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[Ep 204]\n\n\n\nMy son participates in value debate. The competitors take either the affirmative or negative stance on a resolution and argue for or against it based on a value. The judge determines which side best upholds their value.\n\nI\u2019ve served as a judge for these debates many times, and the more I listen to these clashes, the more I\u2019ve come to realize we make decisions based on personal values all the time in our everyday lives.\n\nJust as an example, I\u2019ve talked with the kids about this, and let\u2019s say they\u2019ve gotten an invitation to a quiet gathering with close friends where they\u2019ll just hang out and chat. But then they receive another invitation on the very same night to a fun activity, like a concert, with people they don\u2019t know as well.\n\nHow do they choose?\n\nThey can decide based on what they value more: time with close friends doing something quiet or a chance to attend a concert. Which is the higher value at that time in their lives?\n\nPersonal values form the core of our decisions and are critical to determining our ROI.\nA Writer\u2019s Values\nAs writers, we could take on countless tasks and sign up for numerous activities, all of which bring various results.\n\nSo we bring in the idea of our return on investment, or ROI. If we invest something of ourselves\u2014time, money, resources, energy\u2014what are we getting back from it? What\u2019s the result\u2014the return\u2014on that investment?\n\nOur values are behind it all, at the core of our choices. Whether we realize it or not, we inevitably return to our values to determine our ROI.\n\nDoes any given activity and the investment it requires fit with what we value most?\nKnow Your Values\nWe all have deep-seated values, whether we\u2019re aware of them or not and whether we\u2019ve ever identified them or articulated them or not.\n\nThey may be high-level, ethical values\u2014like not hurting someone else in your pursuits.\n\nOr they may be smaller, personal values, like carving out time each day to exercise.\n\nIn part one of A Writer\u2019s Guide to ROI, I shared how Crystal Paine determined if her time devoted to a task or activity was worth it. For her, the time invested must result in money and helping people\u2014that\u2019s how she knows it\u2019s worth devoting time to a project or task. She\u2019s come to value that as a business owner.\nWhat Are Your Values as a Writer?\nAs you see, one of her values is helping people.\n\nYou may share that value. As a writer, you may long to help people with your ideas and solutions.\n\nYou may have other values, as well. You may value the satisfaction of producing something creative or taking the risk to delve into a personal struggle so you can share it with others so they might find hope.\n\nYou may value storytelling as an art form and strive to write beautiful narratives.\n\nYou may value poetry and commit to daily practice regardless of whether your final versions end up in a literary magazine.\n\nKnowing your values helps determine the ROI of an activity.\nWhen Values Are Revealed\nBut sometimes your personal values may not be easy to identify. You may not have articulated them.\n\nOur values have a way of revealing themselves as we take action.\n\nYou get to a certain level of success or achievement and realize, wait, this isn\u2019t what you thought it was going to require or feel like.\n\nThis isn\u2019t aligning with your values.\n\nThis isn\u2019t what you want.\nJeff Goins\u2019 Story\nThis happened to Jeff Goins.\n\nFor years as a blogger, Jeff created content about writing, publishing, and creativity. Over time, he decided to build this part-time pursuit into a business, and it grew. He hired employees and farmed out some of the articles he used to write to other freelancers.\n\nBut he was stressed out with the work of managing it all. He reached out to Seth Godin, who reminded Jeff that he didn\u2019t have to do this\u2014he didn\u2019t have to build a business. But if he wanted to build a business, he had to commit to that work.\n\nJeff then reached out to business coach Casey Graham,