Core Values Decision Compass
Define enduring values and use them to steer work and life decisions
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time to result
- ~days to results
- Steps
- 5
- Confidence
- 93%
Brady says she left school without a clear vocation but had identified three core values: ambition, determination, and integrity. She describes values as the qualities that shape who a person is and how they make decisions. The method is to name a small set of enduring qualities, translate each into observable conduct, and compare opportunities against them. A role may change, but the decision compass remains stable: pursue demanding opportunities if they reward effort and independence, while refusing routes that breach integrity. The framework does not predict which career will succeed. It provides a consistent filter when specific goals are unclear, helping a person choose how to act before they know exactly where the path will lead.
Origin
Brady says that at 18 she did not know what career she wanted, but she did know that ambition, determination, and integrity were her core values. She says those values remained the same at 52.
Core principles
- 01Values describe how you choose, not merely what you want
- 02A small set of values can remain useful across changing roles
- 03Independence requires practical choices as well as aspiration
- 04Integrity constrains how ambition is pursued
How to run it
- 1
Collect recurring qualities
Look across difficult choices, proud moments, and repeated behaviour for qualities that consistently matter to you.
Pro tip Use real choices rather than aspirational adjectives.
Watch out A long list is difficult to use as a decision filter.
- 2
Choose the core
Reduce the qualities to a small set that still matters across different roles and circumstances.
Pro tip Brady used three values, but the transcript does not prescribe a universal number.
- 3
Define visible conduct
Write what each value means in action, including what it permits and what it rules out.
Pro tip Pair each value with one recent example.
Watch out A value that never changes a choice is only a label.
- 4
Test the decision
Compare the available options with every core value and identify conflicts explicitly.
Pro tip Ask how the option would look if repeated for several years.
Watch out Values do not remove the need to check facts and consequences.
- 5
Review for consistency
After acting, check whether the decision expressed the values in practice and update your definitions if needed.
Pro tip Review patterns periodically rather than rewriting values after every setback.
In the wild
At 18, Brady says she did not know what she was especially good at or which career she wanted. She nevertheless entered work with ambition, determination, integrity, and a desire for financial independence, using those qualities to guide how she approached her first roles.
→ A behavioural compass gave her direction before she had a specific long-term career plan.
Common mistakes
Choosing decorative values
Words selected for appearance rather than demonstrated behaviour cannot reliably guide a decision.
Ignoring conflicts
Ambition without an integrity constraint can rationalize choices that contradict the stated compass.
Is it for you?
Best for
It is best for people choosing direction when they know how they want to operate but not exactly which role to pursue.
Not ideal for
It is not ideal as a substitute for evidence, specialist advice, or practical constraints in high-stakes decisions.
From the transcript
“core values are the things that sort of make you who you are”
“They are the things that lead you to make the decisions you make”
From the episode
Karren Brady: How To Win At Entrepreneurship & Love (at the same time)