What Are Core Values Examples? 7 Pillars to Define Your Life

Summary: Struggling to define your purpose? Explore seven core values examples to find clarity and build an authentic life aligned with your true self.

Introduction

Struggling to define your purpose? This guide answers the question "what are core values examples" by moving beyond lists to show how values shape real choices. Learn seven practical pillars—Integrity, Innovation, Respect, Excellence, Accountability, Collaboration, and Customer Focus—that can act as your internal compass and help you design a more intentional life.

1. Integrity: The Foundation of Trust

Integrity isn’t just about telling the truth; it’s about living in alignment with your principles even when it’s difficult. It’s the quiet commitment to do the right thing, ensuring your actions consistently mirror your words. A person with integrity builds a life on a solid foundation of trust⁴.

Strategic Analysis: Living Integrity

Integrity acts as an internal compass. When your actions align with your deepest beliefs, you reduce internal conflict and self-doubt. That consistency creates self-trust, which becomes the bedrock for decisions and relationships.

Key Insight: True integrity is tested in small, everyday choices when no one is watching. It’s choosing to return extra change, admitting a mistake before it’s discovered, or honoring a promise to yourself.

This value directly impacts self-worth and how others perceive you. Without it, values like compassion or ambition can feel hollow.

Actionable Takeaways: How to Cultivate Integrity

• Conduct a “Say–Do” audit for a week. Each evening note what you said you’d do and what you actually did. Observe gaps without judgment.
• Define 3–5 non-negotiable ethical principles and review them daily.
• Practice small acts of honesty—these build the muscle for larger challenges.

For a structured way to identify principles that matter most, consider tools like the Life Purpose App: https://lifepurposeapp.com/blog/how-to-discover-your-core-values.

2. Innovation: The Engine of Progress

Innovation is more than a single creative spark; it’s a disciplined pursuit of what’s next. It’s challenging the status quo, embracing change, and learning from failure.

Strategic Analysis: Living Innovation

Innovation is a catalyst for growth and relevance. In a rapidly changing world, the ability to adapt and create is essential. Innovation turns obstacles into opportunities and encourages continuous improvement.

Key Insight: True innovation often arises from a culture of curiosity—asking “What if?” and “Why not?” in everyday situations.

Actionable Takeaways: How to Cultivate Innovation

• Schedule weekly “20% time” to explore passion projects.
• Keep an idea quota to exercise your creative muscle.
• Build a diverse board of advisors to challenge assumptions.

Align innovation with your identity using resources like the Life Purpose App: https://lifepurposeapp.com/blog/how-to-discover-your-core-values.

3. Respect: The Gateway to Connection

Respect is the acknowledgment of another person’s inherent worth. It’s valuing diverse perspectives, creating inclusive spaces, and treating others as you wish to be treated.

Strategic Analysis: Living Respect

Respect lubricates social interactions. Approaching others with genuine respect de-escalates conflict and opens the door to collaboration. When people feel seen and valued, they’re more likely to reciprocate.

Key Insight: True respect shows when you disagree: listen to understand, not just to reply.

Actionable Takeaways: How to Cultivate Respect

• Practice active listening and paraphrase what you heard before responding.
• Assume positive intent to avoid jumping to negative conclusions.
• Seek out different perspectives through books, media, or conversations.

Learn skills for emotional intelligence at https://lifepurposeapp.com/blog/how-to-build-emotional-intelligence.

4. Excellence: The Commitment to Mastery

Excellence isn’t perfection; it’s a continual commitment to deliver your best work and raise your standards. It turns routine tasks into opportunities for improvement.

Strategic Analysis: Living Excellence

Excellence drives growth and resilience. It’s the habit of doing the extra proofread, following up thoughtfully, and practicing a skill a little longer each day.

Key Insight: Excellence is found in the details.

Actionable Takeaways: How to Cultivate Excellence

• Use a “Plus One” rule: do one extra thing to elevate quality.
• Define quality benchmarks by studying leaders in your field.
• Schedule a weekly 30-minute Kaizen review to improve incrementally.

