By GVC Marketing
Helping you build a brand that solves real problems.
How to Define Your Core Values for Personal or Brand Use
Most resumes blend in. Most brands sound the same.
If you want to attract better roles, clients, or better alignment, you have to stop selling what you do and start communicating who you are. That starts with your core values, which are the heartbeat of your brand and career. Find your purpose.
Here’s a simple way to uncover your values:
Why Core Values Matter (Even If You’re Not a “Brand Person”)
Core values aren’t just an HR exercise or a filler for mission statements. They’re how people experience you. They drive how you show up in your work, how you lead, how you write, and how you decide what’s worth saying ‘yes’ to.
How to Identify and Define Your Core Values
Think back: What moments made you feel most proud (or angry)?
Look around: What kinds of people or work drain you, or energize you?
Word filter: Pick 3–5 words from a list (we’ll link one) that feel like you.
For example: authenticity, grit, humor, legacy, curiosity. What are you known for?
Hot Tip: If your list includes “integrity,” “collaboration,” and “excellence”—scrap it. Those are corporate clichés. Find words that feel alive to you.
- Look Back at Your Pivotal Moments
- – A time you felt deeply proud
- – A time you felt undervalued or disrespected
- – A decision that still sits right with you today
- – A time you walked away from something for your sanity
- Look for Patterns. What kind of people do I *love* working with?
- What kind of behavior shuts me down fast?
- What kind of work feels like play?
- What can I *not* compromise on?
- Choose 3–5 Real, Lived-In Values
- Not ‘excellence’ or ‘collaboration.’ Try: clarity, candor, creativity, impact, justice, curiosity, humor, growth.
Use Your Values to Power Your Brand & Career
Here are some examples of how to use your core values in your personal brand:
– LinkedIn headline: “I lead with curiosity, candor, and clarity—whether I’m building brands or solving broken messaging.”
– Interview response: “I chose that direction because integrity is a non-negotiable for me, even if it slows things down.”
– Portfolio intro: “Every project here was chosen because it aligned with my values—innovation, empathy, and ownership.”
Why Most People Skip This—and Why You Shouldn’t
People skip defining their values because it feels too “woo.” But without values, your brand is just noise. How can it really help you?
Whether you’re trying to build a band or build a reputation, values are what make you sticky, relatable, and honest.
Want to dig deeper? Learn more about Marketing personal branding with our other blog. I’ve got a quick worksheet to help you define your values (for your band or your brand).