It has been more than 10 years since Now Discover Your Strengths was published and it has evolved into a strong brand in the self-help and personal development marketplace. I recently revisited this material under its StrenghtsFinder 2.0 moniker, and found it to be insightful and worthwhile. The consistency of the tool is telling and compelling.
The StrengthsFinder tool asks a series of paired questions – “would you rather do this or that” – to identify your themes, things about you that can be developed into talents. I did the survey for the first time in 2001 and again last month, and though some of the themes changed, “individualization” was still in my top five (of 34 possible themes, characteristics about you). As I reflect over the last two years, I have built my business writing résumés and professional profiles for public relations purposes, this theme of wanting to get to know people at an individual level and understanding what makes them unique has been an asset.
What are you good at? What themes can be developed into strengths that will make you great at your work and loving it? If you don’t know, maybe it’s time to find out. Invest $10 and couple of hours into yourself, understand what makes you tick, and consider how this has manifested itself in your life. You may be surprised at the self-realization that comes from the effort, and you will not regret the effort.
Work: Getting It & Keeping It 