Improve discipline and self-control for consistent excellence: https://dontlooktrash.com/blogs/main-character/how-to-improve-discipline.

5. Accountability: The Engine of Ownership

Accountability is taking ownership of your actions and outcomes without shifting blame. It’s about asking, “What can I do to fix this?” rather than “Whose fault is this?”

Strategic Analysis: Living Accountability

Accountability turns you from a passenger into the driver of your life. Accepting responsibility reclaims the power to change your circumstances and encourages learning from mistakes.³

Key Insight: Accountability is response-ability; it treats mistakes as lessons, not punishments.

Actionable Takeaways: How to Cultivate Accountability

• Monitor your language for blaming phrases and reframe to action-focused statements.
• Set clear ownership zones where you define success and communicate your commitment.
• Conduct after-action reviews: what did you intend, what happened, and what will you change next time?

Explore how personal responsibility fits into your life path at https://lifepurposeapp.com/blog/how-to-discover-your-core-values.

6. Collaboration: The Power of Collective Genius

Collaboration is the belief that a collective mind outperforms individuals. It prioritizes open communication, shared knowledge, and mutual support.

Strategic Analysis: Living Collaboration

Collaboration amplifies potential. Diverse perspectives strengthen outcomes—companies with greater diversity are more likely to outperform their peers². A collaborative environment encourages psychological safety and co-creation.

Key Insight: True collaboration is co-creation. It thrives when people feel safe to share nascent ideas.

Actionable Takeaways: How to Cultivate Collaboration

• Use “Plus-One” brainstorming: add a constructive element before critiquing an idea.
• Create a shared-knowledge hub for projects to make information a collective asset.
• Seek cross-functional input and listen without defending your own view.

Build communication skills at https://lifepurposeapp.com/blog/how-to-improve-communication-skills.

7. Customer Focus: The Heart of the Enterprise

Customer focus places the customer at the center of every decision. It’s understanding needs deeply, exceeding expectations, and building lasting relationships. Small improvements in retention can dramatically boost profitability¹.

Strategic Analysis: Living Customer Focus

Customer focus shifts perspective from “What can we sell?” to “What does the customer need?” Empowering frontline employees to resolve issues on the spot is a clear sign this value is lived, not just stated.

Key Insight: Empowered employees reflect true customer focus—policies that trust frontline judgment make the value real.

Actionable Takeaways: How to Cultivate Customer Focus

• Map the customer journey and identify pain points and moments of delight.
• Empower the frontline with a “make it right” policy.
• Share customer stories at meetings to keep the customer’s voice present.

For a tool that links personal purpose with professional priorities, try the Life Purpose App: https://lifepurposeapp.com.

Core Values Comparison: 7 Key Examples

From Examples to Action: Defining Your Personal Compass

We’ve moved beyond definitions to practical examples of what are core values examples. Use these pillars as a launchpad, then test them against your life experiences and aspirations. The goal is to identify your top 3–5 guiding principles and write a personal definition for each.

Synthesizing Your Personal Code

• Reflect on moments when you felt most proud or aligned. Which values were present?
• Prioritize 3–5 values and define what each means to you personally.
• Integrate deeper frameworks like Dan Millman’s The Life You Were Born to Live or tools such as the Life Purpose App to align values with your life themes.

The Power of a Value-Driven Life

Living by clear core values gives clarity in confusion, strength in adversity, and purpose in daily choices. Values evolve as you grow; revisit them and refine your personal compass as needed.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are core values and why do they matter?

A: Core values are the guiding principles that shape decisions, behavior, and priorities. They matter because they create consistency, build trust, and help you act with purpose.

Q: How do I identify my top core values?

A: Reflect on peak moments, list recurring themes, then prioritize 3–5 values. Write a personal definition for each to make them actionable.

Q: How do I use values to make better choices?

A: Use your top values as a filter: when faced with a decision, ask which option aligns most closely with your defined values and choose accordingly.