Any readers of Now, Discover Your Strengths?

[Dave Kaminski]

I think this book has a lot of potential for me. I read it and did the strength finder profile, and found my top five strengths and wasn't surprised. However, I think these strengths would help to fit me in a position somewhere that I could excel in, or show me some sort of entrepreneurial venture I could start or a major part I could play in an entrepreneurial venture. You guys want to help? Here are my top 5.

Woo- People strong in the Woo theme love the challenge of meeting new people and winning them over. They derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection with another person.

Intellection- People strong in the Intellection theme are characterized by their intellectual activity. They are introspective and appreciate intellectual discussions.

Connectedness- People strong in the Connectedness theme have faith in the links between all things. They believe there are few coincidences and that almost every event has a reason.

Communication- People strong in the Communication theme generally find it easy to put their thoughts into words. They are good conversationalists and presenters.

Focus- People strong in the Focus theme can take a direction, follow through, and make the corrections necessary to stay on track. They prioritize, then act.

[RT Wolf]

^ Cool. I just got a copy of it from the libary. I'll read it and let ya know.

[ViceVirtue]

This and the other two books in Marcus Buckingham's 'trilogy' of sorts are probably all in my top-10 on my bookshelf.

Unfortunately it's pricey for an individual ($100 something) since it is being marketed toward organizations, but for further information on the subject of finding your strengths can be found in then short film series "Trombone Player Wanted" if you want to check that out.

Only last point to note - you might either want to re-take that test in the future or be slightly wary of its results. Perhaps I just suck at consistency, am highly influenced by my mindset at the time, or have really changed, but I've taken the test twice, a year apart, and had significantly different results.

Approx. 2 years ago:
1. Restorative
2. Futuristic
3. Competition
4. Strategic
5. Focus

Approx. 1 year ago:
1. Futuristic
2. Learner
3. Maximizer
4. Input
5. Relator

[Steve Pavlina]

I read the book earlier this year and took the Strengths Finder test. My top 5 strengths were (in order):

1. Strategic
2. Input
3. Learner
4. Focus
5. Significance

I thought my test results were pretty accurate. I'm extremely strategic in how I run my business and life, favoring a top-down approach from planning to action. I take in tons of input to keep fresh ideas churning. I learn quickly. I focus my energies well. And I have a strong desire to make a significant impact on the world.

I highly recommend the book, but I think the online test is the most interesting part. Just make sure you don't get a used copy, since it's likely the code that comes with the book won't work. Each code is good for only one use.

[Hartmut]

I read the book and did the test about 4 years ago.
Thats my result:

1.) Achiever
2.) Intellection
3.) Learner
4.) Deliberative
5.) Strategic

I can remember that I found the results to be quite accurate. As I reread the testreport today I still think that they descripe the way I work/think.

[Dbarker]

I have read all of the Strengths books and have implemented the philosophy at our school. I am a huge believer in them as I have seen the use in many areas and the atmosphere at work improve.

One example: I am not an organized person. In so many self-improvement conversations (books, forums, etc.) I have heard people say basically, "just get it done." When I decided to search my strengths for ways to be more organized, I realized that my competition theme (comparing to others, keeping score, etc.) could help. I had a grant monitoring project that needed organized and I realized if I approached it with a mindset of having a better process and organization than others, I would get it done. And did.

Anyway, I really believe it works if we continue to look at and search for the nuances of our strengths. I've been working with Strengths in a school setting for three years and can't wait to see the results after we do some work with our students.

My top 5 (and you'll see why action can be an issue ) - Ideation, Learner, Futuristic, Strategic, Competition.

[Holistic Star]

I was lucky enough to get the full readout through work a few years ago (all 34 in order) rather than just the top five. I was given a personal reading and in that it isn't just the order, but the relative positions between things that can affect the interpretation.

My top strength was Empathy. Until I did the test I didn't know this was a strength. I just thought it was normal to be able to tune into what people were feeling and understand things from their perspective even if I didn't necessarily agree with it.

My next three were similar: Input, Learner and Intellection in that I like thinking and understanding, I'm always reading and surfing the net for interesting information.

