In her HuffPost article “How to Live With Purpose, Identify Your Values, and Improve Your Leadership,” Anne Loehr argues that purpose becomes practical when we first name a handful of values and then use them to guide our daily choices. Framing decisions through values turns “purpose” from a vague idea into a repeatable process. Before committing, we should ask how well the option fits what matters most and choose accordingly. When read alongside the course material “Why Ethical People Make Unethical Choices” by Ron Carucci, Loehr’s argument becomes clearer. Purpose isn’t just about feeling fulfilled; it’s about creating conditions where our choices consistently reflect what we stand for. Loehr’s advice reminds me to slow down before making significant commitments and quickly check my values. When I pause to ask if an opportunity aligns with my top priorities, I avoid overcommitting to projects that seem impressive but would crowd out mentoring and community work. That brief moment of alignment doesn’t remove trade-offs but makes them visible.

Loehr’s emphasis on clarifying values complements Carucci’s warning about environments that quietly push good people toward bad decisions. Carucci writes, “Creating a culture in which people freely speak up is vital to ensuring people don’t collude with, or incite, misconduct.” Loehr offers the personal practice of naming and rating our values, while Carucci explains why organizations must reinforce these practices systematically. Both texts reflect current news about workplace scandals and burnout. When targets or incentives overpower values, it may cause cultures to drift. However, when people have the words for their values and feel free to express them, trust grows and a more positive relationship between people creates opportunities in the future. I observe this in service organizations and local nonprofits that begin meetings by revisiting their shared values. Volunteers stay longer because the work connects to something meaningful, which would allow more people to get the appropriate help and achieve their fullest potential.

Loehr, A. (2014, May 6). How to live with purpose, identify your values and improve your leadership. HuffPost. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-to-live-with-purpose_b_5187572

Carucci, R. (2016, December 16). Why ethical people make unethical choices. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2016/12/why-ethical-people-make-unethical-choices