Have you ever been told what you think you have known for your whole life is totally wrong?
The day: Last Friday
Who: Marcus Buckingham - an English motivational speaker, trainer, public leader, researcher and author. http://www.tmbc.com/mb/biography
What he said: Everything you know about strengths and weaknesses is wrong.
The speech started by Marcus (I met him so I feel like we are now on a first name basis...probably doesnt remember me but thats ok) asking everyone what is more important in the workforce; building on your strengths or working on your weaknesses. Everyone had a different opinion and in my mind they were all valid opinions. The part that really struck me was his definition of what strength is and what weakness is. For the most part people are taught that a strength is something we are good at and a weakness is something we are bad at. Now this next part is going to blow your mind.
That is really not the case. He goes on to tell everyone that people can be really good at something but it is a weakness for them and on the flip side people can be really bad at something but it is a strength. Let me explain a strength is something that when you are doing “it” that “it” makes you stronger as a person; it gives strength to your life it brings you happiness, invigorats you, make you feel successful etc. A weakness is something that while you are doing “it” that “it” makes you a weaker person; it gives weakness to your life in terms of sadness, anxiety, boredom.
I thought about this afterward like Marcus (again he’s my friend, even tho I was unable to get his autograph bummer) told me too. I think about my last job. Since I was a little kid I remember people telling me you are good with people you should be in sales. I was good at sales, I remember my boss would tell me that all the time, yet I was not happy and bored most of the time. Going to work what I thought was my strength was actually a weakness of mine. What I realized is I don’t feel successful in sales it’s just the aspect of working with people and that interaction with them that gave me the feeling of success.
He discussed how in the work place you won’t always be able to focus on your strengths but what’s important is to find that balance. You might use a strength you have while also incorporating a weakness also. What is important is to teach yourself to pay attention on what day to day basis what tasks make you feel strong. Noticing each day why the task made you feel good or made you feel bad.
What are your strenghs? Are they different then you thought they were?
Monday, October 18, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
A Chocolate Chilean Palin
Thing I don’t really like:
Chocolate - I am not really a big fan of chocolate. I will eat is every so often but for the most part I pass. If people don’t know me I will sometimes tell them that I am allergic. I know this is lying but its better than getting weird looks or people telling me I am not a girl or people asking me a million questions about why I dont like it. My mom can account. When I was a little kid my friend offered me chocolate I took one bite and then realized I was going to be unable to eat it all because I didn’t like it so I told my friends mom I was allergic. My friend’s mom then ended up calling my mom and apologizing asking my mom what she should do and if I was going to be ok.
Job I could never have:
A Chilean Miner – I have been following this story for awhile and I was happy to hear everyone made it out alive. That being said while reading about the type of stuff these men had to endure on the job I realized it was not a job for me. Even the rescue I would have been the one in the capsule as its spinning around passing out and messing up everything while rocks fall on me. The thought of even going on a swing makes me sick. I can’t image going from 90 degrees to freezing and spending 20 minuets enclosed in a capsule. For those reasons I am adding that to my “could never do list”.
Person I find to be an idiot but brilliant:
Sarah Palin – I saw her speak yesterday and I realized how “smart” this woman is. Now you all might be saying “you are kidding me” in your head or you might not be. I want to make a quick disclaimer: I don’t agree with much that comes out of her mouth nor do I understand much that comes out of her mouth (I find her to be all over the place and unable to answer a question when asked too) but I look at it this way. When Palin arrived yesterday she had a HUGE following of people and her own security team. When Howard Dean showed up he came alone. They both technically had the same ranking as past Governors. The difference now is that Sarah Palin doesn’t really need to deal with politics or know about politics. She can make a few off the wall comments and bash a few people and shes golden. She can get up and talk about whatever she wants and people will pay her a lot of money. She quit her job as Governor because well she realized she could make more money being a celebrity. She is like Paris Hilton. Once you say enough crazy stuff people will follow you and pay to be their cheerleader. You don’t really need to do or know anything. As Palin said best “I didn’t really had a good answer, as so often — is me.”
Chocolate - I am not really a big fan of chocolate. I will eat is every so often but for the most part I pass. If people don’t know me I will sometimes tell them that I am allergic. I know this is lying but its better than getting weird looks or people telling me I am not a girl or people asking me a million questions about why I dont like it. My mom can account. When I was a little kid my friend offered me chocolate I took one bite and then realized I was going to be unable to eat it all because I didn’t like it so I told my friends mom I was allergic. My friend’s mom then ended up calling my mom and apologizing asking my mom what she should do and if I was going to be ok.
Job I could never have:
A Chilean Miner – I have been following this story for awhile and I was happy to hear everyone made it out alive. That being said while reading about the type of stuff these men had to endure on the job I realized it was not a job for me. Even the rescue I would have been the one in the capsule as its spinning around passing out and messing up everything while rocks fall on me. The thought of even going on a swing makes me sick. I can’t image going from 90 degrees to freezing and spending 20 minuets enclosed in a capsule. For those reasons I am adding that to my “could never do list”.
Person I find to be an idiot but brilliant:
Sarah Palin – I saw her speak yesterday and I realized how “smart” this woman is. Now you all might be saying “you are kidding me” in your head or you might not be. I want to make a quick disclaimer: I don’t agree with much that comes out of her mouth nor do I understand much that comes out of her mouth (I find her to be all over the place and unable to answer a question when asked too) but I look at it this way. When Palin arrived yesterday she had a HUGE following of people and her own security team. When Howard Dean showed up he came alone. They both technically had the same ranking as past Governors. The difference now is that Sarah Palin doesn’t really need to deal with politics or know about politics. She can make a few off the wall comments and bash a few people and shes golden. She can get up and talk about whatever she wants and people will pay her a lot of money. She quit her job as Governor because well she realized she could make more money being a celebrity. She is like Paris Hilton. Once you say enough crazy stuff people will follow you and pay to be their cheerleader. You don’t really need to do or know anything. As Palin said best “I didn’t really had a good answer, as so often — is me.”
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