Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums

ScotiaCoast · 08-09-2008, 05:27 PM

I recently picked up a copy of Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath, and completed an online assessment of the same name using a code that was included in the book. I really like the idea of playing to your strengths (although I'm not opposed to honing those that aren't so sharp!), however, I find that the descriptions of the 34 strengths in the book are quite brief and vague. I just wanted to see what others think of these "strengths", and what interests/university majors/careers they think would benefit from a combination of them! I'm also wondering if anyone else has ever read the book/taken the assessment, what their results were, and if they found it useful in their personal development! Thanks guys

Futuristic: People who are especially talented in the Futuristic theme are inspired by the future and what could be. They inspire others with their visions of the future.

Restorative: People who are especially talented in the Restorative theme are adept at dealing with problems. They are good at figuring out what is wrong and resolving it.

Input: People who are especially talented in the Input theme have a craving to know more. Often they like to collect and archive all kinds of information.

Ideation: People who are especially talented in the Ideation theme are fascinated by ideas. They are able to find connections between seemingly disparate phenomena.

Intellection: People who are especially talented in the Intellection theme are characterized by their intellectual activity. They are introspective and appreciate intellectual discussions.

They all seem like rather boring talents to me!

seeker5 · 08-09-2008, 08:13 PM

I've taken the test, thought not the 2.0 yet, just the original test. The results are still broken into the same talents though. Mine were all different from yours:

Competitive

Analytical

Strategic

Focus

Deliberative

I loved the test, helps me understand my interests better.

Lanya · 08-09-2008, 09:26 PM

Engineering? I see ideation and futuristic great for coming up with new designs. Restorative, input, and intellection would help with resolving any issues that come up while transforming the idea into a product. But maybe I'm just biased because I'm studying Electrical Engineering.

As for my personal experience: I did the assessment and everything last fall, but it didn't mean much to me. Maybe at a later time, when I have a different perspective, I could see it being very helpful.

Kaspian · 08-10-2008, 01:07 AM

I took it years ago and got:

Learner
Activator
Strategic
Command
Self-Assurance

I have found it quite useful. Here's one important example: As a kid, my brothers and cousins labeled me as bossy. As I grew up, I wanted to avoid pissing people off by being bossy, so I tried to avoid telling people what to do, even though I was fighting my nature. For several years I was quite self-conscious about it. After taking the test I was able to see Command as a strength instead, which gave me permission to be myself again. It was such a relief!!

Being comfortable telling people what to do makes teaching horn feel natural.

As I'm writing this, I am seeing how the other strengths add to my teaching experience, too:

Self-Assurance—My confidence in my skills & knowledge can add my students' confidence in the skills they're learning.
Learner—Desiring to add to my skills & knowledge means I'm often exploring new horn exercises and trying out different practice ideas.
Strategic—Good planning and problem-solving skills help me figure out what kinds of exercises and which music will best to help my students meet their goals.
Activator—I get excited about getting started and making progress on things, and I easily jump into my own projects, both on and off the horn. This makes me a good cheerleader for my students—Make a decision, and then jump in & get going on it!

The Activator strength can be quite fun. BAM—rearrange a room. BAM—rip out large sections of lawn and plant gardens. BAM—I'm moving to a new city to be with a guy I recently met. (The Self-Assurance in me knew I made a good decision, though, and we got married years later. He's still the most wonderful person in my world besides me.

) And sometimes.... a housemate cleaning the bathroom walls turns into—BAM—delightfully ripping out tile, the first step in a full bathroom remodel. And then I did nothing with it for the next 15+ months.

Fortunately, most of the time the strategic in me balances the activator, helping me think through the possibilities before the decision is made.

When I read your strengths—Futuristic, Restorative, Input, Ideation, and Intellection—I see creative possibilities, too. Inventing, engineering, R & D, or maybe some sort of consultant who solves problems for businesses. There's a guy in Seattle who has made millions solving tricky engineering issues for Boeing, for instance. And a friend told me about a guy who can see what is going on in a business, see what's working & what isn't, figure what to change & how, boil the essentials down into a single page, and get paid thousands for a single consultation. (I just emailed my friend asking for the guy's name.) Sounds like he's using at least a few of your strengths!

supertom · 08-10-2008, 02:41 AM

i think its wise to redo the test every few years cause mine have changed, since my beliefs and values have change.

openyourize · 08-11-2008, 05:08 PM

i dont think those strengths are boring at all! you sound like a person who could make a lot of difference in the world! maybe they just sound boring to YOU because you are so used to them and they seem so common to you because it is simply what you ARE and have always been.

Remiel · 08-11-2008, 10:04 PM

Well interestingly enough I have 3 of your talents :P.

Mine were
Futuristic
Input
Strategic
Ideation
Activator

Interestingly enough I was able to identify how I used 4 of my 5 talents for my best project in school. Basically it was the hardest class for my degree and I was able to whip out the winning program (was a class competition) in 3 days. Its because I was able to use all my talents but input (and even then I used it, just not actively at that point) to find a solution to the problem that worked the best.

