Living Intentionally… Not Easy for an Individual But it is Even Harder for a Business
What you need to do is easy; it is the “living it” that is the hard part. One of the main ways businesses are living intentionally is by knowing that their Core Values are a vital part of how the company operates. This means the values are not just something on their conference room wall, but they are lived every day. Values that are lived every day show up in how a company hires, who a company fires, who is rewarded or recognized, how expectations are set, and how the team interacts with each other and their customers and vendors.
What the Good Fight Looks Like
I recently had an email exchange with one of my clients named Levi. Levi, quite eloquently, explained what the good fight looks like in his note to me.
“The more intentional I become about enforcing these values, the more difficult it becomes to keep the seats filled. I look around and I see very few businesses that deliver the level of service I expect from LPS. It feels like people simply do not want to “reach toward wholeness” or “leave it all on the field” (two of their core values). I am at the point of wondering if it is possible to build a business I can be proud of in our society.”
I knew his pain and have heard similar stories from other companies. I know they were all happier that they stuck to their guns, but it is hard to see that when you are “in” it. My response to Levi was, “It is important that you know that I believe you can (build a business to be proud of). What you are going through is what most companies, who take their Core Values seriously, end up going through. It feels a bit scary, if we were to label it. It is hard to live intentionally and that is what you have decided is right for you. It is a very worthy goal.”
The Hard Work of Worthy Goals
Levi and I recently connected again about the topic and he summed it up quite nicely. He said, “It is still hard. But then again, dealing with the fallout of accepting sub-standard is hard, too. For me, it is as simple as this. I am determined the world will be a better place because I was here.” Another worthy goal, my friend. Thank you for being you, continue living intentionally.
Next Steps
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- Need to set core values for your company? Use the EOS Vision/Traction Organizer (V/TO)™ to get started and get your team aligned.
- Ready to get started with EOS? Schedule a free 90-minute meeting with an EOS Implementer.
