A lot of you reading this may haven’t started your business yet. Maybe you’re just at the beginning stages, or you’re building your team or already have one. If you don’t have core values in place, then you’ve missed an essential step in the foundation. This is why you will hear me say over and over again about your mission statement and values.

OK, let me get back to it. I travel a lot as a vendor selling my apparel for Unapologetic®. For many years, Southwest Airlines was my friend because they allowed me to carry two 50-pound bags free of charge. Let me tell you something that was a game changer for me. I had a bright neon orange suitcase and a bright neon green one, so when they popped up on that conveyor belt, I knew they were mine.

You have to start thinking about your core values. When I was doing my research to write this blog today, I looked up Southwest Airlines’ core values and they align. I am a passenger who has been flying for many years and countless trips, and they are pretty much spot on with these core values. These core values point everybody in the same direction. It influences who you hire and why you hire them everything is part of the process.

Let me briefly go over Southwest’s core values (but let’s simplify them):
   •    A Warrior Spirit: They work hard, stay persistent, and innovate.
   •    A Servant’s Heart: They prioritize kindness, respect, and putting others first.
   •    A Fun LUVing  Attitude: They keep the experience fun and lighthearted.
   •    Integrity: They build trust by doing what’s right, even when it’s hard.
   •    Safety First: They always prioritize the safety and well-being of everyone onboard.

Here’s the takeaway: The values begin with you as the leader, and you build a culture around those values. They are more important than you think.

God Bless The Entrepreneur