Do you know your Core Values?

“Gale, we’re on the Island and Danny is playing music at the Copper Bar. Can you join us?”

That text came from a dear friend—someone I worked alongside years ago as a sister manager in a company called Weekenders. Over the past 25 years, our lives and careers have taken very different paths. Different seasons. Different businesses. Different responsibilities.

And yet, when we caught up recently, something felt unchanged. We’re still the same people who enjoy each other’s company and genuinely care about how the other is doing.

As we talked, I realized what has quietly kept us connected all these years wasn’t proximity or shared work—it was something deeper. We both understand the importance of providing value for others. Showing up. Supporting. Contributing in meaningful ways, even as life evolves.

That conversation took me back to a leadership workshop I attended years ago—one that focused on identifying your core values. The kind of values that guide your decisions, shape your goals, and influence how you show up in both life and business.

I explore this more deeply in this week’s Substack post, where I share how identifying your core values can quietly shape your goals—especially your 90-day goals—and help you provide value with intention.

👉Read the full reflection on Substack here. 

Reading Rules: One Simple Habit That Works

If you want to become a better reader—or simply read more—this is where consistency matters.   From my 10 Reading Rules, here’s Rule #3:

Schedule your reading time in your calendar.

We all have good intentions to read more, but time has a way of slipping away. When reading doesn’t have a place in your calendar, it often becomes “that thing I’ll get to later.”  Giving it a specific time—even for 10 pages a day—turns reading into a steady, sustainable habit.  I talk more about this (and the other reading rules) on my youtube channel.

👉Watch the reading rules video on YouTube here.

Podcast Referrals This Week

Here are three podcasts that are great recommendations from my interviews.

• James Wedmore Podcast – Great for mindset, alignment, and building a business that actually supports your life.
• The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett – Honest, wide-ranging conversations about success, growth, and the human side of achievement.
• The Game with Alex Hormozi – Direct, practical insights on business, discipline, and long-term thinking.

Each one offers a different perspective—but all provide real value if you’re intentional about what you consume.

As you move into the week ahead, I’ll leave you with one gentle question:

Who do you want to provide value for this week?

Share that answer with me and let’s celebrate together.

Until next week, 

Gale Bates,  Your "BIG BOLD GOALS” Mentor