This is uncovering what makes a person unique.  We all have different values that are unique to us in a unique combination. If all of us were soup, what ingredients would make us unique in the recipe: chicken noodle soup is very different from cream of broccoli soup, and likewise we humans are all the same, yet vastly different. Values are personal attributes we want more reflected in our lives and cause our life to be painful if they are not actively reflected in our work, hobbies, relationships, etc. They are (for example): leadership, passion, connection, boldness, risk-taking, creativity, beauty, growth, mastery, love, respect, creativity, adventure, and more. I help people narrow down to their 12 key values through exercises. I have a list of about 50 values people use as a base to review.  Vision is simply designing a life that reflects your values over the long term. Vision is different than dreams or goals and we develop your visions. This first section is an extremely powerful beginning!

Opportunities are like waves that continuously come at us. We are all like surfers who must decide what opportunities to go after and ride. The best opportunities are those that reflect and feed your values. So, for instance, one of my values is Boldness. I often dress boldly. I have my style, I have 25 custom business shirts, and only 1 is white. I sing opera. I’ve owned 7 motorcycles and I don’t like to hide in a corner.  My opportunities are risky and bold, or I get bored. I seldom go backward.

Inspiration means to breathe in (inspire).  It is very unique to each of us, and this section helps people learn what inspires them and how they can be inspiring to others.  Inspiration is key because we all want to be inspired often in our lives but aren’t always clear how or what to do to gain this inspiration….this clarifies it for people.  Inspiration is not enthusiasm (or jumping around). You can be inspired by the peaceful actions of Gandhi, the fiery speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr., the acts of service of Mother Theresa, or the music of Queen….all very different, all very inspiring.

Chiaroscuro is an artistic term for balance between your Head (logic) and Heart (passion). With opera singers, it is the perfect balance between your head voice (that ping to go over the orchestra) and your chest voice (the power to be heard in the back of a 5,000-person stadium with no microphones). In my course, I use it to describe the necessity of making decisions with a perfect balance between your head and logic or heart and passion. If you ignore either, you will suffer. Follow your passion with no research…and go broke.  Go after a logical business to make money and be devoid of joy from 8-5 pm. Life demands both head and heart.

Engagement is both a goal and a barometer.  Are you making things happen, watching things happen, or having no idea what happened in your life? Engagement is being confident you are actively playing on your life stage in every area to develop a genuinely fulfilling life in all major categories: Money, Career, Friends/Family, Significant Other, Fun/Recreation, Personal Environment, Spirituality/Personal Growth, and Health. Ignore living your values in any area, and watch out.