I never set out to be an entrepreneur. Before I started my business as a Life and Family Coach, I was a high school teacher turned stay-at-home mom. I knew that I always wanted to help people, but over the years and the changes of seasons in my life God made it quite evident that he created me to help families.
As I began to embark on this journey of owning my own business, one thing that became clear to me was, the need for me to be clear on who I was created to be. Many people as they start out as entrepreneurs are constantly looking at what other people are doing and how they are achieving success. It is okay to learn from others, but it’s equally important to learn who we are and what we bring to the table. Because as the wonderful quote goes “somebody out there needs exactly what you have to offer.” So, how do you come to terms with how you are wired and what values you are to uphold in your business? We have to take an introspective look as to what our business core values are. What are your absolutes, when it comes to how you will run your business? What type of work do you want to do? What type of people do you want to work with? Being able to answer all these questions will lead you to your business core values. Let’s take a look at 5 steps you can use in figuring out your core values.
Sit down and do a brain dump. First get all of your ideas out. I think it helps to know what you don’t want or like as well as what you do. I always take time when I’m feeling stuck in my business, whether it’s creating a new product or service to brain dump. What do I want to offer? What don’t I want to offer? How is my time going to be best utilized as I embark on this journey? These are the types of questions I ask myself in this process.
Figure out your absolutes. What do you absolutely need to have to happen in your business for it to run smoothly? This can range from great time management to having the flexibility to work non-traditional hours. You are the boss, so you get first dibs on how you want to structure you business.
Think about what type of work you want to do. Do you want to work on design more behind the scenes? Or do you enjoy working with people? Do you like working one on one? Or would you rather have a workshop/platform type of business? These are all questions to consider as you think about your values. Having an assuredness in this area will help on days that things seem slow. As business owners we often have to come back to our “why?” Knowing who you are and why you are called to do this type of work is a pretty key element in establishing your business core values.
Think about your ideal client. This one typically takes a little bit of work. Usually when we first start out we want to help everybody. The more you focus on reaching that one person, the easier it will be to attract the people you are supposed to be working with. I tell people all the time, that are interested in the fact that I’m true to my values, that it takes a great deal of pressure off of me because I don’t waste a lot of time talking to the wrong people.
Finally write out your Business Core Values as well as your Business Mission Statement. This part right here will save you every time you are questioning yourself. Your Business Values and Mission should be in a prominent place in your office so that every decision you make stems from your core (literally). This will guide you not only in your client decisions but also in business relationships that you will have. You don’t have to have the same exact values as your clients and business friends, but you do want to be in the same ballpark. This will save a great deal of heartache and wasted time.
Take as much time as you need getting to know who you are before jumping head first into your business. That behind the scenes time is so crucial in building a solid foundation. That solid foundation is going to propel you in to right relationships with clients as well as business associates. So don’t be afraid to discover who you are. I’m sure you will thank yourself for the time invested!
Entrice Rowe 
is a certified Life Coach who enjoys working with women and their families on creating a home life where purpose, order and peace flow naturally. As a busy wife, and mom of 4 kids: a 9 year old boy, 7 year old girl, and 4 year old boy/girl twins, she knows what it’s like to have moments of doubt in this thing called life.
You can find helpful tips on personal growth, parenthood, and relationships on Entrice’s blog. You can also find her on Instagram, Facebook, and Periscope.
