Speaker #0It's easy to sort of kid yourself that it's a nice to have, well, it would be nice to do something that was more in line with my values, but it's essential because it erodes us. When we do work and we commit so much of our life and our energy to work that isn't aligned with our values, it has a real cost and it never actually works. If your career looks great on paper, but feels wrong in your bones, you're not alone. Welcome to From Corporate to Calling, your lifeline into meaningful work. I'm Alyssa Murphy, a regenerative business mentor and former startup CEO who walked away from corporate systems to create work that brings life. Each week I share stories, reflections, and provocations to help you recognize the signs of burnout and make a career change with purpose. If work looks good but feels wrong, this is your invitation to get out of corporate and into your calling. Welcome back to From Corporate Into Calling. Today we are going to talk about why values first work is rare and what you can do about it. So this episode is for you if you feel drawn to values-led, human-centered, meaningful work and you're really feeling the frustration about how how few of those opportunities seem to be available and how few organizations there are that you can even think about reaching out to or wanting to join. And I am going to share my experience of working with a company that is consistently and over the course of many years values first in a very challenging sector where most companies are taking a really dominant kind of muscle and power talks approach. And I'm going to talk about the choices that they make that make this kind of company possible. Then at the end, I'm going to explain why it is so hard to find this kind of organization and why what you do next is really not about getting better, about finding opportunities. It's absolutely not. Let's all breathe a sigh of relief together about polishing or reworking your CV or having to pump out. even more content or like really work your network hard. It's a difference in approach, it's a change of mindset and it comes down to a critical decision that most people postpone for years. So I'm going to outline exactly what that decision is at the end. All right so let's start with my experience. I have just come back in the last couple of days from being on retreat in the hack mountains. with this incredible company that I mentioned. When I tell people I've done this job, this is my third time now that I've been out on their strategic winter retreat. And when I tell people about this kind of January gig that I have, people's reaction is just this kind of like disbelief about what it is that I do. So they're like, hold on, you're telling me that you are going to the Czech Republic, you're going to go up into the mountains, you're going to stay in a chalet. You're going to go out hiking and... beautiful scenery you're going to share food and meals with this company you're going to enjoy these conversations and you're going to lead them in some you know visualizations and meditations and self-reflection and I'm like yes that is what I get to do and I am incredibly lucky and privileged to do that work and so grateful to this company for trusting me and inviting me back again and again but actually that isn't the angle that I want to share with you today. I don't want to talk about so much about my role and kind of how I came to doing that kind of work. I really want to focus on the company itself and why it is that a company that I'm not going to name them. You may well, if you know me well, you'll already know my relationship with them. But this is a group of investors in impact investing And it is incredibly rare. in any sector, but I would say particularly in any kind of financial flow kind of business, to come across a company that is willing to make that kind of time and resource investment. So they are taking the entire team up to the mountains for three days where they will do no kind of business as usual at all. They are investing in someone like me to come and help kind of deepen that experience. and do the sort of interpersonal work that the company is really committed to. Like that is actually the really... astonishing thing here, to have a company that will operate like that. And the thing is that this company knows that people will do their most impactful work when they feel deeply alive inside of their work, when they are doing work that has real purpose, purpose that connects with the kind of world that they want to live in and the challenges. that they see around them. That is incredible fuel for continuing to show up to challenging work day after day, year after year. So let's go behind the scenes and dig a little deeper. And I'm going to explore the question of what it takes to actually run an organization like that, to be the kind of company that believes in people in that way, and that puts its values first. every single time. Now, I have known this company for at least 10 years. I knew them in kind of a completely different relationship previously when I was running my communications agency in the climate tech space. They do a lot of investing in the climate tech space. And we connected, actually, the founder and I connected by being the kind of outlier speakers at several events. and their company would come and do really fun and different things when they presented at events. I remember once seeing them form a human pyramid, which was quite something. And I would come and I would do these kind of quite different inspirational talks. And I would kind of really challenge the founders in the room to think about kind of meaning and why and vision and storytelling. And that's how we initially created. And we did some collaborations over the years where My company supported some of their portfolio companies. But then the really astonishing thing from my personal perspective was that when I sold my company to my team and I took a step back from the kind of daily operational work and I trained in coaching and working with the subconscious mind and I was hosting various different retreats and playing around with kind of experiences that I could create for people. This company completely came with me on that journey. They just kind of went. hey we love what you're doing now come and do that with us instead like let's try this together let's explore together and that's you know kind of a personal aside but it's just something that I feel so deeply grateful for and I think just really gives me hope and I want to sort of share this with people that when you build really meaningful