My fifth was Adaptability so I am good at dealing with change.

My lowest was Discipline (no surprises for anyone who knows me there) but fortunately I have Arranger and Responsibility in my top 10, so use those strengths to get things done.

I did find it useful, especially as I had a 1:1 session with a practitioner to explain it all. I'd be interested to do it again to see how changing as a person, changes your score.

[RT Wolf]

I've got a question for those people who have read it:

I have often find tests which are supposed to tell me about myself to be self-confirming. That is, when I'm in an organized/organizing mood, I'll get a result that says I'm organized. If I've recently told myself (or heard) that I'm a smart person, I score better on tests requiring intelligence. Basically, this all has to do with the committment and consistancy tendancy of humans.

Is this test self-confirming like that?

I'll read the book to find out specifically, but I'd love to hear any thoughts.

[M13]

I went through the book about 18 months ago with the people in my department. We work well together and it was interesting that each person shared one strength with one other person who shared a different strength with someone else on the team. One of my coworkers was unhappy with his results because each strengths was similar. Made him feel one dimensional. . A few months later when our department was reorganized he took the test again and the results were virtually identical.
I recently went back and reviewed the results. I have my strengths printed out and posted to my wall.

1. Achiever
2. Focus
3. Intellection
4. Maximizer
5. Responsibility

Seems accurate to me. Interesting that several people here posted inellection as one of their strengths.

[Cat Dancer]

Originally Posted by Dave Kaminski

I think these strengths would help to fit me in a position somewhere that I could excel in, or show me some sort of entrepreneurial venture I could start or a major part I could play in an entrepreneurial venture.

One of the coolest passages in the book for me was on page 165: "Steve S. and Victoria S. are both successful entrepreneurs, and yet Steve's top five [strengths] are [...], while Victoria's are [...]". Their strengths were very different. Yet both were successful entrepreneurs. They succeeded because they partnered with, or employed people, who had complimentary strengths.

So it seems to me a first question is: What do you want to do? Or, what do you want to experience?

Then with a goal in mind, we can look at your strengths and say how you may most easily accomplish it.

[Dave Kaminski]

Originally Posted by Cat Dancer

One of the coolest passages in the book for me was on page 165: "Steve S. and Victoria S. are both successful entrepreneurs, and yet Steve's top five [strengths] are [...], while Victoria's are [...]". Their strengths were very different. Yet both were successful entrepreneurs. They succeeded because they partnered with, or employed people, who had complimentary strengths.

So it seems to me a first question is: What do you want to do? Or, what do you want to experience?

Then with a goal in mind, we can look at your strengths and say how you may most easily accomplish it.

Therein lies the rub! I don't know what I want to do, that's why I'm looking for suggestions. I know I can shine really anywhere, mostly because I care to. A lot of people just go to work to go to work, but I need to be part of something bigger.

I couldn't work for a nonprofit though, I have a yearning for moolah. I was hoping this would be sort of a focus group for my path to career choice.

I could sell well, I'd kick ass at HR or PR, I'd make an excellent marketing goon, and my brain is always working. I just don't know what or where I'm wanted or needed!

My modesty helps too.

[Dbarker]

Originally Posted by Dave Kaminski

I couldn't work for a nonprofit though, I have a yearning for moolah. I was hoping this would be sort of a focus group for my path to career choice.

I could sell well, I'd kick ass at HR or PR, I'd make an excellent marketing goon, and my brain is always working. I just don't know what or where I'm wanted or needed!

You Woo and Communication would certainly lend themselves to meeting people and talking to them about something of which you are passionate. Educating others, consulting or seminar presentation all seem to fit. I do, however, agree with Cat Dancer that whatever you choose, continually work at developing and using your strengths to excel in your chosen field. Find something you love to do and do it.

I'm in a similar situation, but have decided that whatever I am doing right now is on the path to greater things. I meditate and use intention-manifestation to have the direction come to me.

[Cat Dancer]

Originally Posted by Dave Kaminski

I couldn't work for a nonprofit though, I have a yearning for moolah.

I'm first going to address this point, because it is a common misperception that there is a conflict between doing good works (through a non-profit or not) and making money. Then I'll address your central concern, what you want to do.

