The value ladder is an extremely useful tool to help people
understand their values towards money. Each rung on the ladder
represents a different level of values that are important
to you. As you move up the ladder, the deeper you will need
to probe your values.
The exercise below should take no longer than 15 minutes.
If you find that you are unclear about the type of answers
to fill in on your ladder, read Anita's
value ladder to see how someone else created theirs.
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Step 1
Start with the single most important question:
"What's important about money to me?" Put that answer
in the bottom rung.
Remember to list values that include basic aspirations
such as freedom, happiness, security--not goals that
generally involve specific amounts of money or particular
acquisitions.
Step 2
What's important about (your answer to step
one) to me?
Write this answer on the next rung of the ladder. For
example, if you listed "security" on the first
rung, you may decide what's really important about security
to you is the freedom it gives to do what you want.
For another example, read Anita's
example.
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Step 3
Assume for a moment that the answer you gave in step
2 has become a reality for you. Ask yourself once again, "What's
important about (your answer to step 2) to me?"
Step 4
Continue this process until you reach the top of the
ladder. The only mistake you can make when clarifying your
values is not taking the process far or deep enough.
You are finished when you can no longer think of anything
more important to you than the last value you mention.
Congratulations! Move on to Financial
Goals.
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Clarify
Your Values
