Oct 115 min read

Is Your Personal Brand Failing? Here's How Core Values Will Save It

Updated: 4 days ago

In today’s world, with endless distractions, constant social media comparisons, and an overly saturated market, it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters. Feelings of rejection, insecurity, and not being good enough can creep in, and stress, anxiety, and burnout are at an all-time high. This destroys your confidence, leaving you struggling to figure out who you are, what you stand for, and what you want in life.

If you have not intentionally built the foundation of your Personal Brand Failing - your Core Values (CVs), you will gradually have the footing ripped beneath you. Without a strong foundation and personal brand services, you will lack direction, authenticity, and impact.

What Are Core Values?

Core Values aren’t just abstract ideas—they represent your most authentic self. As I explain in Unleash Your Rockstar, your CVs are deeply held beliefs that form the foundation of who you are. These values are ingrained principles that guide your decisions, shape your life’s direction, and define your character. They act as your moral compass, influencing how you think, act, and engage with the world.

Discovering your core values is the first step toward building self-awareness. They dictate what you need to feel fulfilled and help you navigate relationships, projects, and commitments. They help you recognize which opportunities to say “yes” to and which to avoid.

When your values aren’t being met, or when they are challenged, you’ll often feel anxious, threatened, or dissatisfied. Conflicting values can damage your self-esteem, hinder productivity, and diminish your well-being. The first step for you- your personal brand- to be fulfilled in life, it's essential to discover and define your Core Values.

How to Discover Your Core Values

Your CVs often begin with what you learn from your environment—your parents, family, and mentors. But as you grow and experience life, you fine-tune those values, or even develop new ones. This evolution is essential, and it’s something I’ve learned through my own experiences.

For example, one of my father’s core values is “integrity”. He always taught me that a person’s word should be sacred. Because of that, I grew up believing that everyone’s word and handshake carried the same weight as mine. I learned the hard way that just because people talk about values, it doesn’t mean they interpret them the same way.

I spent two years developing a music artist, pouring my soul into his growth, only for him to leave without warning to work with Snoop Dogg. People asked why I hadn’t made him sign a contract, but I believed his word was enough. That experience taught me a painful lesson: not everyone shares the same definition of integrity. Although that loss devastated me, it also strengthened my understanding of how crucial it is to define and protect my Core Values.

This image is taken from Unleash Your Rockstar

Your Core Values Can Evolve

You know, our life circumstances are always changing, and that can lead us to shift our core values or even adopt new ones. Take my family, for example. Our number one core value has always been God, so I naturally adopted that belief growing up. But here’s the thing: the church instilled this idea of “the fear of God” in me, and I pictured God as this wrathful, bearded old man who’d send me straight to hell if I stepped out of line.

As I grew older and had different experiences, my perspective changed. I started to see God more as “spirituality,” this universal energy that connects everything. So, I swapped out the word “God” for “spirituality” to make it resonate better with what I truly believe. While they share a lot of the same principles for me, just changing the word helped me feel more in line with my own values.

As we go through life, it’s super important to redefine or even replace old belief systems that no longer serve us. By the time we reach adulthood, we’ve gathered enough experiences to really understand which core values matter most to us.

What Do Your Core Values Mean to You?

Defining your core values is crucial, and here’s why. First off, knowing what your values are gives you clarity about what you need to feel honored and fulfilled. When you’re clear about your values, it’s easier to communicate them to others. This allows people in your life to understand what you need and where your boundaries are.

Having those core values also helps you be consistent in your decisions and actions. And let’s be honest—consistency is key to building trust. When others see you acting in alignment with your values, they’re more likely to trust you. That trust forms the foundation of strong relationships, whether in your personal life or at work.

But it doesn’t stop there! When you articulate your values, you also give others a chance to support you. Sharing what’s important to you invites collaboration and fosters mutual respect. This creates an environment where everyone can thrive together.

In a nutshell, understanding and defining your core values not only boosts your self-awareness but also enhances your relationships. When you know what you stand for, you set the stage for more meaningful connections with those around you.

How to Integrate Your Core Values into Everyday Life

You've identified your core values, understand their significance, and appreciate their role in your life. Now it's time to integrate them into everything you do. Here are a couple of key points to keep in mind:

First, strive to live your core values every day and in every situation you encounter. If you don’t, it can create confusion and erode trust. People may start to lose respect for you when your actions don't align with what you stand for.

Second, manage your relationships with care. Not everyone will share your beliefs, whether in personal or professional settings. It's important to express what you need to feel fulfilled and honored in those relationships. Fortunately, many of us share similar core values, like honesty, loyalty, dependability, and decency. However, each person may have their unique understanding and expectations of these values, shaped by their experiences and beliefs.

As your core values evolve, it can create challenges in maintaining relationships. Openly communicating these changes and giving others the chance to adjust is essential in both personal and work environments.

Mutual acknowledgment and respect require honest observation and skillful communication from both parties.

To successfully coexist with others, focus on these essential practices:

Define and Live Your Values: Be clear about your core values and consistently align your actions with them. This helps others understand what you believe in and what you need to feel honored.

Recognize When Your Values Are Ignored: Be aware of when your core values are being disrespected and take note of how it affects you.

Express Your Needs Clearly: Share your core values, needs, and expectations openly to foster better understanding and cooperation.

Honor Others' Values: Show respect for the core values of those around you.

Stand Firm When Necessary: Be prepared to withdraw from situations that jeopardize your core values.

By integrating these practices into your life, you create a strong foundation for healthy and fulfilling relationships.

Spotlight

Your core values are the foundation of your personal brand and shape both your personal and professional success. They guide your actions, shape your decisions, and help you live a life of authenticity and fulfillment. By staying true to your values, you’ll build a personal brand that reflects who you truly are and attracts the success and happiness you deserve. As I emphasize in Unleash Your Rockstar, living a life aligned with your values is the ultimate key to lasting fulfillment.