Identify Your Values Increase Your Profit with Jenn Whitmer

A floating petrie dish. That’s what I used to call cruise ships. Yet, we are on a Disney cruise voyage this week because of Disney’s values. (or a short illustration of how values create profit.) In January, I got to listen to a Disney executive speak about the organization in a 30-person retreat. We got to ask lots of questions. And without reviewing my notes, I can tell you how Disney uses its values as a filter for all decision-making. Disney’s four core values are safety, courtesy, show, and efficiency. They aren’t in any random order. When faced with any situation, the first filter is always safety. Or as my friend Erika likes to say as the car climbs the Mine Train, “Disney won’t kill me.” For nearly 26 years, my husband has wanted to go on a cruise. And me? I’m in the floating petrie dish camp. I’m not overly concerned about germs, but my Enneagram Seven self is terrified of being trapped somewhere with a bunch of sick people with no escape. And yet, I’m on a Disney cruise next week. What changed? Transparency of a company's values. Because I experienced Disney’s alignment of its values to actions and my connection to that value, I changed my mind. From I’m not going on a cruise to spending a good deal of cash with Disney. This week on Monday Mentor is another mini-workshop with me about values with some of the research behind why values create better workplace experiences and more profitable companies.