In 2011, Andrew came home from football practice and blurted out: “We need to do values!”

So we Googled “list of values,” picked fifteen that sounded nice, and forgot about them by dinner. That was Attempt #1. There were four more.

Attempt #2: Andrew borrowed his football team’s values. Official-sounding. Someone else’s words.

Attempt #3: We typed up company values in beautiful all-caps. RESPECT. PASSION & PURPOSE. INTEGRITY. Sincere. Still not real.

Attempt #4: Three full days. Got closer.

Attempt #5: We finally stopped asking “What should we value?” and started asking “What do we already value?” The values we discovered were…

playfulness, curiosity, togetherness, faithfulness, and generous stewardship!

Felt like coming home.

In our book The Courage to Commit, we share these attempts and how creating family values has completely changed our lives. You can pre-order it now. Click here!

The shift was looking at evidence instead of aspirations. What consistently frustrates you? That points to a value. What makes you beam with pride? That’s data. Where does your time and money actually go? Your bank statement reveals truths your vision board might obscure.

This process applies to way more than families. If you’re leading a team, starting a business, or in a season of transition, naming your values is the fastest way to stop agonizing over decisions and start making them with confidence.

We built the worksheet we wish we’d had on attempt #1. Grab it free by clicking here!

What’s a value you hold that you’ve never formally named? Hit reply.

- Shawn and Andrew

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