relationships people will come with you on your journey. And I actually hear this from clients. quite a lot. It's not the point of today's podcast, but I want to just take a moment to land on this because I think it's really important. I often hear clients, you know, when they've stepped out of a corporate world and they've built their own offering and they want to reconnect with contacts from the past. And they want to do that as the person they are now with the offer they've now developed with the vision that they're building. And they see this huge mismatch and they really worry that people aren't going to understand the journey or the evolution that they've been on. And in my experience, when you have really people first relationships, when you really understand each other as two humans, you know, who care deeply about things, you can really build connections where actually they're just going to be so excited about what you're doing next. You know, they are often I think you find that people aren't kind of surprised. at all. You know, you expect them to maybe say, wait, you quit that amazing corporate job that you had and you've gone out on your own and you're building this thing that hasn't been done before. And actually, often the reaction is, well, of course you're doing that. I always expected you to do something like that. How can I help? How can I be a part of this? So that's an aside about when you get the opportunity to really build relationships and what it can unlock for you. But back to my relationship with this company. So as I said. as I moved into kind of coaching and hosting retreats, they invited me. actually began in COVID times to do some online sessions with the team really about kind of exploring their own knowledge and wisdom of themselves in different ways beyond the sort of rational logical thinking that they might be trained in as investors and then once COVID had passed they invited me to come out and to do these strategic retreats with them in the winter and also be part of their summer community events that they do. as well. So I have had the opportunity to be very much behind the scenes or under the hood with this company. And while of course, I'm not going to share any specifics, I can talk about the kind of guiding principles that I see at play in this kind of company, because I've seen these things over and over again in conversations that I have been a part of both internal conversations and conversations with strategic partners and with portfolio companies so this is really how this company lives this is not kind of um you know lip service to company culture this is not anything that's being done for some kind of uh employee branding or some kind of pr value this is who they are and i think this only works when being values first is really in the dna of a company So here are some of the things that I see about how this can work, how you can actually build a really successful and resilient values-first organization. And the first thing is that I think there is an enlightened understanding of time and thinking very strategically about time. So what I mean by that is that This company has a very sort of long term view of what impact means. And anyone who's worked in kind of venture capital space will know that that is extraordinarily rare to have that kind of long term thinking. But when they think about impact, what I often hear them talking about is not, you know, how what kind of return might be had in the next quarter or the next year. It's about what legacy are they leaving for their children? They talk a lot about... the children of the company. And there's a real sense of, you know, whether people have their own children or not, that the next generation is really who they are doing this work for, the kind of world that they want to leave behind. And I really feel that we could all benefit from expanding our ideas of impact beyond what we want to see in the next quarter or the next year, or sort of short-term results into much longer-term thinking. You know, whether that's thinking about building a work life for ourselves that is going to sustain us well into older age whether that is thinking about building something that other people can take over with time and take forward as I did when I sold my company to my team and you know that that company will be belong to whoever works for it for I hope generations to come or whether it's thinking about the the sort of real world impact in terms of not what... just as measurable right now, which of course is really important that you do have that kind of robust, quantitative kind of approach to work, but also thinking about what you're making possible for future generations. I think that's a really beautiful thing. Not thinking of time in such a linear way, but really expanding our understanding of time and impact. The second thing I see is really strong boundaries. around values. And I think that boundaries really are one of the most important ways that we live and work our values. And what that means in this company is I have seen them, you know, walk away from deals or relationships where that values alignment is just not in place. And it's difficult to overstate how rare that is. And in my own experience, one of the things that I was proudest about at my previous company, LifeSize, was that we were willing to walk away from clients or relationships where that values alignment piece wasn't there because we understood the cost of working when the values piece is not there. And I see that with this organization. The cost is so high. when you are doing work that does not align with your values, whether you are an agency, whether you are an investor, whether you are just an individual inside of an organization, and you have that feeling, you just know in your bones that the values piece is just missing for you. And it's... It's easy to sort of kid yourself that it's a nice to have, you know, well, it would be nice to do something that was more in line with my values, but it's essential because it erodes us when we do work and we commit so much of our life and our energy to work that isn't aligned with our values. It has a real cost and it never actually works in the long term. You know, those clients, those relationships don't last. Those investments don't come to fruition. You know, that employment will not stay the course if those values are not in place. And living our values requires having very clear boundaries about the kinds of work that we're not willing to do, the kinds of organizations or people that we're not willing to work with. What are your