Signature Theme Two: Input
After doing the Clifton Strengthfinder quizz, they presented me with my 5 top talents. My second Theme is Input. Again, interesting. I’m always accused of telling people what to do and I should stop – but it comes so naturally!
They say I’m inquisitive. Definitely. I collect things. Yes! They say I might collect information—words, facts, books, and quotations—or I might collect tangible objects such as butterflies, baseball cards, porcelain dolls, or sepia photographs. True! I collect anything! It interests me. And they say that mine is the kind of mind that finds so many things interesting – so true again!
Start quote: The world is exciting precisely because of its infinite variety and complexity. If you read a great deal, it is not necessarily to refine your theories but, rather, to add more information to your archives. If you like to travel, it is because each new location offers novel artifacts and facts. These can be acquired and then stored away. Why are they worth storing? At the time of storing it is often hard to say exactly when or why you might need them, but who knows when they might become useful? With all those possible uses in mind, you really don’t feel comfortable throwing anything away. So you keep acquiring and compiling and filing stuff away. It’s interesting. It keeps your mind fresh. And perhaps one day some of it will prove valuable. End Quote.
So far, the first two talents are spot-on.
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Tiger, Tiger
It is with lots of sadness – yet a distinct feeling of distance – that I’m reading about Tiger Woods and his unfaithfulness.
Why is it that all the great guys have to prove themselves by being unfaithful? I didn’t see his wedding video (though I hear some other videos might be available soon 😉 ) but I’m sure he promised – like we all do – to be faithful. Faithful is the basis of a relationship.
I also hear his wife said she cannot be bought or silenced with money. Good for her.
But I remain sad that my hero has feet of clay. Like Joost. Like many others.
Am I getting too cynical?
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Signature Theme One: Strategic
After doing the Clifton Strengthfinder quizz, they presented me with my 5 top talents. I’m going to comment on them in turn. My strongest talent is strategy. Wow. Amazing to read the explanation, it feels exactly right. Maybe these guys have a point. The book is published by The Gallup Organization and they suggest after years of research they’ve come to the conclusion that the most effective people are those who understand their strengths and behaviors. I teach the competency model all the time and that is great to understand ability. Even I understand that. But what makes this book awesome is that they go one step further: They say that if you are aware of and understand your natural talents, you will gain insight into the core reasons behind your successes – what is your energy source.
I’ll do the normal personal development feedback here and do the comments on my other blogsite http://www.lu.co.za so go there for more information.
So here goes: My first Talent: Strategic
Start Quote: The Strategic theme enables you to sort through the clutter and find the best route. It is not a skill that can be taught. It is a distinct way of thinking, a special perspective on the world at large. This perspective allows you to see patterns where others simply see complexity. Mindful of these patterns, you play out alternative scenarios, always asking, “What if this happened? Okay, well what if this happened?” This recurring question helps you see around the next corner. There you can evaluate accurately the potential obstacles. Guided by where you see each path leading, you start to make selections. You discard the paths that lead nowhere. You discard the paths that lead straight into resistance. You discard the paths that lead into a fog of confusion. You cull and make selections until you arrive at the chosen path—your strategy. Armed with your strategy, you strike forward. This is your Strategic theme at work: “What if?” Select. Strike. End quote.
There is a lot more amazing stuff but the above is a good summary. It is exactly me.
I promised to reveal some of myself to the world, and this was the first installment. I’ll post the remaining developments as I go along.
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Christmas Wish
Ooh I’m such a sucker for little girls missing their daddys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF9jLHbOpMY
Not easy to keep a dry eye.
Best Wishes to all!
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