Clarity gets easier when you can name what you stand for. We’re launching our Leader Briefs with a fast, practical guide to defining three to five personal values and turning them into simple behaviors you can practice when stakes are high and time is short. Instead of vague aspirations, we walk through a concrete flow: capture peak moments across your life, translate the feelings and patterns you notice into candidate values, and refine a long list down to a focused core you can remember and use.
We dig into why values act as guardrails for decisions, how they cut burnout by reducing default yeses, and why they offer clarity when emotions run hot. You’ll hear examples from our own lists—integrity, acceptance, relationships, growth, empathy, creativity, joy, fun, exploration—and how we define them in action with “I show this when…” statements. We also talk about grouping related terms into themes so your shortlist reflects what truly matters without bloating into a feel-good catalog. The aim is a compass you can carry, not a poster you forget.
Then we put values to work. Borrowing Octavia Butler’s reminder that habit beats inspiration, we show how to precommit small, repeatable actions: choose empathy in the first minute of a tense exchange, ship a creative draft before perfect, protect time blocks for family, or take one bold step when imposter syndrome bites. We cover review rhythms, how values can evolve with life stages, and why sharing your list with your team builds trust, speeds decisions, and invites mutual accountability. Ready for a quick win that pays off every day? Press play, pick your five, define the behaviors, and practice one habit this week. If this helped, follow the show, share it with a friend, and tell us your top value in a review or on LinkedIn.
Download toolkit here: https://shared.outlook.inky.com/link?domain=katieervin.com&t=h.eJxFjk0OwiAYRK_SsNbyIaVAV70KbWkh5S8UTYzx7oqauJzJvJd5oGt2aGiQKSUdA8a7KlbrfLOhnaPHTqtF58PYdE7GunjEZO4YnRq0VyroEvNGgHVMSPjC47z8qI9BAlsJ7WCWSgLn60W8M6cUYBKMcYkJ75kgAji0nSCk57TqddVr71U7ORV2HeqHcfPKuqqtk6VO_s3zBfLTPk4.MEUCIQCLROhZh5t9XgiLOTP7UVJtl06zFs5hrP0QgNy_I2fAHgIgKyX12bPRQwli0jo3mr2Yyp1fE5_i-5k_OtxCN3Sagec
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Measure what matters. Lead with purpose. Take the LEADERs Catalyst Index: https://katieervin.com/catalyst-score/
Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/
