Earlier this year I went to a local career fair to meet with one potential company. I felt the interview went great, and part of the interview the recruiter asked me if I had read a certain book called “Strength Finder 2.0″. I explained that I had not, but I had read the previous version called “Now Discover Your Strengths”.

If you have not read this book, I would highly encourage you to go to the store, read the book and take the test. The test is free in the cost of the book, and I can say that it was a shocker for me. I took the test a few years back, and I recall some of it, but this test was spot on.

The premise of the book is that you have great oppurtuniies for growth and satisfaction by playing to your strengths, rather then focusing on overcoming your weaknesses. Not everyone is cut out to be a NFL QB no matter how hard you try. Some people just have that ability, drive, talent etc. They used the story of “Rudy” from Notre Dame Football. He practiced every year for 7 years and NEVER really played. He was never meant to play football regardless of the amount of talent he learned, the raw talent was never there.

I too find myself at many points trying to hard to learn and grow in areas that are my weaknesses and not focusing on my strengths. After reading that book, it was clear that I need to re-org my thoughts, and actions and move toward what my strengths are and stop moving toward my weaknesses.

The book lays out 34 key “themes” when it comes to strengths. They say that there are many more, but these are most common overriding themes for most people. The themes were discovered after almost 2Million people were surveyed over 20 years. The studies were done by the Gallup Poll Group. I can say that as I am reading my five primary themes, they are spot on. I am reading the 29 and while there are some aspects of the others that resenate with me, it is clear that they are not how I am wired.

My key themes are: Relator, Learner, Connectedness, Restorative, Belief

When you look at my themes as a whole I could sum them up in a single sentance. “Rooted individual that continually strives to better himself, and the relationship around him through problem solving, and interpersonal skills.”

When I read that sentance I am amazed at how accurate that statement is for my life (I came up with it also). I truly am a very rooted person in my belief system, but open to learning and embracing ideas. I truly value the close knit relationships that I have developed with people even if only on the surface. I thrive in a high pressure enviroment where everything seems to want to fall apart and where I can step in and fix the problem.

Part of the review they give you is job thoughts, and it appears that in many ways I have been playing to my stregnths in the areas of customer service, technial support and project management. These are all about continual learning, and service. They tend to favor the Learner, Restorative, Relator in my strengths profile. They can also feed into a higher connectedness through the developement of longer term customer relationships.

So what does this mean for me going forward as a look for a job (currently) and as I review the ways in which I interact with my wife, firends, ministry volunteers, and the general public. I think that my goal plan is as follows;

1. JOB = Persue job that allows me to learn, but interact with clients on a high touch basis
2. WIFE = I am still waiting for to read the book, and take test
3. Ministry Volunteers = Watch for traits and play to them. I know a few people, that I need to speak into their strengths and it will make all the difference.

So, what are your strengths, and how are you taking the time to build on your strengths instead of trying to work through your weaknesses. How much more rewarding is it when you accomplish a quality goal (your strength) then when you muddle through it (your weakness). Think back to those times when you used your strengths, and it paid off in the way you desire. Take that and go with it in you life.

I encourage every to read the following books ASAP. They are invaluable to you learning who you are and why you do what you do.

• Strength Finder 2.0
• 5 Love Languages
• Personality Plus

As a side note, I have also read “Personality Plus” and “5 Love Languages”. When you couple these 3 powerful things together you get an awesome picture of what that person is, and why they act the way they do. Once you understand that you can be a better leader in the office, home and church.

If you would like to know, my top two love languages are: Words, Quality Time. My personality plus profile is: Golden Retriever (loyal, internal), Beaver (industrius, planner)

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