Part one of a hopefully 5 part series about my strengths. My #1 strength according to this thing: Maximizer. I find it interesting that this is my #1 strength, wouldn't exactly have put myself on that as #1. Here's what it says my strengths are, with my comments following. Would love to hear your thoughts.
Maximizer:
Excellence, not average, is your measure. Taking something from below average to slightly above average takes a great deal of effort and in your opinion is not very rewarding.
Transforming something strong into something superb takes just as much effort but is much more thrilling.
This part I'm not sure about... I always thought of myself as an 80 for 20 guy. Get it good enough. In fact, I think one of my weaknesses is doing the last 20%. I really think that I'm more of a "take something that's way below average and turn it into something that's awesome" is more me. I'd rather be the Brewers GM and work on making them a champion rather than the Yankees GM and feel like I've failed if I don't win the World Series every year.
Strengths, whether yours or someone else's, fascinate you. ... having found a strength, you feel compelled to nurture it, refine it, and stretch it toward excellence.
I can definitely see that in me... I recently had a nice long chat with a former intern I managed, and she tells me that one of the best things I did was allow her to run with her ideas.
You choose to spend time with people who appreciate your particular strengths... You tend to avoid those who want to fix you and make you well rounded.
Very true. The people I enjoy hanging out with the most (many of whom read this blog) have been the ones who have been most encouraging to me. You know who you are! On the flip side, I've started rebelling at people at work (albeit well intentioned) who have advised me to "just suck it up" in my current role.
Likewise, you are attracted to others who seem to have found and cultivated their own strengths.
Close... I actually am attracted more to people who are findING and cultivatING their own strengths. See above about nurturing other people's strengths.
So overall, other than the first point, this seems to fit me. The insight that it gave me was how I tend to avoid people who try to make me "well rounded." Hopefully recognizing that will allow me to take feedback better. Thoughts?
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3 comments:
Maximizer also sounds like the need to continuously build or improve something.
You would probably be bored in a role where the goal was to do it well and then repeat everyday.
Maximizers are probably the guys who build Google, then bail once it gets big to do something else.
i whole-heartedly agree with Dave, especially on his last line. I think this is why many of your ideas for new businesses are actually extensions onto current businesses. For example, kids buy books, you brainstormed how to make it better/easier. Same for the baseball diamond idea, etc.
Dave, interesting last point... a Maximizer according to my interpretation would be someone who takes over Google, IPOs it, and runs it as a corporation. Are you seeing it differently?
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