May 01, 2025

The Value of Decisions with Somik Raha

21 minutes

🎙 Breakfast Leadership Show – Episode: The Value of Decisions with Somik Raha

Hosted by: Michael D. Levitt – Burnout and Leadership Expert | Top 50 Global Thought Leader

💡 Episode Overview:

In this thought-provoking episode, I sit with Somik Raha, a global decision analyst and author, whose research dives deep into the principled framework of values and decision-making. From his journey through Japan to Stanford, Somik brings a wealth of insight and a fresh lens on how values shape our personal and professional decisions. Inspired by the groundbreaking work of Ron Howard and Robert Hartman, Somik has dedicated his life to helping others make better, more aligned choices.

📌 What We Cover in This Episode:

✅ The Mathematics of Value

Somik shares how Hartman’s work on developing a "mathematics of value" can prevent us from repeating past societal mistakes—and why anchoring decisions in principled values is more critical than ever.

✅ Three Dimensions of Value: Intrinsic, Extrinsic, and Systemic

We unpack how to recognize and realign with your personal values, especially in high-stakes professional settings. Somik explains how understanding these dimensions can lead to meaningful self-reflection and authentic course correction.

✅ The Origins of Everyday Constructs

We dive into philosophical reflections, such as the origin of the number zero, and how ancient wisdom still informs modern leadership and decision-making. This segment offers a profound look at how everyday concepts carry deeper meaning.

✅ Decision Awareness and Six Key Requirements for Quality Choices

Somik breaks down what it really takes to make a good decision:

A clear frame

Multiple alternatives

Relevant information

Alignment with personal values

Willingness to make trade-offs

Commitment to action: Somik shares a powerful personal story of reframing a decision that transformed his entire outlook.

✅ Aligning Values with Workplace Metrics

If you’ve ever felt misaligned or stuck at work, this part’s for you. We discuss actionable strategies to bring your personal values into alignment with your role and workplace metrics—with a heartwarming example involving a school fundraiser.

✅ Sharing Your Perspective with the World

We talk about the importance of expressing your unique insights—through writing, storytelling, or content creation—and how this leads to stronger personal identity and career clarity.

📚 Explore Somik’s Work:

Discover more and dive deeper into his framework at invaluablebooks.org

📩 Have questions or want to connect? Reach out at [email protected]

🙌 Final Thoughts from Michael:

This conversation reminds us that decisions, not outcomes, define our lives. When we align our choices with values that truly matter, we become more resilient, focused, and fulfilled. Somik’s insights are a masterclass in conscious leadership and intentional living.

🎧 Tune in, take notes, and let’s build a world that values value itself.

🔗 Subscribe + Review:

If this episode sparked something for you, leave a review and share it with your network. Your voice helps this message reach more conscious leaders around the globe.

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By Michael D. Levitt

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