non-negotiables? It's a really great question to explore. And you have the right to explore that question and set those boundaries because values are essential. to a healthy, happy, joyful life and work. The third thing I've already talked about a little bit, putting people at the centre of everything. Again, this sounds so simple, but just look around at the world of work and ask yourself where you are actually seeing this being lived. What organisations out there are actually acting as if people are the centre? of what they do. Because what I see, particularly in the corporate space, is organizations acting as if people are just completely expendable. They're just a line item that they may need to cross out or occasionally invest in more. I mean, we're seeing so many mass layoffs. And it's absolutely heartbreaking to see that happen, to see people who have committed so much kind of passion and energy to work just to be told by a text message at three o'clock in the morning that it's all over. You know, by contrast, this organization that I was working with, they know they are nothing without their people and they invest accordingly. You know, they invest the time in nurturing these people. They invest in training and development. And again, not in a kind of tokenistic way, in a really essential way. They have been doing huge amounts of work around kind of understanding family constellations and systems work and they're inviting everybody into those experiences. As I say, they take three days every January to go up into the mountains to invite somebody like me along to work alongside them. They know that they are absolutely nothing without those people and every organisation should understand that, but they don't. That is not most people's lived experience and it makes a world of difference. And then the fourth aspect that I see is that they are so willing and eager to learn from outside of the kind of business canon. You know, so their learning is not happening in conventional channels or from conventional people. As I just mentioned, they're doing this incredible work around systems work, family constellation work. You know, they bring me into. to offer completely different experiences and work with the subconscious mind. I've seen them work with loads of different practitioners over the years coming from different spaces. I was with them when they learned from a friend of the podcast, Ryan James. You can go back to some, I think it's maybe episode three and four, where I did an interview with him. And he came to the organization to share his experience from living with indigenous or original people communities. And to help to challenge their worldview. And they are so open to being challenged and expanded and learning from new sources. And every summer, as I said, they host this amazing community event where they offer out those experiences to their wider ecosystem. And that is a really beautiful thing to see. And all of these things that I have mentioned, you know, the different thinking about time, the boundaries defined by values, putting people at the center of everything and learning from outside of kind of conventional business paths is so rare. And it's such a contrast with the environment that they're operating in. As I said, the environment they're operating in is one that would tell you that being the strongest player in the room is how you win. Being dominant, using your muscle, using your power, the kinds of things that they have to deal with on a daily basis are... quite astonishing. You know, they are surrounded by people who are just purely driven by profit and return and to hold on to who they are and to their values and support their people in that kind of environment. is really, really exceptional and an absolute privilege to be a part of. But it's such a shame, isn't it, that that is such a rare experience? Because don't all of us want to be part of that kind of work, to be connected with those kinds of organisations? I mean, really, who doesn't want work that aligns with their values, that contributes to the kind of world that they want you be part of that has a really strong sense of purpose and deep meaning to them. I think that is a fundamental human need. And that rarity is really a problem because so many people know that they want that and they've acknowledged that in themselves and they've kind of done the work to think about what that means in terms of leaving. organizations where it's misaligned, stepping out of the corporate system, being willing to make quite dramatic changes, but they can't find those aligned opportunities. And they feel like they are so few and far between. And if you're in that position, if you are feeling like, I know that I want this, Alyssa, I know exactly what you're talking about. This is what I crave, what I desire, but how do I find it? I feel like I might never find those opportunities. Well, you know what? You might be right. Stay with me because it has nothing to do. This is the first thing that you really need to understand. It's very important. It has nothing to do with how talented or experienced or valuable you are. You may really genuinely struggle to find those opportunities, but it has nothing to do with you or how you're approaching this. Let me explain why. The fact is that there are just far fewer roles like this in values-first work than the amount of people who want to do that kind of work. Right now, while there are huge positives and there are more and more organizations who are immersing themselves in regenerative thinking and developing models around regenerative economics, the fact of the matter is you that there are just a tiny handful of those kind of values-first organizations compared to the dominant capitalistic model extractive large corporate organizations that most people have the experience of working with. There's a fundamental mismatch in terms of demand and supply. And those organizations that are out there, they're not recruiting in you obvious ways because, you know, they're not part of those conventional systems in the same way. They think differently. They operate differently. And often they are working on trust. They're working on existing relationships. So of course it is possible. And there are wonderful stories. And if this has worked for you, wonderful. If you can find those organizations, my goodness, Go for it. That's fantastic. But what I hear is that most people are in the position where they know the kind of work they want to do. They just don't know how to find it. And that leaves those people who are seeking values first work in this kind of