One thing to remember is that your talents do not define your work. Your goal should be to use your talents no matter what your work may be.

straysweeper · 08-11-2008, 10:47 PM

I took the 2.0 back around December.

Ideation
Responsibility
Restorative
Intellection
Connectedness

(I also posted under previous name KnightofRound but wanted a shift).

I have found a lot of these to be true, but my trick is when applying to myself I tend to get overwhelmed, uncertain, confused, etc. If not that, then I just keep learning and never applying anything.

So, I've decided to change my environment. I'm looking for others to grow with. If you have a desire to please email me or IM me.

demideagon@yahoo.com
mrthinktank@aol.com
silversweeper@gmail.com

I look forward to hearing from you.

PerDev · 11-11-2009, 07:06 AM

I have taken the test ..

Mine are ..

Ideation
Input
Intellection
Futuristic
Maximizer

Seems most of this forums atleast habe Ideation, Input and Intelliction

What does my strength means, what do you think guys?

Michael Chui · 11-11-2009, 07:46 AM

Restorative
Strategic
Input
Connectedness
Futuristic

I can't tell how much of that was driven by flipping around here this evening. And I'm surprised I didn't get Intellection. I also think Futuristic was overweighted; I answered in favor of the future a lot, but I haven't played the futurist for a long while now. I think that's more a product of my job (being a web developer makes it useless to speculate about the latest thing when I still have to support IE6) than anything particularly bad; my philosophy is still heavily future-oriented.

PerDev · 11-11-2009, 08:52 AM

This is what it means ..
Ideation You are fascinated by ideas.
Input You collection information – words, facts, books and quotations.
Intellection You like to think. You like mental activity.
Futuristic “Wouldn’t it be great if …” The future fascinates you.
Maximizer Excellence, not average, is your measure.

But its still very confusing, and it does not give toal clarity to my Strengths.

Do you have different perception to look at it ?

How about the book i am going to read now which is named
Is your Genius at work?

Quote:

Originally Posted by PerDev

I have taken the test ..

Mine are ..

Ideation
Input
Intellection
Futuristic
Maximizer

Seems most of this forums atleast habe Ideation, Input and Intelliction

What does my strength means, what do you think guys?

PerDev · 11-11-2009, 08:59 AM

This is the link where lot of links given

50 Free Online Tools to Discover Your Strengths, Weaknesses, and Hidden Talents | Best Universities

One of them is Personality Test - Keirsey Temperament Website

vartann · 11-28-2009, 03:38 AM

my strength lies in being unabashed at realizing that i have no strengths

08-09-2008, 05:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
ScotiaCoast Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 31	Strengths I recently picked up a copy of Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath, and completed an online assessment of the same name using a code that was included in the book. I really like the idea of playing to your strengths (although I'm not opposed to honing those that aren't so sharp!), however, I find that the descriptions of the 34 strengths in the book are quite brief and vague. I just wanted to see what others think of these "strengths", and what interests/university majors/careers they think would benefit from a combination of them! I'm also wondering if anyone else has ever read the book/taken the assessment, what their results were, and if they found it useful in their personal development! Thanks guys Futuristic: People who are especially talented in the Futuristic theme are inspired by the future and what could be. They inspire others with their visions of the future. Restorative: People who are especially talented in the Restorative theme are adept at dealing with problems. They are good at figuring out what is wrong and resolving it. Input: People who are especially talented in the Input theme have a craving to know more. Often they like to collect and archive all kinds of information. Ideation: People who are especially talented in the Ideation theme are fascinated by ideas. They are able to find connections between seemingly disparate phenomena. Intellection: People who are especially talented in the Intellection theme are characterized by their intellectual activity. They are introspective and appreciate intellectual discussions. They all seem like rather boring talents to me! Last edited by ScotiaCoast; 08-09-2008 at 08:17 PM.

08-09-2008, 09:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
Lanya Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 307	Engineering? I see ideation and futuristic great for coming up with new designs. Restorative, input, and intellection would help with resolving any issues that come up while transforming the idea into a product. But maybe I'm just biased because I'm studying Electrical Engineering. As for my personal experience: I did the assessment and everything last fall, but it didn't mean much to me. Maybe at a later time, when I have a different perspective, I could see it being very helpful. Last edited by Lanya; 08-09-2008 at 09:29 PM.

