What are your values? And how do they show up in your life and work?

Using a values card deck, I revisit my values often to see if and how they show up in my life. The deck is a great tool to help narrow down and unpack ones' principles.

Doing a few exercises from the deck, I recently discovered new values and reconnected with old ones.

Here’s my 2025 list in no particular order:

NON-CONFORMITY
To question and challenge authority and norms

I can thank The Clash and other great punk bands for instilling this one in me.

ACTIVISM
To work vigorously toward political or social change

A career long portfolio of projects that create positive change in the world is my form of activism.

CURIOSITY
To desire to learn or acquire knowledge about everything and/or about specific topics

I love using a new client project as an opportunity to learn about an unfamiliar space in order to expand my knowledge.

COLLABORATION
To work with others for a common purpose or good in the creation of something

Collaboration is the new competition, especially for those taking climate action.

CONTRIBUTION
To give time, money, service, or knowledge to make a difference in the world

I volunteer with a number of orgs like Climate Designers and Work on Climate.

LOVE
To treat others with closeness, warmth, and affection

How does love show up more in our work?… love for each other, love for our natural world, love for ourselves?

ENVIRONMENT
To prioritize care for the Earth, our environment, and all living things through your actions

I say this often, "Without ecology, there is no economy."

PURPOSE
To live life with meaning, intention, and direction

I’ve been on my climate journey since 2016 and I don’t see myself doing anything else with my career.

OPTIMISM
To practice hopefulness and confidence about the future and to expect successful outcomes

Designers have the ability to fill people's imagination gap to help them see a climate-positive world.

CREATIVITY
To use imagination to transcend ordinary thinking and generate new ideas

Thinking wrong about the world around us is what fuels my creative work.

Many of these values have been foundational in my life and work. I credit the people in my life in instilling these values in me.

What are your core values and how do they show up in your life and work?