Do you know your non-negotiable black sheep core values?

I finished a book today that was really profound in opening my eyes. It convinced me of the necessity to embrace those core values which make me unique by giving me superpowers to pursue a specific purpose.

Brant Menswar’s book, “Black Sheep: Unleash the Extraordinary, Awe-Inspiring, Undiscovered You” would be a wonderful starting point for anyone questioning what they can do after turning 50. It will help you zero in on those things that fire you up to pursue something that would be perfectly in line with your core values.

Brant was correct in noting that many people have been told how important it is to begin with their “why” or answering why something is important to them. They’ve been told that when you know your “why,” the “what” and “how” will be more easily identifiable.

The problem is that the why for wanting to do something can be misleading. Most of us have dozens of things we consider to be important in our lives. In reality, there are only about five or six values that truly define who we are in that they motivate us in a specific course of action.

I know I have “followed my why” multiple times, only to be sadly disappointed to discover I was bored or ineffective in what I was doing. There was no real change to my life or my career. It was super frustrating.

In his book, Brant said it is far more important to examine your non-negotiable core values – those things for which you will never compromise. They form the foundation of who you are as a person, and it includes traits that can’t be altered or changed, even if you tried.

Values baked into your DNA

The traits are almost baked in to your DNA. Brant calls them your “black sheep.”

A black sheep stands out in a field. More importantly, black wool can never be dyed. It is the most authentic part of ourselves.

Yet, when you find those core “black sheep values,” and build your life around them, then amazing things can happen. You stop pretending to be someone you are not, and live a 100% authentic life.

But, finding those core values can be difficult to do. It often takes a lot of personal reflection and honesty to select between those values you aspire to vs. those which truly make up the core of your being.

Brant offers to guide people through a process to get them thinking about their core black sheep values via a free online assessment tool.

It guides you through identifying all those values that are important to you. From there, he guides you through a process to zero in on those five or six truly core values that create what Brant calls a “one of a kind combination that makes you distinct from everyone else on the planet.”

Once you know those core values, you need to confirm that they are uniquely yours and not what you or other people aspire you to be. It’s a tough, but fulfilling process.

You can get started today by visiting https://www.brantmenswar.com/valuesassessment.

My final six black sheep values included: creativity, freedom, originality, faith and knowledge. I am going to retake the test again this weekend to see if I wind up with the same results.

Knowing them is already providing insight into why things have fizzled out in my past. Take jobs for example. I loved the work for a short time because they used my natural talent. But, I quickly got bored because freedom and originality do not fit well with corporate culture today.

Even if you think you know what your core values may be, I encourage you to take the assessment anyway. It’s free, and will either confirm what you’ve suspected all along, or open your eyes to why things haven’t been working out as you had hoped.

Brant’s book is available on Amazon and at other bookstores.

If you order Brant’s book from the link above, Forward From 50 may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.