Screenshot of the Forbes article Consumer Behavior Expert David Allison: Using Valuegraphics To Deeply Understand Customers

Peggy Anne Salz profiled me for Forbes in June 2022, and the piece includes a video of our conversation. I described values as the operating system for humans. Behavior changes with circumstances, but the values underneath stay the same, so they're the most reliable thing you can know about someone.

The pandemic made this easy to see. If the value of Family drives you, lockdown probably meant doubling down on your family, and if the value of Ambition drives you, you probably doubled down on work. Everyone went through the same lockdown, and they responded differently because their values were different. I also gave Peggy the three-legged stool, where demographics describe your audience, psychographics give you their history, and values show you what will get them to act. And I told her something I say a lot, which is that once you start noticing values in what people tell you, you can't unsee this stuff.

You can read the original at Forbes.


The Values Map by David Allison, available for pre-order

My new book walks you through all kinds of ways to identify (and use) your values, and it's available for pre-order now. It's called The Values Map, and I would be very grateful if you pre-ordered a copy. My publisher would love it too. ❤️

Everything gets easier when you know What Matters Most.

Share This Article

More From The Values Diaries

View All Blogs

A Year on Stages Around the World (And What It Taught Me About What Matters Most)

I'm supposed to be writing a book right now. I'm sitting at my desk in Vancouver, third cup of coffee going cold beside me, staring at a manuscript that needs my attention. But I've got my speaking calendar pulled up on a second screen because I was looking for a specific date I needed for a chapter, and then I just started scrolling. I didn't mean to go down this road. I do this sometimes, though. I get lost in the memories of my travel itinerary, the way some people get lost in old photo albums.

Written By
David Alison

Values-Based Leadership: How to Lead with Purpose in a Values-Driven World

The COVID-19 pandemic, while devastating, also offered a unique opportunity for introspection and transformation. As the world hit pause, many of us reconsidered how we live our lives and what truly matters. This period of reflection has catalyzed a significant realignment, allowing us to step off the...

Written By
David Alison
David Allison talking about drift

Feel like your life is drifting? Try this.

Five quick questions that tell you what to move toward.

Written By
David Alison
No items found.

Okay, but what about me?

After every keynote, people ask David the same question: what are my values? His new book, The Values Map, is the answer.

Written By
David Alison
No items found.

Are you on the
Friends of David list?

Thank you! You’re now on the Friends of David list.

Something went wrong. Please try again.