As a corporate trainer, I created a list of values for my clients that we agreed were important in life: in business, in our personal lives, and in our social lives. Everything we do in life is derived from our values. Our values shape how we feel, what we think, what we say, and what we do. Our values are who we are.

Every day I reference one or more of my values and remind myself what is important in life. For example, when challenged by:

• a surprise event with mom, I remind myself to respect and honor my parents
• a negative financial event, I remind myself the love of money can lead to a loss of values
• a difficult person’s behavior, I remind myself to be honest, humble, loving and kind

For five years, from 1999-2004, I mentored training sessions at a homeless shelter in San Pedro, California. When I would ask the residents to make a list of values, they would call out 10-15 values without hesitation. In some of my corporate training sessions, people had a hard time coming up with ten values, and one group had a hard time coming up with more than five! If floored me, and made me think. The people we classify as successful because of money, title and position might be the most barren in terms of what is most important in life: values. And, the people we regard as destitute, in reality, have a good understanding of values and what is important in life, because they have been humbled by losing their job, home, and prestige. That event continues to humble me and help me stay centered on good values. I never want to fall into being proud, disrespectful, unkind, and chasing wealth, title, and position.

Following is my list of values: honesty, sincerity, respect, responsibility, accountability, loyalty, trust, humility, integrity (defined as honesty and sincerity; choosing to do the right thing no matter what the consequences to yourself), courage, perseverance and persistence, self-discipline, laughter, peace, joy, education, learning, helping others, loving and giving, teaching/mentoring, family, making things better, being part of the community, love of nature, animals, and people, dedication to excellence, belief in a Higher Being, forgiveness, patience, tolerance, compassion, ethical behavior, and conscience.

According to my values (listed above), I believe in a Higher Being, and I respect the beliefs of others. I respect the creation of this earth and want to protect our forests and oceans for future generations. It is my purpose in life to help people find success in their lives. It is my goal in life to help those who cannot help themselves and are being abused: human, animal, plant and ocean species.

Lessons learned:

1. You can’t take it with you. We will all pass from this earth.

2. On our final day on earth, the bottom line may be: was our life constructive or destructive to humans, animals and the environment. Did we ignore or hurt others and use the earth for human gain, depleting and destroying her valuable treasures?

3. I need to control my actions now, in order to have respect for myself on my last day on earth. If I do that, I will be able to look at myself with self-respect, instead of shame and remorse.

What are your values, your purpose and your goals? They shape your character, your destiny, and how the world sees you.

Build your foundation on rock solid values.

Lighthouse, San Juan Island