According to career coach Ashley Stahl, a crucial step in identifying our dream career is to first pinpoint our Core Values. Core Values are not aspirational; they are not the values that we wish more of in our lives. They are what we are. Hoping for more peace in our lives is not the same as being a peaceful person. Ashley clarifies this concept with an example:
For me, a core value is humor. If you’re a friend of mine and you’re at my house for an hour, and I’m not being funny, they will ask me ’is something wrong?’ Am I still me without this word?
In identifying our core values, we can ask "Am I still me without this word?" Humor, honesty, curiosity, family, activity, community. The things worth building an identity and a life around.
Here are three more:
A great list of core values as they relate to careers, if we need some help getting started
Good examples of Weird Internet Careers
What Rotten Tomatoes data tell us about the best, worst, and most bizarre Hollywood career trajectories