In China there’s a certain species of bamboo, that, in the first four years after it has been planted, remains a tiny shoot. You water, cultivate, weed, and nurture the shoot, but it remains seemingly unchanged. In the fifth year, however, something amazing happens. This tiny shoot suddenly leaps to towering heights of over 80 feet. As you probably guessed, in the initial stages all its growth went underground in the root system. Once its roots had developed, its growth went above ground and the results were highly visible.

You too, will need to expend great amounts of energy developing the hidden character of your heart and personal integrity before you will see visible results in your public life. This speaks to your values, which are internal. Values are the non-negotiable priorities in life that define your character because they guide your decisions and behavior.​

Most of us like to see instant results. Sometimes we slap on a bandaid for a quick fix. But as Opera singer Beverly Sills once said: “There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.” Character and credibility are built over time on the foundation of core values.

As you enter this New Year, consider this VALUES WORKSHEET that helps you figure out and write down your core values. You can then plug them in to your Purpose or Mission statement accessible through a FREE online course.