Working for a non-profit doesn't prevent you from making money. You can be a chief executive of a non-profit and make $2 million a year, if that is the value that you bring to the cause. (The Chronicle: 9/28/2006: Top Nonprofit Executives See Healthy Pay Raises)

Nor does being a "non-profit" mean that an organization is doing good work. The National Association of Chemical Polluters is a non-profit. (OK, so they don't actually have "Polluters" in their name

A "non-profit" is merely a tax vehicle which allows additional donations to be raised and thus has a few corresponding rules that need to be followed. Once you decide what you want to do, and how much money you want to make, whether or not to do it as a non-profit is merely a technical decision.

So don't decide now "I want to work at a non-profit" or "I don't want to work at a non-profit". Leave the decison for later for when you have more information. And if it turns out that your thought is correct, and you won't be working for a non-profit, that's fine. Or you might be surprised and be working at a non-profit (perhaps because you started one!) And that's fine too. For now, leave your options open. The question isn't very important right now.

Now, on to your real question, "I don't know what I want to do, that's why I'm looking for suggestions."

Look at the world and see what you desire to change.

What don't you like out in the world? What makes you mad? I mean, MAD. Or, what makes you SAD? Or, what do you wish there was more of? What do you find EXCITING?

What is your goal for income?

Then use your talents of selling well, to kick ass at HR and PR, to both A) effect a change, and B) make the money you want to make.

"I don't know what I want to do, that's why I'm looking for suggestions."

I suspect your desire muscle is weak. You need to exercise it.

A common occurrence is that children growing up are told what to do by their parents... then in school, they are told what to learn... then they get a job, and are told what to work on. Having never exercised their desire much (aside from a lower energy pursuits such as being entertained), they don't know how to desire. So they say, "I don't know what I want to do, tell me, give me suggestions".

You may find yourself feeling awkward as you take your first stumbling steps to exercise your desire. You have great skills, you're an adult, your ego is pretty happy... and then, you start on a new path, you're not very good at first, and your ego isn't too happy. You may need to tell your ego, "deal with it".

The way to develop your desire is to follow it. In the beginning your desire may be weak, hard to hear, fuzzy. You think, "gee, I guess I'm kind of upset a bit maybe by this situation I heard about, but I'm not sure". The trick is then to follow up on that desire, even though you aren't sure. Go see for yourself. Take action. A small action. Help one person. Not indirectly, by helping some cause or by giving money to a non-profit, but by helping that one person yourself. Directly.

(Your ego may not be happy. "I have great skills. I can kiss ass. And I'm piddling about helping just one person when I could be rolling out a big PR campaign?" Tell your ego that you are practicing and you are going to kick ass soon).

As you follow your desire and take action, your desire will become stronger. You'll say, "Wait a minute! I really care about this!"

I recommend you listen to these talks:

http://ted.streamguys.net/ted_carter_m_2006.mp3
http://ted.streamguys.net/ted_sinclair_c_2006.mp3
http://ted.streamguys.net/ted_noujaim_j_2006.mp3
http://ted.streamguys.net/ted_brilliant_l_2006.mp3
http://ted.streamguys.net/ted_smith_a_2006.mp3
http://ted.streamguys.net/ted_ensler_e_2004.mp3

I do not say you need to listen to each one all the way through. I do recommend you listen to each one for a minute. If after a minute, if it doesn't catch your attention, if it doesn't sound interesting, skip it. Go to the next one.

Pay attention to your emotion. Get out of your head for a moment. As you listen, notice if you feel something in your gut. Not just intellectual, "why yes that is problem", but when do you feel an emotional reaction. It may not be a strong reaction, and that's OK.

If you want more help, report back on if, and where, you got a reaction.

[Dave Kaminski]

A lot of stuff makes me mad but it's stuff I don't think I'd care to be involved in. Stuff like unions who don't like to work but want more money for doing less and less, and construction crews who do as little as possible for as long as possible and cops who do detail work but just stand around and don't even do the ridiculously simple job they have.

