Life Values

This activity examines your perceptions about what is important to you as an individual.

Instructions
Step 1: Review the values in the table below. Add to the list, values you believe should be
included.
Step 2: In column 1, rank the list in order with 1 being the most important.
Step 3: Review and eliminate five. Place an “X” on the five to be eliminated. Rank remaining list
with 1 being the most important.
Step 4: Review and eliminate five more. Rank the remaining items in the list with one being the
most important.

Value Description 1 2 3
Friendship To work with people I like and to be liked by them
Location To be able to live where I want to live
Loyalty To be loyal to my employer and to my boss and to know I have
their loyalty in return
Family To have time to spend with my family
Leadership To become an influential leader
Achievement To accomplish important things; to be involved in significant
undertakings
Self-realization To do work that is personally challenging and that will allow me to
realize the full potential of my best talents
Wealth To earn a great deal of money
Expertness To become a known and respected authority in what I do
Service To contribute to the satisfaction of others
Prestige To be seen as successful; to become well known
Security To have a secure and stable position
Power To have the authority to approve or disapprove proposed courses
of action to make assignments and to control allocation of
resources
Enjoyment To enjoy my work
Independence To have freedom of thought and action; to be able to act in term
of my own schedule and priorities

The five values you ranked highest, should receive 80% of your time and energy. These values
should drive your actions and keep you focused on what is most important in your life. They are
the foundation of your success. They help you prioritize the goals you set for yourself. Without
values clearly defined and prioritized, it is difficult to prioritize goals. This makes it easier to
make a choice when commitments compete for your attention. Your goals should be a natural
extension of your values.

Check your top-priority values, and make sure they fit with your life and your vision for yourself.
Making value-based choices may not always be easy. Making a choice that you know is right is
a lot less difficult in the long run. Understanding your values can help you to determine the best
direction for you and your life goals!

Check your top three values. In what ways do they conflict or align with your career goals?