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When Values Lead the Way: A Fresh Approach to Goal Setting for Ambitious Women

Imagine standing at the helm of your career, surrounded by sticky notes, to-do lists, and calendar notifications that seem to multiply by the minute. Your achievements speak volumes, yet something feels missing. If this resonates, you're not alone. As successful women, we're masters at setting and crushing goals, but often at the cost of our wellbeing and joy.


The Hidden Cost of Achievement Without Alignment

Let me share a story that might feel familiar. When I first met Joyce (name changed for privacy), she was sitting in my office, exhausted yet accomplished – a partner at a prestigious law firm who had achieved every goal she'd set for herself. Her office wall displayed impressive credentials, but her eyes told a different story. Her eyes showed the exhausted days, sleepless nights, ovewhelm with juggling all the demands and hiding it all behind a confidence bravado hiding the fear of not good enough. Like many high-achieving women, she had mastered the art of checking boxes but had lost touch with what truly mattered to her.


The Power of Slowing Down to Speed Up

Twenty years ago, I found myself in a similar position. Fresh from leaving my secure full-time job to build a counseling practice, I was consumed by excitement and self-doubt in equal measure. My dream of building a group practice felt both exhilarating and overwhelming. I fell into the trap that many ambitious women do – trying to do it all, read everything, implement every strategy, until my business became all-consuming. My relationships suffered, joy became a distant memory, and burnout knocked at my door.


The turning point came through a simple act: journaling. In the quiet moments with my thoughts, I realized I needed to slow down to speed up. This counterintuitive approach revealed a truth that would transform my practice and my life: success without values is like a ship without a compass – you might move fast, but are you heading in the right direction?


The Values-First Approach to Goal Setting

Traditional goal-setting frameworks often focus on the what and how, but rarely address the why. When we lead with our values, we create goals that not only drive success but sustain our energy and passion. Here's how to begin:


Step 1: Uncover Your Core Values


Take a moment to reflect on times when you felt most alive and fulfilled in your career. What values were being honored in those moments? For me, it was integrity, generosity, creativity, and connection. These became my non-negotiables, my filters for every decision.


Step 2: Audit Your Current Goals


Look at your existing goals through the lens of your values. Does that prestigious speaking engagement align with your value of impact? Does taking on another client honor your value of balance? This audit often reveals why certain achievements feel hollow while others energize us.


Step 3: Design Value-Aligned Goals


Rather than setting goals based on external expectations or industry standards, start with your values. For instance, if connection is a core value, how might that shape your approach to growing your team or serving your clients?


The Art of Saying No to Say Yes

One of the most powerful lessons I learned in my journey was that values give us permission to say no. When I reconnected with my values, I could finally tune out the noise – the conflicting advice, the "should-dos," the strategies that didn't align with how I wanted to build my business. This clarity was liberating and energizing.


From Burnout to Breakthrough

Values-based goal setting isn't just about achieving more – it's about achieving what matters. When we align our goals with our values, we naturally create sustainability. Burnout becomes less likely because we're operating from a place of authenticity rather than obligation.


Your Turn: Creating Your Values-Based Success Plan

1. Schedule a "values date" with yourself. Find a quiet space, bring your journal, and reflect on what truly matters to you.

2. Identify your non-negotiable values. What principles do you want to guide your next chapter?

3. Review your current goals and commitments. Which ones align with your values? Which ones might need to be reimagined or released?

4. Create new goals that honor your values while stretching your potential.


Remember, as I learned in my own practice, your values are your true north. Twenty years later, they continue to guide every decision in my business. When in doubt, return to them. They'll never lead you astray.


Moving Forward with Purpose

The most successful women I know aren't just goal-setters – they're value-driven leaders who understand that true achievement comes from alignment. By reconnecting with your values, you're not just setting yourself up for success; you're creating a sustainable path to impact and fulfillment.


Your values are your superpower. Use them wisely, return to them often, and watch as they transform not just what you achieve, but how you feel along the way.


Want help setting value-driven goals? I’ve created a FREE course just for you! 


Cecilia Mannella



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