The only thing more interesting than a story about another person is a story about our own self.
Why is this so?
Because, naturally, most of us are more interested in reading about ourselves than reading a condensed history of the ten most famous people who ever lived.
This is the natural way of human behaviour and there doesn’t seem to be any indication that this is suddenly about to change.
DFQ #07:
In 100 words or less, post a story about yourself.Focus on your Top Strength from DFQ#6 and think of an amusing story that illustrates, or derives from, your top strength.
As you think about this story, recall some details about the setting, the people involved, the provocation and the ‘punch line’ or the outcome.
Don’t feel the need to interpret the story or comment too much on it–just tell it!
We are your devoted audience. Make it a good one 🙂
(NOTE: I realise this is a bit like karaoke and asks you to step-up. But if this DFQ is not for you, no problem, just skip it. All SOT training (even leadership training) is opt-in/opt-out).
I was told that I have a large amount of blood clots sitting my brain.
It was a hard moment full of questions and fear, but within minutes I turned to my husband and said, well they found it and can treat it and I’ll be back to normal before we know it. Aren’t we lucky they found it before I had a stoke? Perspective is a wonderful thing, Hope is even better.
Persistence – seeking Mrs Right for Me. Eddison made over 10,000 light globes before he got it right, so I have a way to go, but will continue the search!
‘Love of learning’ has helped me to build a large collection of information on weird and wonderful topics. Not enough to be an expert in any area, but enough to get strange looks from my wife as she wonders how i can recall obscure snippets of information but cant remember to put the bin out 🙂
Only recently I took up australian citizenship. It took me 15 years of living in Australia to decide to take the ‘jump’ – it always feels somewhat like giving up your origins, even if the law does not force you to do so.
The deciding factor for me was the realisation that laws can change at the wims of politicians, and there was a possibility (ever so slight) that one day I would be returning to Australia and suddenly denied entry…
So I guess Critical Thinking this win in the end! Some strenghs can take a while to shine through…
Not for me .
When my grandmother died, on my mother’s side, we naturally attended the cremation. Now, my mother, being part of a very close-knit family was understandably upset. My Father was a reserved man with a good sense of humour when the situation warranted it.
My sister and I sat in the uncomfortable silence as we exited the crematorium and it was her who chose to break the ugly silence.
sniffing at the air she innocently exclaimed “Hey someone’s having a BBQ”
My Father was the first to begin to shake, then Mum, eventually the whole car was rocking. Just at that moment the road split into 4 lanes and my uncle and his family pulled alongside and peered into our vehicle…….
Citizenship (importance of teams)
Having grown up playing teams sports and working in a team environment, I have always valued the importance of teams at different levels. My 9 year old daughter has recently started playing netball and it is interesting to observe the different approaches to team dynamics at that age group on a Saturday morning. I have tried to stress to her the importance of being part of and supprting the team, even when it is her turn to “sit off” or she is asked to play a position she doesn’t like.
As humility was my No6 strength, I will pass on this one.
I often say that Integrity is free.
Many years ago I was tendering for some mine equipment in WA. We were doing the tender evaluation when one of the tenderers, offered me anything I wanted if they were to win the tender. This was my first experience with graft & corruption.
My response was to have them struck from that tender, and removed from all company tenders (across all sites) for the next two years. Which they thought was grossly unfair.
The irony was that if they had not made the offer they would have won the equipment supply contract. C’est la vie.
Wotcha all
Children have a way of bringing the best and the worst in one’s traits or strengths that often expose huge weaknesses. Some of my strengths are supposedly vitality, humility & modesty, and forgiveness. So recently having lost a bit of weight and taken up cycling and feeling full of vitality I was riding back from a trip to the local video store with my son when we approached the bottom of a steep incline. The alpha male thing kicked in and the challenge was on to get to the top first. Being of a modest disposition I gave him a bit of a start before unleashing all my newfound energy on the hapless heir only to be humiliated some minutes later when I pulled up at the top to be greeted by him waiting for me standing astride his bike grinning from ear to ear. So after a few choice words about lack of respect and so on I exercised another strength and forgave him.