We’ve always believed that forming a strategy is impossible until you’re clear on what your values and principles are. Without values and principles to guide you, making decisions can seem impossibly difficult. Given how important setting values and principles is to decision making we asked folks we admire to tell us about the values or principles that matter most to them.

Bethany Garrison | Coffee Roaster

Of all the things that matter to us, we place the most value on people. Whether that’s the people who drink our brews or those that grow our coffee, we want to treat each person with the dignity and respect they deserve. We noticed that a lot of people were being turned off by “coffee culture” because of the snobbery that can sometimes creep in, and we knew that was something we could rectify in our little corner of the world. Each person who reaches out or finds us as a market should walk away feeling seen and important; coffee should bring us together. In order to make sure the farmers we buy from are treated fairly, we only pay fair trade or better for the beans we roast. Read more>>

Jamie Kohler | Director/Founder of Animal Assisted Ministry

The value of love and loving others is extremely important to me. I am a Christian and the drive for all that I do comes from the example of my One and only Savior and to love others as He has loved me throughout my life. In this world of hate and chaos, people have lost their love for one another. This is something that animals have always shown to me in my life. No matter what I have done, the mistakes that I have made, or what I look like animals always show me unconditional love and forgiveness. It is so amazing to me how much just showing someone that you love and care for them can be so powerful and healing. Read more>>

Charlese Milford | Author, Podcast Host, & Master Life Coach

I have two, actually. Self-love and self-respect. I believe we set the foundation for how others treat, love, and care for us. Besides, you can’t genuinely love someone more than you love yourself. Without a foundation of self-love and self-respect, I don’t see how one can display these qualities to others. When you love and respect yourself, it naturally leads you to making better choices and decisions for yourself. Read more>>