08-10-2008, 01:07 AM	#4 (permalink)
Kaspian Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Washington State Posts: 501	I took it years ago and got: Learner Activator Strategic Command Self-Assurance I have found it quite useful. Here's one important example: As a kid, my brothers and cousins labeled me as bossy. As I grew up, I wanted to avoid pissing people off by being bossy, so I tried to avoid telling people what to do, even though I was fighting my nature. For several years I was quite self-conscious about it. After taking the test I was able to see Command as a strength instead, which gave me permission to be myself again. It was such a relief!! Being comfortable telling people what to do makes teaching horn feel natural. As I'm writing this, I am seeing how the other strengths add to my teaching experience, too: Self-Assurance—My confidence in my skills & knowledge can add my students' confidence in the skills they're learning. Learner—Desiring to add to my skills & knowledge means I'm often exploring new horn exercises and trying out different practice ideas. Strategic—Good planning and problem-solving skills help me figure out what kinds of exercises and which music will best to help my students meet their goals. Activator—I get excited about getting started and making progress on things, and I easily jump into my own projects, both on and off the horn. This makes me a good cheerleader for my students—Make a decision, and then jump in & get going on it! The Activator strength can be quite fun. BAM—rearrange a room. BAM—rip out large sections of lawn and plant gardens. BAM—I'm moving to a new city to be with a guy I recently met. (The Self-Assurance in me knew I made a good decision, though, and we got married years later. He's still the most wonderful person in my world besides me. ) And sometimes.... a housemate cleaning the bathroom walls turns into—BAM—delightfully ripping out tile, the first step in a full bathroom remodel. And then I did nothing with it for the next 15+ months. Fortunately, most of the time the strategic in me balances the activator, helping me think through the possibilities before the decision is made. When I read your strengths—Futuristic, Restorative, Input, Ideation, and Intellection—I see creative possibilities, too. Inventing, engineering, R & D, or maybe some sort of consultant who solves problems for businesses. There's a guy in Seattle who has made millions solving tricky engineering issues for Boeing, for instance. And a friend told me about a guy who can see what is going on in a business, see what's working & what isn't, figure what to change & how, boil the essentials down into a single page, and get paid thousands for a single consultation. (I just emailed my friend asking for the guy's name.) Sounds like he's using at least a few of your strengths!

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08-09-2008, 08:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
seeker5 Family Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 3,606	I've taken the test, thought not the 2.0 yet, just the original test. The results are still broken into the same talents though. Mine were all different from yours: Competitive Analytical Strategic Focus Deliberative I loved the test, helps me understand my interests better.

08-10-2008, 02:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
supertom Banned Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Homeless Posts: 3,548	i think its wise to redo the test every few years cause mine have changed, since my beliefs and values have change.

08-11-2008, 05:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
openyourize Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chicago area, IL Posts: 152	i dont think those strengths are boring at all! you sound like a person who could make a lot of difference in the world! maybe they just sound boring to YOU because you are so used to them and they seem so common to you because it is simply what you ARE and have always been.

08-11-2008, 10:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
Remiel Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 470	Well interestingly enough I have 3 of your talents :P. Mine were Futuristic Input Strategic Ideation Activator Interestingly enough I was able to identify how I used 4 of my 5 talents for my best project in school. Basically it was the hardest class for my degree and I was able to whip out the winning program (was a class competition) in 3 days. Its because I was able to use all my talents but input (and even then I used it, just not actively at that point) to find a solution to the problem that worked the best. One thing to remember is that your talents do not define your work. Your goal should be to use your talents no matter what your work may be.

08-11-2008, 10:47 PM	#8 (permalink)
straysweeper Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 459	I took the 2.0 back around December. Ideation Responsibility Restorative Intellection Connectedness (I also posted under previous name KnightofRound but wanted a shift). I have found a lot of these to be true, but my trick is when applying to myself I tend to get overwhelmed, uncertain, confused, etc. If not that, then I just keep learning and never applying anything. So, I've decided to change my environment. I'm looking for others to grow with. If you have a desire to please email me or IM me. demideagon@yahoo.com mrthinktank@aol.com silversweeper@gmail.com I look forward to hearing from you.

11-11-2009, 07:06 AM	#9 (permalink)
PerDev Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 591	I have taken the test .. Mine are .. Ideation Input Intellection Futuristic Maximizer Seems most of this forums atleast habe Ideation, Input and Intelliction What does my strength means, what do you think guys?

11-11-2009, 07:46 AM	#10 (permalink)
Michael Chui Family Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Seattle, Washington, USA Posts: 3,977	Restorative Strategic Input Connectedness Futuristic I can't tell how much of that was driven by flipping around here this evening. And I'm surprised I didn't get Intellection. I also think Futuristic was overweighted; I answered in favor of the future a lot, but I haven't played the futurist for a long while now. I think that's more a product of my job (being a web developer makes it useless to speculate about the latest thing when I still have to support IE6) than anything particularly bad; my philosophy is still heavily future-oriented.

11-11-2009, 08:59 AM	#12 (permalink)
PerDev Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 591	This is the link where lot of links given 50 Free Online Tools to Discover Your Strengths, Weaknesses, and Hidden Talents \| Best Universities One of them is Personality Test - Keirsey Temperament Website

11-28-2009, 03:38 AM	#13 (permalink)
vartann Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: VietNam Posts: 276	my strength lies in being unabashed at realizing that i have no strengths

Personal Development for Smart PeopleTM Forums

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