25. When Core Values Become Wall Art

Episode 25: When Values Become Wall Art

Episode 4 of 4 in the series, "Built to Last or Poised for Collapse?"

What happens when your values stop being lived and start being laminated?

This episode closes our Built to Last or Poised for Collapse? series with one of the most dangerous shifts in leadership: when values become decoration instead of direction. On paper, nothing changes. But in practice, your people know the difference. And once they see that values don’t cost anything, they stop believing they mean anything.

If you’re a founder or leader responsible for culture and execution, this conversation will help you recognize where compromise creeps in, and what it costs when your values become wallpaper.

Takeaways

• The silent slide from conviction to convenience
• Why compromise doesn’t break culture overnight — but one decision at a time
• How values lose power when leaders won’t name the cost
• Practical examples of making values real in decisions, budgets, and accountability
• The step most leaders miss: saying it out loud before the moment of choice

Reflection Questions

• Which of your values cost you something this month?
• If the answer is none, what decision can you make this week to prove they still matter?

Links and Resources

• The Next Question Guide → NextQuestionGuide.com
• Connect on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/jamesmayhew
• Learn more → JamesMayhew.com