TL;DR
Compromising your core values costs more than you think, and it shows in your brand, your reputation, and your self-respect. The businesses people believe in didn’t get there by catering to everyone. They got there by holding the line.
Table of Contents
This was originally sent as a newsletter to the Pixel Perfect community. If you’d like future updates delivered to your inbox, subscribe here.
Never Compromise Your Core Values
In business and in life you will be faced with situations that will test the limits of your value system.
While these tests can be frustrating, they are also needed from time to time.
As we gain more experience, get clearer on what we stand for, and refine our brand position, these tests give us an opportunity to reflect, refine, and sometimes revise.
The key is to have the wisdom to know when to revise and when to hold your ground.
What Does Compromise Look Like?
While every business is unique, here are some situations I have faced:
- Considering sales opportunities with bad-fit clients
- Making unnecessary concessions to satisfy an unreasonable ask
- Not sharing hard truths because you don’t want to hurt feelings
- Holding back your position or staying neutral to make everyone happy
The Consequence of Compromising on Your Core Values
Making compromises on things that don’t align with your core values sacrifices more than you think.
You’re doing a disservice to the customer because deep down you know you’ve agreed to something you stand against.
You’ve weakened your brand identity and damaged your reputation with your existing network and customer base.
And most of all, you have sacrificed your happiness and business success for something you don’t believe in.
Your business is not meant to serve everyone, and that’s OK.
There is a reason brands (both business and personal) develop raving fans.
They have a set of well-defined core values they operate with, and they’re unapologetic about it.
Think businesses like Apple or personalities like Elon Musk.
Love them or hate them, they have drawn a line in the sand and are not wishy-washy about their brand or value system.
My Challenge to You
Take a step back and evaluate the decisions you’re making in life and business.
Are you staying true to your value system, or are you making compromises?
If you are compromising, why?
Our Core Values Define Who We Are
Compromising those values, whether out of fear or a short-term win, will always come with a consequence. And that consequence is resentment and diminished self-respect.
The businesses and brands you respect most didn’t get there by catering to everyone. They got there by standing firmly behind their core values, even when it meant going against the grain. That’s what separates a business people believe in from one that just exists.
