Be All That You Can Be

Many of us have heard this slogan “Be All That You Can Be.” Created by the U.S. Army and used for recruiting purposes.

Basically, the slogan challenges a person to become all that he/she is capable of becoming. Growing up in a military family I have heard this phrase more than once but never really gave it much thought. Maybe I was just too young at that time to really give much attention to the saying?

However, now that I am older and designing my best life I revisited this saying and reflected more on what it means. Becoming a person that one has the potential to become is what I get from this slogan. I thought about what one needs to do to help be all that he or she can be.

The number one factor that I keep coming back to is values! In order to be all that you can be you MUST live your life according to your values. You must get clear on who you are and live in accordance with this. Although I have written a blog post on identifying your values I think it is important to reiterate a few vital points.

The first step in identifying your values is taking time out to reflect. Write down what comes to mind. Just write without editing or over analyzing. Write words or phrases that you feel represent who you are. If you find it difficult to come up with values then answer a few questions such as:

• What are you truly passionate about?
• What does having a full or whole life look like to you?
• What is missing from your life? What would make your life more satisfying?
• What is your definition of success?
• What would you like others to say about your at the end of your life? What would you like
to say about yourself?

If you are still finding it difficult to pinpoint your values after answering these questions reflect on a special time in your life. What was going on and why was it so special? What was happening? What were the values that were being honored during that time? There was probably an event or moment in your life that made you feel good. Most likely, you were in tune with who you are therefore honoring your values. Think about the important things or feelings that were present during this special time.

After determining your values, make a list and prioritize them. Rank order them in importance and check either yes or no if you feel you are currently living in accordance with your values. If so list the ways you are honoring your values.

Lastly, make a list and keep it with you at all times (purse or wallet). Be sure to look at it at least once a day. Any decisions that you need to make especially BIG decisions make sure you think about your values. Any or all decisions made in accordance with your values ensures you are living a full rich life. Be true to yourself so you can BE ALL THAT YOU CAN BE!!!

Identify your Values and Create Career Satisfaction

by Erin Suess

Choosing the right career or reevaluating your current job situation takes patience, introspection, focused thinking and action. To find a satisfying career or a fulfilling job that enhances the quality of your life requires commitment and perseverance on your part.

There is no relationship between the time one makes a career decision and their ultimate success in that career. However, what we do know is that many successful people switch careers numerous times throughout their lifetime before settling on one that’s right for them. Research shows that people are now changing jobs every two or three years, and changing careers anywhere from three to seven times in their lifetime! With this type of data we can conclude that it takes people some time before figuring out what makes them happy and truly satisfied in their career or job situation.

There are many factors to consider in your career decision making process such as: abilities, values, experiences and any practical considerations (expenses, family, training requirements, geographical location, etc). For the sake of this article, we will focus on clarifying values and explaining what exactly this means and how one can define their values.

Clarifying your Values
Clearly defining your values (the essence of who you are) and understanding what you honestly want out of life is not always easy. With our day to day routine and daily grind we often do not get the time to really think about who we are, what we are truly passionate about or what we want out of life.

Values create a basis for how we view life. When you are clear about who you are and can make decisions based on your values then you will create fulfilling outcomes and environments. Values will change over time however, it is important to use your determined values as a foundation and check-in source when making decisions. Less stress and less conflicting choices will result from using something concrete such as your value list to make decisions.

So how do you determine your values? Although you can choose values from a pre-determined list, the best way to define your values is through your own identification. Below are some steps to help you clearly define your values.

Personal Reflection
In order to get clear on you defining the essence of who you are there are several questions you may want to ask yourself (brainstorm) and then write down your answers.

• What are you truly passionate about? What brings you alive?
• When have you been most creative and enjoyed your work the most?
• If money were no object what would you do?
• Have you ever did something and lost track of time? What was it?
• What is missing from your life? What would make it more satisfying?
• How do you define success?
• What do you absolutely have to have in your life to feel whole or fulfilled?
• What would you like to say about yourself at the end of your life? What would you like
others to say?

Create a list
Once you have spent time brainstorming on the above questions it is time to start creating your values list. Keep in mind at this point you do not need to come up with a single word for each statement instead you can use several words. It may be difficult at this stage to pinpoint one word for each value so I suggest you use a few words to describe your own meaning for each statement or value.

Rank
Now that you have a list of values it is important to rank order them and prioritize your list. Start from the top and list which values are most important to you at this time in your life. Next to each value rate how much you feel you are honoring your value at this time. Pay attention to those values with lower scores and think about what is preventing you from honoring these values. Is it your lifestyle, work, family, health, relationships, education, personal growth etc.? This exercise will help clarify whether you are living a life or pursuing a job/career that is aligned with who you are.

Create a values statement
As soon as you create your list and identify which values are most important to you create a values statement. This values statement is a like a mission statement for how you want to live your life. Designing your own mission statement will provide a basis for living your life and give you a clearer sense of direction.

Create a card
Lastly, now that you have your values statement, write it down on a card and carry it with you at all times. You may even want to laminate your card. Make sure it can fit in your pocket, wallet or purse so you can refer to it at anytime. Reading your values statement will help give you more energy and put you in a happier mode. Referring to your card will also allow you to see if your goals match your values. Finally, when faced with any type of decision you can refer to your values statement to help guide you in making the best choice.

Identifying your values and living a life in accordance with who you are can bring you much more career satisfaction. Although there are several factors that come into play when seeking more fulfillment in your professional life identifying your values is at the core of finding true happiness. When you feel dissatisfied or like something is missing it is important to revisit your values to find out if you are living by these principles. If not then it is time to reevaluate your situation and value list to investigate the missing link. It is vital to live your values in everyday life both at home and at work to help you live in accordance with the person you are and want to be!

check out more about life and career coaching at my website: http://www.lifecoachingdesigns.com