I love to help people make more money in their businesses with my knowledge of marketing and operations and pr and sales but I think consultants aren't looked at too highly and I don't want to be seen as a pain in the ass, also their job is more to sell than to efficiently assist the business at hand, as that's how they make their money, selling their service and not refining it. I'd rather sell something for a company that I know is doing their best to provide the service I'm selling for them, if you catch my drift.

I should make a "grinds my gears" list like peter griffin.

Any suggestions after further discussion?

p.s.: Vagina monologues lady? Worth a laugh thanks for brightening up my day with that one haha.

[songwriter]

I don't have the book, so I don't have the code. Some people in the web say that this is a similar test.

:: Authentic Happiness :: Using the new Positive Psychology

"VIA Signature Strengths
Here are your scores on the VIA Signature Strengths Survey. For how to interpret and use your scores, see the book Authentic Happiness. The ranking of the strengths reflects your overall ratings of yourself on the 24 strengths in the survey, how much of each strength you possess. Your top five, especially those marked as Signature Strengths, are the ones to pay attention to and find ways to use more often.



Your Top Strength
Bravery and valor
You are a courageous person who does not shrink from threat, challenge, difficulty, or pain. You speak up for what is right even if there is opposition. You act on your convictions.

Your Second Strength
Creativity, ingenuity, and originality
Thinking of new ways to do things is a crucial part of who you are. You are never content with doing something the conventional way if a better way is possible.

Your Third Strength
Hope, optimism, and future-mindedness
You expect the best in the future, and you work to achieve it. You believe that the future is something that you can control.

Your Fourth Strength
Humor and playfulness
You like to laugh and tease. Bringing smiles to other people is important to you. You try to see the light side of all situations.

Your Fifth Strength
Perspective (wisdom)
Although you may not think of yourself as wise, your friends hold this view of you. They value your perspective on matters and turn to you for advice. You have a way of looking at the world that makes sense to others and to yourself"

Kind of a "entertainer"/artist soul. It seems I'm on the good track.

[Cat Dancer]

Originally Posted by Dave Kaminski

A lot of stuff makes me mad but it's stuff I don't think I'd care to be involved in. Stuff like unions who don't like to work but want more money for doing less and less, and construction crews who do as little as possible for as long as possible and cops who do detail work but just stand around and don't even do the ridiculously simple job they have.

Why does that make you mad?

I'm not saying it "shouldn't" make you mad, instead I'm saying that the fact that you get mad about is a clue.

Someone else might not care that there are lazy people in the world who work as little as possible. Someone else might say, "the sky is blue, death happens, ice is cold, some people are lazy". They'd just accept it. But you care. This is a clue.

Originally Posted by Dave Kaminski

I love to help people make more money in their businesses

Why would you love to help people make more money in their business? Again, not a trick question. Someone else might not care if other people made money. But you care. Again, this is a clue.

Originally Posted by Dave Kaminski

I think consultants aren't looked at too highly

By whom? If I hired a consultant, and they made me a lot of money, would I not think of him highly?

Or are you saying you don't think consulting is a high-status profession? Perhaps you don't want to go to a party and say, "hi, I'm a consultant"? Perhaps you'd like to be able to say something else?

Originally Posted by Dave Kaminski

I'd rather sell something for a company that I know is doing their best to provide the service I'm selling for them

How about selling something for a company that IS doing a good job at providing a service for their customers?

[Dave Kaminski]

Originally Posted by Cat Dancer

1 Why does that make you mad?

2 Why would you love to help people make more money in their business?

3 By whom?

4 How about selling something for a company that IS doing a good job at providing a service for their customers?

1.) It makes me mad because people seem so self centered that they don't care to help others around them benefit and prosper from their work. I think my theme of connectedness is possibly my strongest one.

2.) I like my work to be cost effective at the least. I want to add a legitimate benefit to the lives of others, not just go through the motions and get some useless job done. The who would be small to medium sized business owners. I feel like this is where the most passion and heart goes into work. Big business doesn't do much for me I don't think.

My dad is a role model of mine, he's a self employed body shop owner, and he is so detail oriented when he fixes a car all of his clients are proud to go to him.

3.) I think a lot of people would shy away if they heard 'consultant,' because they're not usually seen as extremely effective, in my opinion anyways. I don't know much about the field, that's just the 'vibe' I've gotten.

