Hey Dear,

Today I want to talk to you about values.

Yes I know. You heard it multiple times.
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You know it's important to identify them.

But have you?
Can you confidently name them?

Because let me tell you something
(and I will die on this hill):

Values are the most important thing when it comes to building a proper career.

Values aren’t some “nice extra” in your career.
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They’re the system underneath everything you choose.

When your work goes against your values, you can still have a “career” on paper, but it feels heavy.

You get tired faster.
You start forcing yourself through the day.
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That’s not because you’re weak.
It’s because the fit is wrong.

Here’s the simple truth:
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Your values decide what success means for you.​
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If you don’t know them, you can climb fast… but in the wrong direction.

When your values are clear, every decision gets easier:
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new role,
promotion,
industry change,
going indie,
staying at a studio.
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You stop asking only, “Can I do it?”
You start asking,
​“Is this right for the life I want to build?”

That’s why values matter.
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Without them, it is very often just a very well-executed mistake.
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With them, you get a steady compass.
And the confidence that comes from discipline, not luck.

The question that reveals more about your career than your entire CV:

“What values drive your decisions?”

During coaching sessions, it nearly always circles back to this (or a similar) question.

And almost every time, the reaction is identical:

A pause.
A small laugh.
A “hmm…”

Then:

“Wow… good question.”
“Honestly? I’ve never really thought about it.”

And these are highly experienced professionals.
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People who ship games, lead teams, and solve complex problems daily.

But when it comes to their values (which are the operating system behind every career decision)
they almost never can just preciesly and quickly voice them out.

So we talk.

And slowly, one by one, we identify what really drives them:

→ Autonomy: “I perform best when I’m trusted, not micromanaged.”
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→ Honesty from leadership: “Just tell me the truth early, even if it’s uncomfortable.”
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→ Transparency: “Tell me what’s going on with the company”
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→ Structure: “I work best when there’s a clear vision and plan”
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→ Growth: “I need to get better every year, or I stagnate.”

You will never find these things in the job description.

But they determine whether you thrive, tolerate… or burn out.

And the moment people say their values out loud, they often realise why their last job felt wrong.

It’s rarely about skills.
It’s about alignment.

When you don’t know your values:

• You fall into system dependency - hoping a company magically fits you
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• You deny radical reality- because you can’t see the mismatch until it’s too late.
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• You drift into self-delusion - you start to blame “culture” without defining your non-negotiables.
  But maybe survival of the fittest was the vibe all along and you just don’t like this?

When you do name your values:

• decisions get lighter
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• red flags become obvious
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• and you gain confidence from discipline - the grounded kind

Values aren’t philosophical. They’re practical.

And this is how quickly you can at least start to identify yours:
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​Write down 5–7 core values

Not vague words.
What’s actually behind them, the behaviours.

“Autonomy” → “I’m trusted to own my work end-to-end.”
“Balance” → “Deadlines are planned, not chaotic.”

Rank your top 2–3 non-negotiables

Doesn't matter what it is.
If a company can’t meet these, the answer is “no,” no matter the salary.

Research companies through a values lens

Look for how they communicate, decide, lead, and treat people.
Don’t believe everything they say on their “about us” website.

Observe.
Patterns = truth.

Ask values-based questions in interviews

Instead of: “What are your values?”

Try:

→ “Tell me about a recent tough decision and how it was communicated.”
→ “What does autonomy look like here in practice?”

Practical questions reveal way more.

If you don’t define your values, your career will always feel heavier than it should.

So let me ask you the same question I ask candidates:

What values actually drive your career decisions?

And when was the last time you said them out loud?
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Wish you a fantastic week,
Patryk

PS.​
They tell you December is not a good month to look for a job, well... I disagree:
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I help people become better than 95% of applicants in 60 days or less.
And because I know how to play this rigged game, things like that happen:

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If you’re job hunting or planning a change, just hit reply to this email,
And let’s see how I can help you land the role you actually want.