From John Blumberg’s Introduction to GOOD to the CORE.

Especially when it comes to the core. And trying to live something that at best is vague, or at worst doesn’t actually exist, is virtually impossible! I always assumed you could give most professional adults a blank sheet of paper and ask them to write down their core values, and with minimal effort they could list them. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Very few can.

My assumption that outstanding college students know their personal core values delivers similar dismal results.

When you ask most professionals to write down their organization’s values …the likelihood of them listing the values correctly gets even slimmer.

I am not the only one making an assumption.

In fact, many of us just assume we know our values. Some will say, “I have a gut feeling about my values.” Or they might say, “I generally understand my company’s values.” I would say a “gut feeling” or a “general understanding” is a dangerous formula in a world that is moving exponentially faster each day.

It is dangerous for both yourself and for the organization where you work.

My hope is this little book will challenge you to search inside.
1. To investigate the value of knowing your core values.
2. To indicate your own core values.
3. To integrate your core values into the fabric of your life.

I hope you can simultaneously experience this book on two different but related perspectives.

First, from a personal perspective: exploring your personal core values. In doing so, you will be more valuable to your family, your community and certainly within the organization in which you work.

Second, from an organizational perspective: thinking about the values that are the fabric of the culture in which you work. Do they exist? How well are they known? How consistently are they lived? Most importantly, my wish as you, is you experience a sense of hope, desire and confidence. Values have a way of revealing the truth. As truth would have it…we build value through values.

And the real truth is we can all be good to the core!