Your Values Are Your Biggest Differentiator as a Creator — Here's How to Identify Them

By Jessica Carson

One pass through YouTube or Instagram will tell you: There are a lot of creators out there.

And yet, only a handful of creators will stand out in our minds as being remarkable. It seems to be the exception, not the rule, when a creator is able to successfully hone in on their inimitable essence, package it in an authentic way, and share it with the world to leave a positive impact.

These are the creators who exude their being-ness without forcing their being-ness upon us. Who emanate their uniqueness without performing their uniqueness with all the eagerness of a TikTok dance. We know it when we see it. And when we catch a glimpse, it’s irresistible.

These authentic creators are characterized by just one commonality: They create from a clearly defined and entirely personalized cluster of values.

Values are defined as the principles that we deem important and valuable, which can range from lofty ideals, like empathy and integrity, to more indulgent qualities, like humor and pleasure. Far from being a cutesy intellectual exercise, identifying our values can clarify why we make certain decisions, how we navigate difficult situations, who we choose to spend time with, and more.

While it’s tempting to identify with all aspirational values, the reality is: Most of us have a cluster of values (say, three to five values) that dictate the course of our lives and work.

When we clearly identify, distill, and express this cluster of values, we can't help but give off a magnetic aroma of authenticity. By mindfully determining our select values from a sea of thousands of ideals, we differentiate ourselves at the most core, innate level.

Let’s consider Fred Rogers: From the clothing he wore to the tone of his voice to the themes of his work, his values of compassion, inclusivity, and wonder seeped from him without force or a clever angle. He was his values, and the world adored him for it.

Or Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, who’s beloved online for her rarified blend of perseverance, humor, and feminism. Her inspirational posts are blithely real and agenda-less, leaving the impression that nothing would be better than to share glass of wine with her.

What makes these two creators viscerally different is not their creations. After all, it’s not a stretch to think that Fred Rogers could have created a cardigan brand or Sara Blakely could launch a children’s television show. What makes them distinct is the way they combined and conveyed their unique cluster of values through their creative work.

This leads us to the question: How do we identify our cluster of values and express it through our work?

It’s a task that’s admittedly easier said than done, as our ego tends to get in the way of accurately identifying our values. We often latch onto values that we should identify with, based on our environment, rather than the values that are most potent for us on an instinctual level.

When we overly identify with values from our in-group (from political party to yoga studio), rather than the ones that are most innate for us, our audience will inevitably sense an incongruence — a forcing, angling, or manipulation. This is why some creators feel a bit off: They may be saying the right things, but it doesn’t quite add up.

To get around this, I’ve developed 5 different methods to identify your unique values as a creator: