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Permalink Reply by Bryan Hart on June 2, 2012 at 12:54pm

How can you leverage this more in your position? Or are there other outlets for this strength?

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Permalink Reply by Kerry Pile on June 2, 2012 at 5:10pm

My main career field is accounting, which has a lot of deadlines. It also helps when managing several clients' demands at the same time. I am also a writer and currently breaking into the copywriting arena, as well as writing my first novel. Other outlets? A writer needs to have intense focus at times. I would like to have better focus. I would like to be able to access this strength when I have a writing deadline, but so far it's been a struggle.

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Permalink Reply by Bryan Hart on June 2, 2012 at 5:28pm

That's interesting to see that particular strength being used through accounting.

Maybe you could set multiple writing deadlines with an editor who would expect smaller chunks of your novel.

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Permalink Reply by Kerry Pile on June 2, 2012 at 6:56pm

I don't have an editor yet for my book. But all the deadlines I have set for myself I miss. I never miss ones set for me by someone else, but can't seem to put the same priority on ones I set myself.

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Permalink Reply by Bryan Hart on June 2, 2012 at 7:14pm

Sounds like a clear weakness. How could you manage around your weakness for self-imposed deadlines (By the way, I have this same issue :)

Remember, well rounded people are average.

I met with someone this week who is now in retail, but she doesn't like her position. She tells me her favorite thing to do in her previous work is to take calls from strangers who are having trouble with her company's solid product. She loves to troubleshoot things over the phone and completely turn the situation around.

That sounds like a recipe for an ulcer for me.

She was genuinely surprised at this, and at the fact that other people love helping customers find there way around in the retail business.

Marcus Buckingham needs a large crowd and a well prepared speech to be his strongest in speaking. My friend needs a room full of youth to feel strong in speaking. I like adult crowds without too much preparation so I have room for ad lib.

I think it's all about looking for the "balancers" in our lives.

Is there someone in your life who loves holding friends accountable to a goal, or a way to have your deadlines set by someone else? It may be that you need to find that new perspective on self-imposed deadlines: could you see it as a game or get that feeling of crisis by telling many people of your personally set deadline?

It's such an adventure to explore these things. What would happen if we never learned about our strengths?

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Permalink Reply by Kerry Pile on June 2, 2012 at 8:01pm

Thanks for discussing this with me.

I have tried sharing my deadline with others several times and being held accountable that way. I've done this by announcing my intentions on my blog and to friends and family. But that hasn't helped much. I'm working on being more consistent with my efforts by filling in a calender and crossing off the items when I've completed them. (I feel like I'm 10 yrs old) I'd be interested in any other ideas you may have.

If we never learn about our strengths I guess we'd never cater to them and grow. We'd be forever struggling to improve, and wondering why we're not.

I do think balance is paramount to living a successful life as well. It is another aspect I am working on. Sometimes it is easier than other times.

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