IDEA TO ACTION QUOTE: It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are - Roy Disney

Are you struggling to make important life decisions? It might be worth your while to spend some time reflecting on the  values  that guide your decision making, because personal values and decision making drive each other.

Values can be defined as intrinsically desirable moral principles or philosophies that give meaning to,   or guide, individuals' lives.

When reflecting on personal values consider the following 3 levels of values:

1. 'Shoulds': These come from things you think you should believe, do, or act in accordance with. You rarely examine this level of values that are almost always 'swallowed whole' from parents, teachers, or some other authority ,such as the church, when you  were young. These values can stand in the way if they do not really resonate with you, because you may have changed in fundamental ways over the years.
2. Chosen values: These values resonate with you and so you try to uphold them consistently, without much effort. Professional ethics, for example, fall under this category.
3.  Core values: usually few, these values are so critical to your personal well being that when you are not living them you feel dissatisfied, depressed, embarrassed or ashamed. A life that does not honour your  3 or so core values is rarely fulfilling.

By definition, values are subjective, and even where similar words are used to describe a value, the meaning attributed to it is personal. So also think about what each values means to you.

What are your core values?

Here are two exercises that you can do to determine what your core values are:

1. Starting with this list of values select what you consider to be your top 10. Now imagine you are only allowed half of that to move on.  Select your top 5. Now imagine value no.4 in your left hand and no.5 in your right.  If you had to choose, which one would you choose? If you choose no.4, then they are in the right order. If you choose 5 then move no. 4 to position 5 and no.5 to position 4. Continue with no.3 in one hand and the new no.4 in the other, then no.2 and no.3 3 etc until you have ranked your 5 in order of importance to you. You will see what your top 3 values are from this exercise. In addition to helping you determine your core values this exercise demonstrates how you evaluate values relative to each other and picking one over another does not mean that the one you did not pick is not important.
2.  Think back to a situation where you felt completely at ease, in sync with the world. What values are represented or illustrated by that situation? Are they repeated in other situations where you felt similar 'balance'? It is very likely that these are your core values. Check to see how similar they are to the values to those you selected in exercise 1 above?

Knowing your core values is useful to develop and enhance self awareness. And it also helps to reduce inner conflict when making regular choices about time, money, and other personal decisions. It removes the burden of conforming.  Indeed, knowing your core values is one of the first steps to living a more fulfilling life. 

Next week we will see how two women faced with a similar decision made different choices because they had different core values. 

WHAT'S IN A NAME? 

IDEA TO ACTION QUOTE: The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right names - Chinese proverb. 

I derive quite a bit of pleasure from reading the names displayed on dukas (shops) as I drive along.  Many are hardly innovative, 'Onyango shop', while others speak volumes 'jasho langu   (my own sweat) shop' or Akisema Atakubariki (when He says He will bless you) Investments'.  Interestingly, some dukas have no names displayed.

Last week I spoke about taking your small business  to the next level. Today I retain a similar theme,  with a reflection on how to select a name for your business, when you decide to take it to the next level by registering it.

There is no right or wrong way to do it.  In my view what matters is the vision you have for your business, and how that name will help you achieve the vision. 

If you see your name as a household brand in the future then go on, give your name to your business.  Maybe you are more concerned about people knowing what business you are in from hearing your business name.  Perhaps you are inclined towards the abstract, or the creative.  Do you want to portray old fashioned values, or are you going for an innovative or futuristic name?  Where will your business take you?  If you will go beyond 'local' then think about the meaning that non locals will give to the name you select.  Are you fussy about spelling and pronunciation of your name? Then go for something that's easy to write and say.

Here are a few more considerations

a)      People tend to pick the first few names listed under a certain service in the business directory.  Where will you be on the list?

b)      You cannot register a name that has already been registered by another.  Have several options ready.

c)       Customers infer a lot from your business name.  What will be their first impression of your business?

Whatever you decide, remember that your business name should work well wherever you use it - on the phone, in your logo, signage, stationery, advertisements, website, email, t shirts, and any other media  you use to reach your customers or clients.

 You will learn how to

1. Write your CV
2. Prepare for the interview
3. Handle common interview questions

Your Investment:  2650/= (includes workshop materials, tea and snacks)

Time?                9.30 am  - 12.30 pm NOTE TIME CHANGE

Where?             1st FLoor,  Luther Plaza, Nyerere Rd,opposite St Paul's church.

Registration closeD Thursday, 3rd February.