Discussion Topic #2 Prompts
Prompt #1: Values Worksheet: What were your top 5 values? What kinds of defining
characteristics did you associate with your values as you crossed them off the list one at a time
until you had only one value listed? What did you learn about your values hierarchy through
this activity?
My top 5 values were:
1. Religion- my moral values and my spiritual guidance, my right from wrong.
2. Integrity- Honesty and living the values while teaching others through these values.
3. Leadership- All of these are capable if you are leading and not dictating.
4. Having a family: family gives you strength and purpose, unconditional love.
5. Friendship: this might be your family, but keeping people around you that
understand you.
As I was originally going through the sheet I found it hard to only pick ten; but, then I
questioned myself. I wondered if I was making it harder than it had to be because I was seeing
my actual living values and values I respect. Religion was the first one I chose and the first one I
chose to keep. I think it encompasses most of my values in one category and so narrowing the
list down to one was easiest. Integrity is a value I use professionally and personally. It is a value
that allowed me to eliminate trust because I believe that trust is a key facet of Integrity.
Leadership is an action that shares its value with others. Both leadership and integrity
encourages myself and others to participate in the right behaviors. The family bond is also a part
of religion/faith. Christians are part of my family; but, immediate family is part of the spiritual
guidance of loving you through it.
Prompt #2: Take a moment to revisit your Identities Table (you completed this as part of last
week’s discussion topic – Prompt #4). Take a look at each of your “areas of identity” and
reflect on your responses there – in light of your core values. What are your core values in
each of those “areas of identity?” Highlight several key “areas of identity” that guide you in life
and think about whether the values you ascribed to these areas are values that you truly live by
or simply talk about. Discuss any “values gaps”
My areas of identities are retail store manager, boss, caregiver, strong female leader, and
religious. My values listed above are religion, integrity, leadership, having a family, and
friendship. My core values play a big role in these areas of identity and in some cases these are
the same items. Being a retail manager and being a boss and having a boss clearly translate to
my core value of being a leader. It is important that being a leader I show integrity and coach
through integrity as well. My boss should also keep integrity in mind as he coaches me or my
employees. This keeps all levels working within an honest and balanced environment. My
identity of being a caregiver falls in line with my values of having a family, as my puppy is my
family. My immediate family lives out of state and so my puppy is my family that I come home
to and teach right from wrong. Being that my family lives so far away I have come to think of
my friends as family. I value the time I spend with them. I am a strong female leader who stays
true to my core values. When I lead, I lead through all of my values. I keep my religion close to
my heart. It rounds up all of my values as well as my areas of identity. These values identify
define me as a person.
Prompt #3: Dreams and Desires Worksheet: What underlying meaning did you discover
through exploring your dreams and desires in this manner? Can you see a connection between
what you desire and your inner sense of purpose? Explain.
Through the experience of doing the dreams and desires worksheet, I discovered that I really
did not have too many plans or goals. I have placed so much of my energy into school and
work through the last couple of years that I have not made plans beyond school. I am
completing my degree in December and have decided to pursue the MBA process. Receiving an
MBA has a layered affect for me: one, it is something I never thought I would achieve; two, I
have been through some difficult personal challenges that proves to me that I am strong; and
reminds me that I am successful. I have additional dreams and desires like traveling the world,
moving to a big city, being successful in a career, and buying a fancy car. However, my
education and the added bonus of having a Masters brings me closer to the realization of my
dreams and desires. My values are strong and foundational and, because of this, I will establish
my goals.
Prompt #4: Lemming Debrief: Think about the structures in your life – select two or three
and discuss how each of these structures influence your life, the way you view the world, the
way you relate to others, and your ability to be effective.
Looking at my life through a structural approach or lens it is clear to me that my religion/faith is
the foundation. This foundation has been taught by my family through events like going to
church, tithing, being baptized, and celebrating the true meaning of Christmas and Easter. It is
a structure that continues through my work ethics. Having strong values allow me to be an
effective leader because I lead through these care pieces of who I am. I can identify with my
employees and connect with them through my values. I keep my values in the front of my mind
while selecting the staff to work with me, the way I associate with them through their work day,
and during difficult transactional situations.
Prompt #5: Make some connections between the Lemming Dilemma and the HBR article “Do
your commitments match your convictions?” In particular, comment on “inertia” with respect
to the structures in your life. Elaborate on the positive and negative aspects of inertia with
respect to living a values-centered life.
In the HBR article called “Do your commitments match your convictions?” I really took the time
to find and understand what it is that I actually do that adds stress. Commitments are things
that we sometimes do to ourselves and sometimes they are based on our careers, family, or
other aspects of our lives. One of the standouts for this article was regarding our daily and
seemingly insignificant but important commitments. The article says, “For the rest of us,
however our most important commitments are results of mundane decisions we make about
how to allocate our money, time, and energy. Because these decisions are individually small, it
is easy to lose sight of them, and when we do, a gap can grow between what we value and
what we do.” The act of paying these bills, creates structure to your life, your family, and helps
move your career which would fall in line with the structural aspects of my life. Living a valuescentered life can be a challenge at times, especially when I have to deal with someone who
does not have the same values or care much for any type of value structure.
Prompt #6: Imagine that your life exists exactly the way that you want it to be, right at this
moment – regardless of what you believe is actually possible. What do you see? Where are
you? Who are you with? What do you do with your time? Be specific. Also, what underlying
personal meaning, values, personal characteristics, desires are represented and/or satisfied in
that life?
This is a dreamer question and I do this all the time. My dream life would be different in some
ways from my actual life, but I would not want to eliminate or change some things. Although I
believe that my life has taught me a lot and I will carry those lessons with me, my dream life
would certainly run smoother. In my dream life I have already graduated with my MBA and am
a successful advertising agent that consults for large companies like Nike. I own a place in Italy,
specifically Rome, but am be working and living primarily in New York City. I live in a beautiful
high rise apartment that is filled with lovely but cozy furniture. The work I do has me traveling
all over the world and I have learned a great deal about different cultures because of it. I am
very successful and am a strong female leader. My core values of integrity and faith have not
changed. I am still very religious and am involved in my church community as often as I can be.
I am also still very close with my family and celebrate every holiday together.