As I had mentioned in the previous post The Matrix: Lessons in sales, I recently had something short of an epiphany while having a conversation with my boss. The conversation reminded me of the scene in The Matrix where Neo was sitting in the room with Morpheus for the first time. Walking away from the discussion I started really thinking about ‘who’ I am at work and not so much with ‘what’ I do at work. I’ve always been an overachiever but walked a line that kept me from being all I could be. I had a conversation with a friend of mine that pointed me in the direction of a book called Strengths Finder 2.0. I ordered the book from Amazon and was eager to get the results.

The book is based around an online test of approx 75-100 questions that took about 20-30 minutes for me to complete. The answers to the multiple choice questions were going to identify my top 5 talents and explain where my strengths are. Once the test was done the answers were calculated and the results were given to me.

My Strengths

1. Achiever
2. Maximizer
3. Relator
4. Focus
5. Self-Assurance

Out of 34 “themes” a person could fall into, these were identified at my top 5.

Here is the break down.

1. 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.

Instinctively, you sometimes enjoy launching new initiatives. Perhaps you have a reputation for
knowing how to get projects moving forward. Driven by your talents, you sometimes dive into
challenging situations because you trust yourself to survive or excel. Maybe you know that you have
the talent to deal with obstacles or hazards as you encounter them. Launching new ventures might
thrill you. Tackling impossible goals might energize you. Stepping out of your comfort zone into
unfamiliar territory might stimulate you. Chances are good that you have the extra energy to work
hard whenever you are acquiring information to broaden your base of knowledge. You desire to
deepen your understanding of various topics, opportunities, problems, solutions, situations, events, or
people. By nature, you actively seek out advisers whose judgment and expertise you trust. Whenever
you find yourself in a questionable situation, you likely ask them to help you identify the proper course
of action. Why? You are committed to doing things correctly. Because of your strengths, you
approach your work-related or academic assignments with a great deal of intensity. You are known
for putting in long hours and working hard.

2. 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.

By nature, you may feel upbeat when you spend more time using your talents than trying to fix your
limitations. Perhaps you have noticed that you progress faster or accomplish more when you give
yourself permission to do what you do well. Instinctively, you might find that life is more satisfying
when you concentrate on using your dominant talents. Perhaps you move more quickly toward your
goals when you practice doing what comes naturally. Because of your strengths, you may give
yourself some credit now and then for creating streamlined processes to efficiently handle certain
types of mundane, tedious, or repetitious tasks and duties. Perhaps creating orderly or efficient ways
to do things benefits you. It’s very likely that you may realize you are careful and thorough if you are
performing certain tasks. Once in a while, you pay close attention to specific details. Perhaps doing
the little things right matters more to you than it does to some people. Chances are good that you
occasionally tell yourself that you are an effective mentor or trainer. Perhaps individuals benefit from
the investment you make in them.

3. RELATOR

People who are especially talented in the Relator theme enjoy close relationships with others. They
find deep satisfaction in working hard with friends to achieve a goal.

Instinctively, you typically use sound reasoning to identify the basic components of a complicated
situation, process, event, or decision. You describe intricate things in ways that people can easily
understand. You are likely to direct their attention to key points. You avoid overwhelming them with
every fact and detail you know. Because of your strengths, you embody the adage: “If you want to get
something done, ask a busy person.” You deliver peak performances when you can tackle a task.
You experience tremendous satisfaction each time you accomplish something. You probably like
being held accountable for your actions and words. Chances are good that you genuinely enjoy
activities when just about everything makes sense. You naturally gravitate to tasks where facts,
events, processes, or ideas are methodically outlined. Driven by your talents, you might do your best
training after you become well-acquainted with someone. Perhaps you want to discover each
individual’s unique talents, work style, goals, motivations, or interests. Maybe these insights tell you
what suggestions to make or what tips to offer during coaching sessions. It’s very likely that you are
sometimes open and honest about who you are, what you have done, what you can do, and what you
cannot do. Maybe your straightforward explanations and stories help listeners see you as you see
yourself. You might reveal your strengths and limitations. You might choose to be forthright and
plainspoken. This partially explains why various people seek your company and want to work with
you. Perhaps your words and examples move them to action.

4. FOCUS

People who are especially talented in the Focus theme can take a direction, follow through, and make
the corrections necessary to stay on track. They prioritize, then act.

Driven by your talents, you typically immerse yourself in intense activities. Preferring a fast pace, you
thrive on excitement. You appreciate being surrounded by like-minded individuals. They motivate you
to expend even more energy accomplishing whatever needs to be done. You stay busy and work
hard whenever it is necessary. Instinctively, you thrive in environments where goal-setting
discussions are commonplace and clearly defined objectives are agreed upon. It’s very likely that you
feel life is wonderful when you can channel your mental and physical energy into things that intrigue
you. Your interest is ordinarily piqued — that is, awakened or aroused — by activities, ideas, problems,
opportunities, and people that challenge your mind. Because of your strengths, you devote your full
attention to immediate tasks and challenges. This explains why you give yourself plenty of time to
comprehend what you read on the printed page or the computer screen. Diligence, persistence, and
concentration are three of your distinguishing traits. Chances are good that you can mentally zero in
on tasks for hours at a time when you have a goal to reach. When the assignment demands extra
time, you would be wise to honor your body’s natural rhythms. In other words, if you are a “morning
person,” work in the morning. Work in the afternoon if that is when you hit your stride. Work in the
evening if that is when you think better. Work around midnight after everyone has gone to bed if you
are someone who usually stays up very late.

5. 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.

Instinctively, you have great fun exchanging large-scale thoughts and opinions with your colleagues,
associates, coworkers, or fellow students. These animated conversations allow you to refine your
thinking and test your ideas. Chances are good that you might prefer to enroll in a difficult class rather
than register for the easiest one. Perhaps comparing how well you are doing in relation to others has
meaning only when you earn the best grades in the hardest courses. To some extent, you crave
recognition for your knowledge and winning spirit. By nature, you might feel a bit more upbeat about
life when you register for a few demanding and rigorous classes. Perhaps you aspire to enroll in
specialized courses. Why? Maybe you trust yourself to meet the challenges. Maybe you know you will
acquire lots of knowledge or special skills. It’s very likely that you sometimes discover that contending
for a real or even imaginary first-place victory makes your job or your scholarly pursuits a bit more
exhilarating. Driven by your talents, you may help some individuals be stronger and tougher in the
face of life’s challenges, difficulties, or adversities.

• Strength Finder Book Review
• Top Ten Ways to Become a Great Salesperson!

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