"From Values to Action"

Could have just as easily been subtitled
"Four principles of values-based living"

Last winter, I heard Northwestern faculty member Harry Kraemer give a talk about the importance of discovering one's values through intentional self-reflection. Otherwise, it's too easy to lose sight of the life we actually want to lead. He was giving away copies of his book "From Values to Action" afterward and I picked one up, interested to see what a business-oriented book had to say about values.

Kraemer's four principles:

First and most important is self-reflection. At the end of each day, Kraemer asks himself a series of questions and writes his answers in a journal. What did I think I would do today? What did I actually do? If there was a difference, why? What went well and what didn't? Am I proud of the way I treated people? What would I do differently? What did I learn that will affect how I live tomorrow? He's been doing this for decades, which is pretty inspiring!

Next, balance and perspective. Do you have a balanced life, allocating your time and energy in a way that's consistent with your values? Are you interested in what other people are thinking and understand that their perspectives might have something to teach?

Third, what he calls true self-confidence. Can you perceive yourself accurately and understand your strengths and weaknesses? Do you accept yourself the way you are, yet still have the drive to keep growing as a person?

Finally, genuine humility. Do you remember where you came from, acknowledge the role of luck, and recognize that while no one is better than you, that also means you're not inherently better than anyone else?

I've thought about each of these before, though not in the same terms, and the book is a helpful reminder that they can be applied to most of the important decisions we make. Leadership is just the tip of the iceberg.

Verdict: An insightful personal account reinforcing that self-reflection is a prerequisite for self-actualization. Recommended.