This video was filmed in Africa on Sept. 15, 2014. The audio is low.  Please turn up the volume so you can hear it more clearly.  I hope you enjoy it.

Hey everyone, it’s Sherold Barr, coming to you from South Africa on the third of our safaris.  Check out the little glimpse of some of the wildlife and the scenery behind me.  I wanted to talk to you today about values and how important they are in your life and your business.  I have three top values in my life and business.

My first value is adventure.  I created my business to support the adventurous life that I wanted to live.  My businesses have been location independent since I started my first business, a boutique PR company, in 1998. It’s important that my husband and I travel, living our lives as we desire.  I work my business around our life.

My business allows me to travel because I have a team of great people who help me.  They also work virtually from their homes.  If not for them, preparing for and during these adventures my work would be crazy making.

Looking back over my career, I realize that I’ve done it backwards much of the time.  I worked ‘hard’ in my business with my personal life coming after that.  Now I want to experience both my business and life fully.  It’s a juggle to do that but worth it.

When you’re starting a business, you are adventuresome in a sense. 

Taking risks is one of the most important things you can do as an entrepreneur.  In both business and in life it’s important to take small, calculated risks.  Being an entrepreneur is like being an adventurer.  You must be determined and face what you’re afraid to do.  This is where courage comes in —  fear plus action equals courage.  It’s important to take small, calculated steps as an entrepreneur to put yourself out there even if you are afraid.  It doesn’t matter what level you are in business – whether you’re starting out or you’ve been in business a long time, as you grow you’ll face new challenges.

My second value is connection and community.  It’s very important for me to feel that I’m connected with online friends, my friends in my community, and all of you that are on my private email list.  Again, this took a backseat in my life because I raised my son and my work took precedence.  My challenge now is to make it a much more balanced part of my life.  This is why I want to create connection and community with you through with my classes and my programs.

My third value is service.  It’s important for me to share the wisdom that I’ve learned from overcoming adversity and fear.  I’ve learned from each dark time in my life how to move through my fears and use the adversity to live a more remarkable life. This is what I want to share with you.  Service is important for me and it’s about generosity and that’s one of the values that I have as well.

What are your top three values? 

I’ve put a values list below for you to help you select your top three values in business and life.  It’s important for you to get clear about your values.  Then as you’re doing your planning for business and life, reflect on those values with everything you want to do so that you create a business that supports your life.

Thank you for being with me here in Africa.  In this video, we staying at Mala Mala Game Reserve near Sabi Sands adjacent to  Kruger National Park.  I’m going to put a link to this game reserve for you to see it.  It is phenomenal here.

So here’s to your values. Here’s to your success.

*Adapted from mindtools.com