The best way I’ve found to narrow down a list of values is to pit them against each other.
Process:
- Look at the list of example values and pick up to 10 that you resonate with the most. (Feel free to augment that list with your own ideas - it is not comprehensive.)
- Put them into a matrix with each value in a row and a column.
- X out the pairs where you are comparing them against each other, and X out all the pairs on the bottom left triangle (see example below) to avoid double counting.
- Look at each pair on the top right triangle, and ask yourself, “If I could only have one of these for the rest of my life, which one would I choose?”
- Add up the scores when you’re done.
Note - you don’t have to blindly follow the scores. Some of them might surprise you. The point is to get some objectivity into the equation. If a value scored really high, you probably want to strongly consider prioritizing it, even if it wasn’t what you expected.