4.) That's what I'm trying to tie myself to. I'd make an excellent manufacturer's rep because I'd be able to help retailers move more stock of something, in turn raising their profit and mine. I don't know what I'd want to sell or who would be happy to see me walk through the door. I want to be able to make people happy to see me, I want to be looked up to as someone who helps other people before helping himself or while synergistically helping himself.

I've had a difficult time so far tying a position like this down. This board will definitely help me choose or derive a starting point. It's helped so much already.

[songwriter]

Hi Dave... well... if you are a consultant of companies that you have a bad opinion of them... it would drive you mad I think. I mean... you may think "I'm helping that guy to keep playing his game...". You'll understand me, I think.

Ok, then there is the option to be a consultant only of companies that you feel are worthwhile... this is hard to find, I think. Well, I don't know about how the things are where you live, but you may always find one of this business.
But you need more than one, I know...

Well, that's not easy... purpose in life is never easy...
Surely the problem for you will be to find these people... maybe little comerciants... as you Father, or so.

Well... my results on that test were kind of expected by me, except for Courage (#1). Especially if it's ranked in me above Creativity...

[Cat Dancer]

Originally Posted by Dave Kaminski

I've had a difficult time so far tying a position like this down.

OK, let me play back what I'm hearing and what I'm surmising. You tell me if I'm hot or cold.

You want to be in an environment where you can excel. You don't want to be held back by other people, especially by lazy or self centered people. You don't want to be stuck getting rewarded by an average of everyone's contribution, especially if the average isn't that good. (I.e., suppose you got a job that paid everyone who had that position exactly $60K a year. Now, to make payroll, the productive employees have to create value more than $60K a year to pay for the salary of the slackers who were creating value of less than $60K a year. You'd hate that).

Not only do you not want to be stuck getting rewarded by an average, you don't want your contribution being held back to the average of what most people are willing to do either. (Suppose you worked on a road crew... and no matter how much of a contribution you wanted to make, you couldn't go any faster than how fast everyone else on the crew was willing to go. You'd hate that too).

You want to find a company that sells an excellent service or product. A company that helps customers, has integrity, and provides a good value for the money.

For this company you'd like to be a salesperson. While for other people the thought of making cold calls and going from door to door or from business to business meeting potential customers would be less appealing than the thought of going to the dentist every day, you would enjoy this work because of your particular talents of woo, connectedness, communication, and focus. Your talent of intellection will help you in the long run because you will be able to think through the sales approach and come up with improvements.

You are looking for a win-win-win situation. A win for customers because they will be getting a good product that they otherwise wouldn't have known about. A win for the business because it will be making more sales. And a win for you because you will be making money and providing a service to many people.

[songwriter]

Originally Posted by Cat Dancer

You want to find a company that sells an excellent service or product. A company that helps customers, has integrity, and provides a good value for the money.

mmm... what about some company that sells PD books or so...???

[Dave Kaminski]

Originally Posted by Cat Dancer

OK, let me play back what I'm hearing and what I'm surmising. You tell me if I'm hot or cold.

1 You want to be in an environment where you can excel.

2 You want to find a company that sells an excellent service or product. A company that helps customers, has integrity, and provides a good value for the money.

3 For this company you'd like to be a salesperson. While for other people the thought of making cold calls and going from door to door or from business to business meeting potential customers would be less appealing than the thought of going to the dentist every day

4 You are looking for a win-win-win situation. A win for customers because they will be getting a good product that they otherwise wouldn't have known about. A win for the business because it will be making more sales. And a win for you because you will be making money and providing a service to many people.

1.) You're pretty damn accurate
2.) I want a company whose products fit the needs of the people I'm selling to. I don't want to give a sales pitch that my heart isn't behind, so as to say I'm selling a copy machine to a company that really doesn't need it.
3.) I want to be a salesperson and would embrace that position because I'd be that person who shows clients what they're missing and how to find and implement the perfect fit!
4.) Exactly. I want to be able to do what I'm good at, to play to my strengths, while being beneficial to the company which I'm working for and the clients that I'm serving. I want to be the 'perfect middleman.'

