This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
~William Shakespeare, Hamlet
The beginning of any great plan must begin with the source. In the corporate world, a marketing plan typically begins with an analysis of the Strengths & Weaknesses of the organization. And, this makes great sense for an individual as well…particularly if you’ve never had the opportunity to self-reflect to this level of detail.
I highly recommend one exercise in particular called StrengthsFinder. By purchasing the book StrengthFinder 2.0 (or one of several others scrolling below) you are granted an access code to take an online self-analysis test. The purpose is to identify the 5 major themes of strength unique to you amongst 34 themes of talent.
Do you know what your top 5 categories of talent are? Mine are strategic, input, focus, futuristic, and self-assurance.
You’ve got to be curious about your own! Living in the corporate world with an HR department that thrives on personality testing…I’ve taken them all! StrengthsFinder to me was the most insightful and actionable. And, to boot, it’s a lot of fun!
Once you’ve completed the testing, you receive a printable summary report that shines the will open your eyes to new insight. Modern school of thought has shifted from the idea to “work on fixing” your weaknesses to simply be aware of them and manage them effectively. But with your strengths…you soar with! This was also a key secret known by the greats. Long before the over-the-top PC crowd began rewarding mediocrity and pushing all kids to achieve the "average" in schools...the greats knew the real secret was to use your God-given strengths! Quit wasting time focused on your weaknesses! Put this power in your hands and into your planning.
Beyond Strengthsfinder, there are a variety of other sources for personality profiling or self-awarness development. Meyers-Briggs is probably the most common personality test…and it’s quite fun & insightful as well.
Try several methods until you feel you have developed deep confidence in knowing thyself. Once you have, it’s key to development of your legacy creation. You’ll want to internalize the self-awareness lessons to the point where they naturally work their way into your legacy vision & plans.
It’s another way to significantly increase your odds of success. And, a secondary but superbly powerful benefit is that you’ll get skilled at identifying these characteristic traits in others…including your grandchildren.
Most people don’t identify their themes of strength until they are well “experienced” in life. Many never do. Knowing your strengths will help you discover your life purpose. Using your strengths will help you create a legacy.
And by gaining the skill to see the themes of strength in your grandchildren…might you tap into a lifetime of energized natural talent that otherwise could have lay dormant? Incredible potential can be uncorked if you know your grandchildren…
If there is anything that we wish to change in the child, we should first examine it and see whether it is not something that could better be changed in ourselves.
(or one of several others scrolling below) you are granted an access code to take an online self-analysis test. The purpose is to identify the 5 major themes of strength unique to you amongst 34 themes of talent.