How to Best Gauge What You Value
And what to do with your knowledge
Our values shape our behavior.
They govern every choice we make, in relationships, our purchases, what we eat, where we live, and how we vote. We gauge our values by noticing how we invest our time and money.
Our values are as unique as our eye color. What you consider valuable, I might find unimportant and vice versa. Our life situations, economic status, upbringing, and media exposure shape our values.
Marketers target potential customers by discovering what we value. If you find value in the product or service, you’ll be more likely to buy it. Companies assure us we’ll like what they offer by selling the idea in a colorful package or description. Politicians market their ideas every time they campaign.
Although artists, musicians, and authors may see their craft as a creative work from the heart, we’re also marketing ideas. As writers, we cater to the values of our readers. If a story doesn’t bring value to our readers, they stop engaging and move on to something that will.