Lost in Your Business? Your Freelancer Core Values Are the Compass You Need.

Tom Dheere
Oct 14, 2014
4 min read

Updated: Oct 9

How Defining Your "Why" Prevents Burnout and Attracts Better Clients

I once took a gig I shouldn’t have.

The money was decent, but my gut screamed "NO!" from the first email. The client was demanding, the script was ethically questionable, and the whole process was a soul-sucking slog. The autopsy was clear: I ignored my core values for a quick payday, and the real cost was my time, my energy, and my sanity.

That cautionary tale is why I’m so adamant about this topic. As a freelancer, you are the CEO, the marketing department, and the janitor. Without a clear internal compass, it's incredibly easy to get lost, chase shiny objects, or burn out completely. That compass is built from your freelancer core values.

What Exactly ARE "Core Values" (And What They Aren't)

Many people confuse values with morals or ethics. While they can overlap, they aren't the same thing.

Morals & Ethics are often about right vs. wrong.
Values are about what is most important to you.

They aren't inherently good or bad; they are the principles that guide your decisions. A commitment to "Creativity" is a value. A dedication to "Financial Security" is a value. A need for "Independence" is a value.

The problem is, most freelancers have never actually sat down to define them. We just stumble into the business, bringing our personal values along for the ride, and wonder why we feel so conflicted when a client asks us to do something that feels… off.

A Simple Exercise to Uncover Your Values

To manage the risk of career dissatisfaction, you need data. Let's perform a quick diagnostic. I adapted this exercise from a great article on Mind Tools years ago, and it's still the most effective tool I've found.

Step 1: Answer these three questions.

Think about your career. When were you the happiest and most engaged? What were you doing? Who were you with?
When did you feel the most proud? What accomplishment filled you with a sense of "I built that"?
When did you feel the most fulfilled and satisfied? What work didn't feel like work at all?

Step 2: Circle the values that resonate with your answers.

Based on those moments of pride and fulfillment, look at the list below. Don't overthink it. Quickly circle the top 10-15 words that jump out at you as being essential to those peak experiences.

Step 3: Prioritize Your Top 5.

Now for the hard part. Look at your circled words and force-rank the top five. This is your new business filter. These five values are your non-negotiables.

Putting Your Freelancer Core Values to Work

This isn't just a feel-good exercise. This is a powerful strategic tool. Your top five values should dictate everything:

Your Mission Statement: Does your mission statement reflect what's truly important to you? If not, rewrite it.
Client Vetting: Does a potential client's project align with your values? If your #1 value is "Honesty" and they want you to voice a misleading ad, that's an easy "no."
Negotiating Rates: If you value "Financial Security" and "Respect," you'll stop accepting lowball offers because you'll understand that doing so violates your own principles.
Marketing: If you value "Authenticity" and "Community," your marketing will feel less like selling and more like connecting with like-minded people.

The ROI of this exercise is massive. You'll waste less time on bad-fit clients, feel more confident in your decisions, and build a business that doesn't just make money, but also brings you fulfillment.

So, what are your values? Are they reflected in the freelancer business you're building today?

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