{"id":50100,"date":"2026-02-06T19:24:48","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T18:24:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.niv-now.de\/?p=50100"},"modified":"2026-03-25T20:51:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T19:51:13","slug":"how-to-find-your-values-and-why-theyre-the-key-to-a-fulfilling-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/niv-now.com\/de\/career-change\/how-to-find-your-values-and-why-theyre-the-key-to-a-fulfilling-career\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Find Your Values \u2013 And Why They’re the Key to a Fulfilling Career"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Story of the Burnt-Out Engineer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Meet Thomas. Senior Software Engineer at a well-funded startup. Great salary, cutting-edge tech stack, respected by his peers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But every Monday morning, he’d stare at his laptop and feel… nothing. Just dread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I thought I loved coding,” he told me in our first session. “I’ve been doing it for 12 years. But now I hate opening my laptop. Am I just burnt out? Should I quit tech entirely?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So I asked him: “When was the last time you felt truly energized at work?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He thought for a moment. “Two years ago. I was mentoring three junior developers. Watching them grow, building their skills, seeing them ship their first features. That was… really fulfilling.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“And now?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Now I just ship features. Solo. Fast. Efficient. Empty.<\/strong>“<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s when we discovered his core value: helping others grow.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The coding wasn’t the problem. The isolation was. For two years, Thomas had been optimizing for efficiency and output \u2013 but completely ignoring what actually energized him: mentorship and impact on others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Six months later, Thomas leads a small team. He still codes, but spends 50% of his time mentoring and unblocking others. Same company. Same base salary. Completely different energy.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What changed wasn’t his job. What changed was his clarity about what he was actually working FOR.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe you’re in a similar place. Doing work that looks good on paper but feels hollow inside. Or maybe you’re at a crossroads, trying to figure out which path to take. Either way, this article is for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Are Personal Values, Actually?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let’s start with what values are NOT:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Values \u2260 Goals<\/strong>
“I want to earn \u20ac100K” is a goal. “Financial security” is a value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Values \u2260 Roles<\/strong>
“I’m a good parent” is a role you play. “Family connection” is a value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Values \u2260 What You Think You Should Value<\/strong>
“I should care about career advancement” is a should. “Growth and mastery” is a value (if it’s truly yours).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what ARE values?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Values are your internal compass. They’re the principles that guide your decisions, shape your behavior, and determine what fulfills you. When you honor your values, you feel aligned, energized, authentic. When you violate them \u2013 even in small ways \u2013 you feel off, drained, maybe even resentful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s the problem:<\/strong> Most people don’t actually know their values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They know their parents’ values. Their company’s values. Society’s values. But their own? Those often remain unexamined \u2013 until a crisis forces the question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why Values Are Everything in Your Career<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Understanding your values changes everything about how you navigate work:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. They Fuel Intrinsic Motivation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When your work aligns with your values, you don’t need external carrots (bonuses, promotions) to stay motivated. The work itself energizes you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example:<\/strong> If “learning” is a core value, a challenging project excites you. If “stability” is a core value, that same project might stress you out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. They Simplify Decision-Making<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Should you take the promotion? Change industries? Say yes to that project?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know your values, decisions become clearer. Not always easy \u2013 but clearer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example:<\/strong> Job offer A pays more. Job offer B offers more autonomy. If “freedom” is your top value, the choice is obvious (even if scary).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. They Predict Job Satisfaction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Research shows that value-job fit predicts satisfaction better than salary, title, or even work-life balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Translation:<\/strong> You can earn great money in a misaligned role and still feel miserable. Or earn less in an aligned role and wake up energized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. They Prevent Burnout<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Burnout isn’t just about workload. It’s about value violation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you consistently act against your values (e.g., you value “integrity” but have to compromise it daily), your nervous system registers threat. Over time, this leads to exhaustion, cynicism, detachment \u2013 the classic burnout triad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. They Help You Find Cultural Fit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A company can have amazing perks but a toxic culture (for you). Or basic perks but a culture where you thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The difference? Value alignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example:<\/strong> If you value “collaboration,” a hyper-competitive culture will drain you \u2013 no matter how good the ping-pong table is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Three Dimensions of Work Values<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Research on human values suggests values operate along different dimensions. Building on frameworks like Simon Dolan’s “Coaching by Values” and Self-Determination Theory, I use a three-axis model<\/strong> that’s incredibly useful for career clarity:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Axis 1: Self (Identity, Autonomy, Growth)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Core question:<\/strong> What do I need to feel like myself and keep growing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Values in this dimension:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n