I codified XP to make life better for programmers. Along the way, XP became a way of being in the world for me. However, it is a way that requires me to think about my own values and align my behavior with them. What I discovered is that there is no improvement without first improving myself.

The key to XP is integrity, acting in harmony with my true values. As soon as I set integrity as my goal, I discovered that the values I actually held were not the ones I wanted the world to think I held. The past five years have been a journey of changing my actual values into those I wanted to hold.

I have been far from perfect on this journey. Some days I'm keenly aware of how far short I fall from my own ideals. There are times, though, when it all comes together, when my values match my ideals and my behavior flows naturally from them. It is then that I know the trip is worth continuing.

With XP, I work to become worthy of respect and offer respect to others. I'm content to do my best and strive always to improve. I hold values I am proud of and act in harmony with those values.

XP values are worth putting into practice in the business world. Besides having a life you can live in comfort, you develop a style of work based on respectful relationships that are good for all involved. You produce software that actively and positively contributes to the world. You work creatively and energetically.

I have seen people applying XP bring renewed hope to their software development and their lives. You know enough to get started. I encourage you to start now. Think about your values. Make conscious choices to live in harmony with them. Pick a practice to begin along your path. If you are looking for a world in which you can be comfortable, live in balance and do good business; XP is a way of thinking about and acting on your ideals.