Ryan pointed to the very cool online quiz (slash hardcover book) called Strengths Finder 2.0. It’s a great tool (over 150 questions) that helps you determine what you should really focus on.
Society says we should overcome our weaknesses. We should conquer that which we apparently cannot. I think our country was founded on that. Our movies certainly like telling stories about it (Rudy is the example given in the book). That seems silly; keep doing what you’re really good at. This test shows you where you have potential of developing your strongest talents.
It was definitely worth the $20; I went to the store, picked it up, read the book and took the test. An hour later I know a lot more about myself. Here are my results (my top 5 strengths).
- MAXIMIZER – People who are especially talented in the Maximizer theme focus on strengths as a way to stimulate personal and group excellence. They seek to transform something strong into something superb.
- LEARNER – People who are especially talented in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them.
- ACHIEVER – People who are especially talented in the Achiever theme have a great deal of stamina and work hard. They take great satisfaction from being busy and productive.
- SELF-ASSURANCE – People who are especially talented in the Self-Assurance theme feel confident in their ability to manage their own lives. They possess an inner compass that gives them confidence that their decisions are right.
- ARRANGER – People who are especially talented in the Arranger theme can organize, but they also have a flexibility that complements this ability. They like to figure out how all of the pieces and resources can be arranged for maximum productivity.
The reports you’re given are great. You get a myriad of tasks and actions to help you work on your strengths. That’s the point right? Do what you can do well… even better! Then it helps you develop a personal action plan.
I haven’t figured out my plan yet but I always enjoy learning more about myself. Knowing myself means I know my own needs and I can communicate them to my teammates, colleagues, bosses, etc. Talk about win-win-win!
Perhaps this reply is mostly in deference to your comment on Rudy, which is my Favorite Movie, but here are my feelings on the topic.
The reason that Rudy is great is not because he picked something he wasn’t good at and the worked until he overcame his weaknesses. The reason Rudy is great is because he had a dream that that he perceived to be 100% worth working for. He overcame all odds and put nearly every aspect of his life on the line in order to work towards the thing he loved. And the cynics say that all that effort went towards a few seconds of play time in a single college football game. But there is a beautiful side of that, of seeing the success and tasting victory after years of dreaming.
It’s true he could have spent his time on his strengths and work with what he had. But I’m guessing that would have meant working in the steel mill like the rest of his family and friends. He could have developed his strengths and perhaps become manager, even. Even if you look past the football part, his efforts for an education (clearly not his strength) at a top-ranked university seem pretty worthwhile to me. But with the football, the story becomes miraculous.
Isn’t there something inherently wonderful about reaching for something that seems distant, about dreaming for something bigger and better, about challenging the status quo and going for more?
I say that if some one has a dream they truly believe in, THAT is their strength. The fact that someone is able to believe in themselves enough to devote themselves entirely to the pursuit of a goal is a talent, a quality that we rarely see. We are a society full of complacence. And so while I agree in understanding strengths and weaknesses, I also see danger in having them define actions. Because I believe in the beauty of the dreamers who see more than cannot, but rather could be.
And this diatribe is the reason why people should leave Rudy out of the argument when around me… Sorry! :)