CLIMBING THE RIGHT LADDER: CHOOSING WHAT REALLY MATTERS

Derek Hagen
Oct 16
3 min read

❝If the ladder is not leaning against the right wall, every step we take just gets us to the wrong place faster.❞ -Stephen Covey

It's better to be at the bottom of a ladder you want to climb than halfway up one you don't.

THE LADDERS WE CLIMB

Tim once told Dawn in the British version of The Office that it’s better to be at the bottom of the ladder you want to climb than halfway up one you don’t.

It’s funny, but it’s true. Most of us spend part of our lives climbing ladders we never chose—pursuing goals we inherited, absorbed, or assumed; success, stability, recognition, comfort.

If you're interested in values-based financial planning, here's how to work with a Money Quotient-trained financial life planner.

Those things aren’t wrong. They just might not be yours.

Many people eventually realize they’ve been working hard toward something that doesn’t feel as fulfilling as they thought it would. Maybe the ladder was solid, but it leaned against the wrong wall.

FINDING THE "WHY" BEHIND YOUR GOALS

When we think about what we want out of life, we often start with what we can see—accomplishments, numbers, milestones. Those are what psychologists call instrumental values: the means to an end.

Things like achievement, independence, success, or security.

But deeper down are our terminal values—the ends themselves. Peace. Growth. Love. Wisdom. Freedom.

When we mix up the two, we end up optimizing for the wrong things—chasing how to live before we’ve defined why to live.

INTRINSIC AND EXTRINSIC VALUES

There’s another way to look at values... through motivation.

Extrinsic values are driven by what other people notice: achievement, appearance, or recognition. They depend on comparison and approval.

Intrinsic values, on the other hand, are self-reinforcing. They feel meaningful even when no one sees them. You’d still do them because they feel right.

When we focus on intrinsic values, our actions align more naturally with who we are. Life feels less like a performance and more like a reflection of what we truly care about.

The Value Compass is designed to help you gain insight into your own values and how they guide your thoughts, feelings, and actions. It can be used to explore your personal goals and motivations, as well as to gain a better understanding of others' values and how they may differ from your own.

DEFINING YOUR OWN WALL

There’s no single right ladder to climb. But there is a right one for you.

Here’s a simple process you can use to find it:

Clarify Your Wall — Ask what would make your life feel meaningful, not just successful.
Build Your Ladder — Align your daily choices and money decisions with those priorities.
Take the Next Step — When faced with trade-offs, choose based on what matters most, not what looks best.

MONEY AS A TOOL FOR MEANING

Money isn’t the goal. It's the tool that helps you build a meaningful life. But tools only matter if you know what you’re building.

When your money supports your values, every decision feels lighter. You stop chasing “more” and start pursuing “enough.”

The point isn’t to climb higher. It’s to climb wisely.

You get one life; live intentionally.

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