This still leaves me with A WICKED BIG number of products to sell! I can't say what kinds of people I like, because I do my best to judge others by the standards they set for themselves. I love happy, fair people. What do they need that I can give them?

I'm currently researching the possibility of being employed by Aflac to sell insurance & investments. We'll see how that goes! It will be all about the pitch and the approach if that's what I'm selling, because some people really do need them and want them and could benefit from them.

[Cat Dancer]

Originally Posted by Dave Kaminski

3.) I want to be a salesperson and would embrace that position because I'd be that person who shows clients what they're missing and how to find and implement the perfect fit!

And, as you've mentioned, you like to give advice! So this is a perfect position to be able to give people good advice, to help them select a product that would be best for them.

Have you read High Trust Selling by Todd Duncan? You might want to check it out.

This still leaves me with infinitesimal number of products to sell!

Are there any industries that you personally admire?

Or, are there any products that you're really glad exist?

I'm going to toss out an idea. Not because I know enough about your background to know if this is a good idea for you, but just some brainstorming. Food for thought.

My father had a heart attack and had a particular kind of heart valve replacement surgery in the hospital. He is now fully recovered. Ten years ago he would have died. Ten years ago the medical technology did not exist to save his life.

The medical industry is constantly creating new technologies at a rapidly increasing pace. All which have the potential to heal people, to repair injury, to save lives, to improve people's quality of life.

Which gives doctors, medical practitioners, and people in general an ever increasing bewildering variety of supplements, practices, therapies and products to choose from. Which in turn makes the role of the salesperson ever more important, to help people select the medical product that works for them.

[Dave Kaminski]

Originally Posted by Cat Dancer

Have you read High Trust Selling by Todd Duncan? You might want to check it out.

Are there any industries that you personally admire?

I'll buy it tomorrow.

I love a lot of stuff. I like cars and clothes and vacation and animals, pretty much anything people LIKE to buy I'd LOVE to sell. But, i feel i want to be a bit deeper than that, have a positive effect, so that's what leads me to investments. I'm a cash-nut, (cashew heh heh) and would love to see people put their money aside like they should (in re: clason's babylon or wsj's personal finance handbook). I think it will be a killer fit but I still need more ideas.

Admire, I don't know. That's a strong word for inanimate objects. I'm a lover of people and life, and know that things are only things. It makes it a bit more difficult to sell hard goods. I might be successful selling services, however. I wonder what kinds of services there are; it seems to me that investments are more of a service than a good anyways.

Please continue with your advice! You're excellent.

[Dbarker]

Originally Posted by Dave Kaminski

But, i feel i want to be a bit deeper than that, have a positive effect, so that's what leads me to investments. I'm a cash-nut, (cashew heh heh) and would love to see people put their money aside like they should (in re: clason's babylon or wsj's personal finance handbook). I think it will be a killer fit but I still need more ideas.

Originally Posted by Dave Kaminski

4.) Exactly. I want to be able to do what I'm good at, to play to my strengths, while being beneficial to the company which I'm working for and the clients that I'm serving. I want to be the 'perfect middleman.'

Dave, why work for someone else? You may still be stuck with those people that make you mad (lazy, etc.) You seem to have a desire to see people have success through investing. Why not begin a financial planning/consulting business? You would be helping others, your Woo would definitely help you gather clients, and your focus would keep you driving toward success for both your clients and yourself.

As I said before, I too have had trouble making decisions on a direction (basically trying to choose a calling.) Sometimes we have to take the leap and know that whether we land softly or among the rocks, we have had the courage to take the leap and can do it again if necessary.

[Dave Kaminski]

Originally Posted by Dbarker

Dave, why work for someone else? You may still be stuck with those people that make you mad (lazy, etc.) You seem to have a desire to see people have success through investing.