really uncomfortable, kind of soul-destroying waiting room. And they feel lost. And probably they are blaming themselves for something that, we've just discussed. is actually a structural issue. So what do you do if you find yourself in that position? This is the crux decision that I mentioned at the top of the episode, because you have a decision to make. I believe that you have two options. So let's take a neutral look at both of those, and you decide what is right for you. Your first option is to wait and hope. and keep trying. Your second option is to go out there and build that kind of work for yourself. Now, both of these options carry risks, so let's be upfront about that. Waiting often feels like the safer option, because joining an organisation that is already doing this kind of work offers the promise of being part of somebody else's vision, somebody else's structure. You're going to step into a predefined operation, into a predefined role. Your job is just to come in and do a great job. It also offers the security of the kind of employment that most people are really familiar with. So you're still going to be on salary, going to be getting that paycheck. And that feels really important, understandably, to a lot of people. But the risk here is just how long you might be waiting. And maybe you already feel that pain because you have already been waiting and you are feeling that deep frustration about how few of these opportunities come along. And you really need to ask yourself how much longer am I? I willing to wait. And there's another actually, another hidden danger here, which is that if you wait too long, you know, the frustration builds, reality starts to press and you end up going back into a misaligned role because, you know, you have to pay the bills and you don't want to be out of work and you want to be active. And that becomes the only choice. So now let's talk about building this kind of values first work for yourself. Now, let's be real. It is hard work. We've just gone behind the scenes of an organization that is doing this. And if I didn't make clear when I was explaining it, it's not easy. It's a beautiful thing. It brings people joy and purpose, but it is hard work every day. It takes time, real time and concerted effort. It will require you to get right outside of your comfort zone. It will require you to challenge yourself in ways that you haven't yet done. It will ask you to hold on to a vision that many other people may not understand and to nurture that vision and continue to believe in it until you bring it to life. But at the same time, building your own meaningful work offers so much. It offers you agency over the kind of work that you want to do, over the hours that you work, over the way that you operate, over who you engage with, over how you show up. It offers you ownership, which I think is just so important. And so many people are lacking that sense of ownership in their work. It's a world of difference when you feel that deep connection to your work. It offers, with time, a lot of freedom and flexibility. for work to expand and contract according to the season of life and the unexpected challenges that life throws at you. It offers you the opportunity to make a meaningful, real and lasting contribution and I think that that's what almost everybody really desires in their work. So to me of course the right option is clear. And I want you to know that you are not powerless. You just need to start owning your power. If you're listening to this, then I already know that you have deep expertise. You have career capital behind you. You have connections you can draw on. You have valuable skills and you have lived experience that contributes to your work. You have what it takes to build the kind of organization that I have been describing. and we really, really need so many more of them. So I invite you to think about this quite deeply. Which do you choose, waiting or building? And if you already know the answer, then it's time to roll up your sleeves and get to regenerative work. If this episode has sparked something in you, then I think... you're already closer to that decision than you might think. I work with people who decide not to wait and who want support in building work that is aligned, responsible and livable. That is exactly what I do with clients inside the Meaningful Business Incubator. If this picture that I have painted today is one you want to immerse yourself in, then I invite you. to listen through previous episodes. There is a lot of guidance here on the podcast about how, exactly how you go about making this a reality for yourself and dealing with all the different kind of questions and hesitations that I'm sure will be coming up for you. So take a look through the episodes and I'm sure you will find something that will help you to take action and move forward and guide you. And finally, if you are listening to this. And you're currently living inside a very different picture. If you are still inside of the corporate system, but you know that you need to get out. Then I encourage you to take a look at Courage to Quit. This is a 19 minute one-to-one confidential session with me where together we will build your empowered exit plan from your corporate role. I know that it is important to you to make a good ending and to really set yourself up for success with the next meaningful chapter of your work life. And that is exactly what we do together. It is really hands-on. really practical and will leave you feeling deeply empowered and ready to make that change. All of the details of that are in the show notes with a link to book. So I hope you've enjoyed this episode and this discussion about the rarity and the importance of values first work. I hope that you will sit with the decision that you need to make for yourself. And if you're ready to go out and build, then I hope you will use you the resources that I'm sharing here. And if you have questions, you know, you can always reach out to me directly. You can reach me at Alyssa, A-L-I-S-A at regenerativeworklife.com. I'm really happy to connect with you. Join me next week back here on the From Corporate Into Calling podcast. Thank you for listening. If this episode of From Corporate to Calling was helpful or inspiring, follow the show so you don't miss an episode. And if you know someone who's questioning their career, send them this podcast. Lifelines are meant to be shared. Remember, you don't have to tolerate burnout or misalignment. You can redirect your skills into meaningful work that brings back life to you and to the world around you.
