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 curious to know what had happened to the 900 children I had taught over my years in teaching so I set up a Facebook group and posted a few ancient class photos. In less than 3 weeks the group has attracted more than a hundred of my former pupils. They have triggered long-forgotten memories and provided anecdotes for the book I’m writing… about inspired teaching!
So really I’ve used my top three strengths: curiosity; love of learning; and social intelligence!
Isn’t the Internet an amazing invention?!
Determined to to find a strategy for a colleague’s complaint about my work performance I enrolled in a Conflict Resolution course. There I learned to adopt a common viewing point rather than an opposing view about his complaint. At the next complaint I walked to his side of the workbench and said to him to please now regard me as his partner to help us locate a solution suitable for both of us to fix his problem.
Result; his complaints ceased.
Hi 🙂
I have got an MBA, Master in Business Administration, when I realised I am no Master at all. But a neophyte, who had just only started. This makes me wonder why the term ‘Master’ was used, though most graduates are far from being a Master. Thus, ever since, I seek to understand what it mean to be a Master of anything … and my “love for learning” to hope to Master something. Now! I am a BBA – Beginner in Business Administration.
Therefore, in my pursuit of Mastery, I appreciate the need for “vitality” to energise the process. I am grateful to meet some elderly Masters who are as good as any untrained young men. I hope to say one day “I have Mastery in Thinking, and an effective leader” but I am happy to settle with being an ‘enlighten’ beginner.
Enjoy
I remember when I first got back into riding my bike as an adult.
A friend had started a bike-making workshop which involved design, art, food and community. Having a previous life as a chef, and studying design, I became involved and particularly got into the catering side.
I resisted riding my bike for months though. I was too scared.
So it was with an open mouth that my friend watched me arrive for an event one night, with the back of my bike loaded so high with stockpots, chopping boards and wooden spoons that I had to lean it all the way over to get off!
I am not suprised that my No1 strength is Humour. All of my life I have been the life and soul of the party. I can see a funny side in everything that I do and without doubt humour is the greatest quality that I posess, Why? because it helps me to overcome pain, adversity and all of lifes challenges. If I can see the funny side of a situation means that I can move from cvs to bvs.
Peserverence: After a successful military career achieving many personal and team goals. I was looking to change careers. I had been on a Pacific cruise on a cruise liner and felt that this would suit my skill set and need 4 more challenge. I had no idea of how to go about getting a postion, I only knew this what I desired, I made the big decision to leave the military and set about my goal. After a year of settling in to being a civvie, I still desired a job on cruise shipping. An opportunity finally came about and I jumped at it. It wasn’t exactly what I desired but a start no doubt. After 6 months working, I applied 4 another postion on the ship but was told I would have to leave the company I worked 4 to take up the other postion. After all this change I finally reached my goal.
Cretivity and Curiosity
I have always seek new things. Whether it is a new job or a new hobby or a new form of exercise.
Recently, I have discovered biking and cannot go 1 week without getting on my bike. A the beginning I could only master a few blocks around the neighbourhood. Now I can ride for hours and explore new surroundings that I didn’t even know existed. My curiosity has taken me to places where I got lost and had to ask for direction to get back. But it is fun and you get to meet great people along the way and see new places. I love it.
JFM
Wa uke is a circular block. To perform it well you need to feel the attack coming, to see it coming and react with it, no strenght is requirred. The opponent will feel nearly nothing, no resistence, yet he will be lead far away from his goal. A very difficult block to perform. When I was performing it as a black belt with a friend who was also a black belt he was amazed at my performance and to be honest I was amazed at his amazement. How do you do it he asked. Simple I thoght, but simple it was not, it took a lot of training , visualisation, feeling and most of all beleif in the success to come.
Persistence (with a touch of beleif)
Open-mindedness
well, just a few days ago at work, I got an email from a junior employee telling my team what work to do. I instantly felt like this person was trying to bypass my authority. I controlled myself from replying immediately. Then i remembered one saying “do not attribute mistakes to malice, when it could be incompetence”. Later I talked to the employee in person and he immediately apologized and agreed to be more careful in the future. So all is well that ends well 🙂
My love of learning and my learning by teaching has made me think a lot about myself in my interaction with my two kids ; trying to be a better father has made improve as a person .