“You know you’re creating value when you can see tangible positive changes in the world as a result of your creative output.” – Steve Pavlina
Providing Value to the World
I have been thinking about this Steve Pavlina quote ever since I read it on his blog back in December. That is why I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to participate in Jeremy Day’s group writing project over at Insight Writer. Jeremy’s writing project brought bloggers together to write about the topic of value.
In the world of blogging, how do you know if you are providing tangible or intangible value? How do you know if tangible positive changes are happening as a result of your creative output? We would all like to think we are creating value, but how do we really know?
Personally, I don’t know. I’m very fortunate to receive positive feedback from members of the CreateaBalance.com community, but I don’t really know if I am providing strong value. I also agree with Hunter Nuttall that we can provide strong value even if what we offer does not always create tangible positive change.
I recognize that value is in the eye of the beholder. So regardless if you think I am or am not providing quality value to the world, you have my word that I will continue to work on providing strong value and quality services each and every day.
The Values that Guide Us
I believe the value we offer to the world is a reflection of our core values. Ideally, what we stand for and what is important to us is reflected in the words we write. The following values guide me as a blogger and are aligned to the goals I am trying to achieve.
| Balance | Health |
| Enjoyment | Collaboration |
| Freedom | Creativity |
| Helpfulness | Adventure |
| Self Care | Personal Development |
| Involvement | Family Happiness |
Play the Values Game to identify your personal values by which you live your life.
Embody Your Core Values
David Skibbins, in Becoming a Life Coach
“Using a scale of 1 to 10, express how you embody [your core values] in your everyday life. Remember, a 1 means ‘Oh yeah, that’s important, and I really have to get around to doing that someday’; a 5 means ‘In some way during half of my waking hours I am living this value and honoring this passion’; and a 10 means ‘With every waking breath I live this fully’. What do you notice about your core values and how you embody them?”
This is Your Moment…
How do you know if you are providing value to the world?
What are your core values?
What do you notice about how you embody your values?
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[…] The Values that Guide Us by Stacey – “I believe the value we offer to the world is a reflection of our core values. Ideally, what we stand for and what is important to us is reflected in the words we write.” […]
[…] Mother’s Day to Stacey, who writes about the ever-elusive life balance. Her post The Values That Guide Us made me think long and hard about my own […]
Hi, Stacey. I enjoyed reading your insights into personal guides that shape the work of writing. Interesting points that you provide, along with additional reading, present some really positive and useful things to consider. I think we all have guides that help us to continue. Your article goes a long way to bringing somewhat nebulous concept of those guides, into a more concrete space for me. Thanks.
Shari Smothers´s last blog post..good writer practices: 4 things you need to do
Love this photo, how amazing to find that.
David Skibbins scaling is great- I alos use a radio like rating
Suzie Cheel´s last blog post..Law of Attraction Insight #2: Words Send Vibrations
Sometimes I think our values are not always seen by the world. Sometimes the beauty is in within and it’s up to the world to open their eyes and see it 😉 Love the pic! I want some steps like that!
Annette´s last blog post..Today is AWESOME! I RAN!!!!!
The values on those steps come from the Boy Scout Law. Unlike the Girl Scouts, we didn’t have cookies, but we had those 12 values. 🙂
I figured that balance was one of your values, but you have a lot of other good ones too. I think one way you know what value you’re providing is to think about who would notice if you stopped.
Thanks for the link!
Stacey, I love the picture of the values on steps. It’s so meaningful, that our values can literally take us to higher ground.
A post has value for me not at the moment, but when I’m thinking about an issue days or weeks later, and I remember a certain post addressed it, and go back to that person’s blog to look for it. It has value because it played a key part in shaping my thought process when I needed to think about it.
In terms of blogging, I suppose backlinks would indicate this sort of usefulness, when someone else links back to one of my posts because it helps them say what they want to say or think through a topic more clearly.
Daphne´s last blog post..8 Lessons A Nearly-Dead Dog Taught Me About Living
Hi Stacey
Interesting question on “How do you know if you are providing value to the world?”
Well, I find it interesting because I realise that it has a fair amount to do with what I consider is valuable and not necessarily what other people see as my contribution.
Thank you for making me realise that. It needs some more thought on my part.
Juliet
LifeMadeGreat | Juliet´s last blog post..Overcoming The Barriers Of Introversion: Starting The Process
Stacey,
Those sound like a very comprehensive list of worthwhile values, and I feel that the pursuit of values such as yours is an excellent recipe for the enjoyment of a very wholesome life.
When I think about my core own core values, and what I personally stand for, I feel that as a Christian, my principle objective is to live a life which is honorable to god, and all that I do should be revolve around this objective.
In terms of blogging, I guess the way in which this should manifest itself is through the demonstration of care, love, kindness and consideration toward other bloggers, and one way in which I wish to achieve this is by making a positive contribution to discussions upon other people’s blogs – by really taking time to read what they have to say in a careful manner and provide thoughtful comments and responses.
Naturally, I do not always do this perfectly – but at least that is where my objective is focused.
Andrew´s last blog post..How healthy is Apple’s disclosure?
I did a values exercise last week at work and what surprised me was how adventure kept showing up.
When I thought about it, it made sense from my road trips to how every project I turn into either a SWAT mission or an epic adventure.
J.D. Meier´s last blog post..Avoid Mental Burnout
It’s not unusual for our values to go unnoticed. It’s really nice to know that deep inside you’re way better than people seem to think you are.
Also I agree with Suzie – this photo is amazing. I wish you posted it in higher resolution so that I could use it as a wallpaper.