About a week ago, I started seeing posts related to the third anniversary of Steve Jobs’ death. It’s obvious that many think of Steve Jobs as a role model. Others disagree, pointing out that he was a self-described workaholic and often treated people poorly.

I believe that while professional achievements can be impressive our success isn’t primarily about business. It’s more about who we become in the process of reaching worthy goals. How do we treat ourselves and others? How do we invest our time and money? I also think that understanding the choices we make and the value system driving them helps us to grasp who we really are as people.

Making an effort to become more aware of my value system, my behavior, and the impact I have on other people was the start of taking full responsibility for my life. For me, it was the beginning of becoming a more mature man. I’m still a work in progress, but I am making strides.

You’re still reading, so I’m guessing that personal growth matters to you, too. In the long-run, this may be a more important advantage than you know. With that in mind, here are a couple of books on values clarification that I’ve found really helpful. Click on the Amazon links below and have a look:

• The Values Factor by Dr. John F. Demartini
• Values Clarification by Dr. Sidney B. Simon

I hope you’ll decide to do some reading, further clarify your highest values, and then assess how well you’re living them. This kind of awareness is a great foundation for growth in life and business.