; and I want more of it.
This is all very similar to my typical focus areas of personal growth, leadership, and financial freedom. It all starts with me - leading myself appropriately before I can lead others.
Perspective...
Now, if I simply focused on the dollars perspective of money/wealth and encouraged you to only consider a job that had the right income or salary attached to it. That would be a very limited perspective. If you said that money was not important to you, and you went to college, and collected some sizable student loans, and also said you wanted to give back and do mission work. I would say two things. Great! I love that you want to give back. And I would also ask, to understand with clarity, what is your perspective on student loans? Are you expecting to follow the ten year payback period and then the government will handle the rest? Do you know of someone that has done exactly what you want? (Because the reality of this plan is very risky. Are you married? Will you be having children? Have you truly considered your current and long term position? Do you see that you have a real responsibility to yourself, your partner, your current life and future selves, to get a job and take care of your debt? Maybe consider how you can make your local area and evenings part of your mission field?
Albert Einstein was the genius that coined the phrase, “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it, he who doesn’t …..pays it.
What does this have to do with courage?
Maybe, I now have you wondering what does this have to do with courage? It takes a type of courage to delay the immediate gratification mindset that wants to “have it now.” We get hungry, we want food now, and we go through a drive-through. We see an item on Amazon that trips our fancy, we put it in the cart, and push the order button, regardless of whether we just began investigating that special item or whether we truly have the cash available for that purchase. (I want to live debt free; and I want money to work for me. And truth is, I want everything you want for you, but I don’t want you sacrificing your future money (ie. interest) in order to have it now!” The question is - Do we need it now, or, simply want it sometime in the future? It takes courage to say “not right now.” I struggle with this too! Sometimes we have to give up the really good stuff, to get the really great stuff later. It takes lots and lots of courage, discipline, and maybe even some prioritization. This could be addressed with an accountability partner.
This same sort of thought process goes into considering career changes. It takes courage to leave a comfortable, “secure” job that lacks true fulfillment. This is not about encouraging you to change jobs or even the courage to change jobs. It is about having the courage to do the right thing for you, your significant other, your children, maybe even your grandchildren.
For most of us, this process is not easy. Who said life was supposed to be easy. My friend, John Maxwell, has helped me really understand that everything worthwhile is uphill.
In other words, much of the best in life will take courage. Every day is a new opportunity to step into courage. We must realize that there are many times where people will quit on us. It is then our responsibility to get up every day and make sure we do not quit on ourselves.
Courage fits into my major value of Growth.
In order to reach my greatest potential, I must continue to grow. I must change. And sometimes, I must change big…..I must develop and grow courage!
If you want to explore your courage, your values, or even your dreams, please set up a complimentary discovery session. Begin the process of building your courage for the present and into the future!