The Personal Values Content Filter
Define 3 core values with specific allows and rules-out statements, run every content idea through an 8-point decision checklist, and track qualitative success metrics that algorithms cannot capture.
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Define Your Core Values
Define exactly 3 core values. Be specific. Not just 'authenticity' but what authenticity means in your content decisions.
Example Value Statements
- "I only recommend tools I have personally tested for at least 30 days"
- "I never create content I would not want my audience to call me out on in 2 years"
- "I share failures and mistakes with the same energy as wins and successes"
- "I prioritize depth over reach and would rather help 100 people deeply than entertain 10,000 superficially"
Values as Your Content API
Think of your values as an API that every content idea must pass through. The internet produces infinite noise. Your values are the filter that transforms that noise into a unique perspective only you can offer. Without clear values, you default to copying what performs well for others. With values, you create content that is impossible to commoditize.
Content Decision Checklist
Run every content idea through these 8 questions before you create it. If you cannot check most of them, reconsider the idea.
Values Alignment
Does this content idea pass through your core values filter?
- Does this align with at least one core value statement? Does this align with at least one of my core value statements? If no: revisit whether the topic fits your brand at all.
- Would I be proud of this in 2 years? Would I be proud of this in 2 years even if it underperforms? If no: ask whether you are chasing metrics instead of meaning.
- Does this reflect genuine experience? Does this reflect genuine experience, not just what sounds good? If no: add personal context or wait until you have real experience to share.
Audience Value
Does this content genuinely serve the people you are trying to reach?
- Will my audience find this valuable in 6 months? Will my audience find this valuable 6 months from now? If no: consider whether this is timely commentary vs. evergreen value.
- Does this contribute to my brand narrative? Does this contribute to the brand narrative I want to build? If no: one-off viral attempts dilute your brand over time.
- Would I want this to be someone's first impression? Is this content I would want someone to see before deciding to follow me? If no: reconsider whether it represents your best work.
Brand Consistency
Does this content maintain the voice and standards you have set?
- Does this fit my tone and voice? Does this fit my consistent tone and voice? If no: rewrite or rethink the angle to match your established style.
- Is my reason for creating this genuine? Is the reason I am creating this genuine, not just to hit a publish quota? If no: skip it and publish something meaningful next time.
Success Metrics Beyond Algorithms
Track these 5 qualitative metrics monthly. These measure what follower counts and view numbers cannot.
| Qualitative Metric | What to Look For | My Notes / Examples This Month |
|---|---|---|
| Genuine Connection Comments | Comments like 'this is exactly what I needed' or 'I have been thinking about this all week' | |
| DMs About Impact | Messages from people who took action because of your content | |
| Repeat Engagement | The same people engaging consistently over weeks and months, not one-time visitors | |
| Brand Message Consistency | Could a new viewer identify your core values from your last 10 posts alone? | |
| Values Violations This Month | Content you published that you would now reconsider or wish you had approached differently |
Your Competitive Advantage
AI can generate infinite content on any topic. What it cannot replicate is an authentic, values-driven voice shaped by real experience and genuine conviction. Your values filter is the one thing that cannot be commoditized, automated, or copied. It is the moat around your brand that grows deeper with every piece of content you run through it.