When you’re building something that changes lives, it’s tempting to focus entirely on talent. Talent, after all, gets things done. Without it, nothing works. But talent alone isn’t enough. If you want to build something meaningful, the foundation has to be values.

Why values? Because they determine how talent is used. Talent without values is like a powerful engine without a driver. It may move fast, but it could be heading off a cliff. Values steer talent in the right direction. They ensure that what you build isn’t just effective but also worthwhile.

Startups are a good example. The best ones often succeed not just because they’re talented but because they’re rooted in values. Think of companies that have genuinely improved lives,ones that made products people love or solved problems people didn’t know could be solved. They didn’t just execute well. They cared about the right things.

The hard part about values is that they take time to show results. Talent gives you immediate feedback: code compiles, sales close, growth happens. Values work slower, shaping decisions in ways you might not notice day to day. But over time, they determine whether what you’re building will last.

Talent builds. Values direct. Together, they make success possible. Anything else,no matter how flashy or exciting,is just a faster way to fail. If you’re serious about changing lives, start with values. Everything else follows from there.