For recruiters and hiring managers

If you're wondering how well I might fit in your organization, here's a list of the top 10 values that motivate me.

The process of ranking values

In 2013, I listed almost 200 values and ranked them.  In that process, I "combined" values which seemed to describe the same basic idea (these values appear in parenthesis).  In ranking values I tried to forget what society or my culture would say is a "proper" ranking and to focus on what I really felt inside was important to me.  Often the question "If you could live with only one, which value would you be more comfortable living without?" helped to determine which of two competing values held lesser importance to me.  The more important one then ranked higher.

I revisited the list in 2015.  While the 2013 list contained 20 values, the 2015 list focuses on my top 10 values.  Some slight shifting occurred since 2013, indicating change and growth over time.  A review of the list in 2020 found no changes were needed.

My top 10 personal values

Here's the list (revised May 2015 and reviewed 2020).  These are the top values that motivate me in order of importance.

  1. Truth (Trust, Dependability, Credibility, Honor, Integrity)
  2. Imagination (Creativity, Dreaming, Vision)
  3. Faith (Spirituality, Ethics)
  4. Love (Marriage, Family, Friendship, Camaraderie, Connection, Community)
  5. Contribution (Making a difference, Meaning)
  6. Freedom (Liberty)
  7. Curiosity (Knowledge, Learning, Education)
  8. Professionalism (Achievement, Competence, Excellence, Thoroughness, Timeliness)
  9. Balance (Clear-mindedness, Introspection)
10. Simplicity