I plan on working for a year or two to get a feel for it before going out on my own. I think it would be more beneficial for me because I'd be surrounded by like-minded, experienced individuals who wanted to see me succeed, as opposed to my competitors who would rather see me out of the running. I'm glad to be able to get into it this way because I can start writing my operations manual from day one

[mikeschu]

I took the test last year and here are my top five:

1. Competition
2. Learner
3. Deliberative
4. Achiever
5. Responsibility

When I took the test, I saw how #2-5 played out but I was irked with #1. Now that I look at the results, I need to find out how I can use this in starting my own business. I see some opportunities at a first glance but can't formulate any good thoughts about it.

[Cat Dancer]

Originally Posted by Dave Kaminski

But, i feel i want to be a bit deeper than that, have a positive effect, so that's what leads me to investments.

I recommend you look at the industries that are growing most rapidly today:

Health
Technology
Education

A big theme I hear from you is you don't want to be held back. In a rapidly growing industry, you won't be held back by the economy or the industry. You will be creating the economy.

Why are these the most rapidly industries? By no coincidence, what they all have in common is making people more powerful! Medicine removes illness, and illness takes away people's power. Education makes people more intelligent, able to do more. And technology multiplies people's effectiveness.

Industries such as entertainment, leasure, insurance, and investments all follow the economy. People spend money on these things when they've made money. When do people have money to spend? When they've made themselves more productive. How do people make themselves more productive? By education, health, and technology.

You could go into investments, and help people make more money. 12% instead of 10%. And when someone had more money, what could they do with it? Buy something useful to them. And how are they going to find out what to buy that would help them? By talking to a salesperson! I think you will have more fun selling useful services directly, instead of indirectly by helping people make a little more money with which they can then buy useful services.

Point two is that insurance and investments is largely a zero-sum game. Peoples' need for insurance grows only as fast as the economy grows. People generally have a certain amount of money to invest, which grows only as their income grows. So you are largely competing against other sellers of insurance and investments. This might be OK for someone who had "competition" as one of their top talents. But I think you'll find this frustrating. I think you'll be frustrated working in an industry that grows no faster than the economy as a whole.

Someone who makes a passive investment such as mutual funds in the stock market might get a 10% or 12% return (long term average). Someone who makes an active investment such as in real estate (where you have the hassle factor of collecting rent and dealing with plugged up toilets and so on) should expect a 20% return. Someone who invests in themselves through good health, education, or technology should expect a 1000% return!

Point three is your desire to surround yourself with like-minded, experienced individuals. Being a largely zero-sum game, insurance and investments attracts a greater share of scummy products and rip-offs. (I'm not saying illegal, just bad products). It's real tough, for example, to make an above-average profit by selling good insurance. It's very easy to make an above-average profit in insurance and investments by selling rip-off products. So that's not to say that good companies don't exist. But if you go to a typical, average company, and sign up to be a salesperson, most likely they will be teaching you how to sell bad products such as whole life -- and giving you a bunch of reasons why it is a good product.

Please continue with your advice! You're excellent.

You're welcome! When you make your first million, you can give me 1%!

I might be successful selling services, however...

I tend to think of products vs. services as a fairly artificial distinction. If I learn something by taking a class, and that's a "service", or by reading a book, and that's a "product", what's the difference? If I want clean dishes, the result I'm looking for is clean dishes. I don't care if I buy a dishwasher and it's called a service that produces clean dishes or a product that produces clean dishes.

I suggest you look at a industry that has no limits, nothing to hold you back, like education, health, or technology, where you can put the pedal to the metal. You may find yourself selling "products", or "services", or both, but that won't matter.

[Dave Kaminski]

Originally Posted by Cat Dancer

I suggest you look at a industry that has no limits, nothing to hold you back, like education, health, or technology, where you can put the pedal to the metal. You may find yourself selling "products", or "services", or both, but that won't matter.

You're right about some insurance & investment products being rip offs (boiler room). That would never fly with me, ever.

Any elaboration in the health/education/tech fields? What could I sell in terms of those? I've been thinking Mac/Apple products because they're so self-sustaining and helpful to the end user, etc. Would I be able to make a good/great living doing this?

Thanks so much for your help!

[Cat Dancer]

Originally Posted by Dave Kaminski

Any elaboration in the health/education/tech fields? What could I sell in terms of those? I've been thinking Mac/Apple products because they're so self-sustaining and helpful to the end user, etc. Would I be able to make a good/great living doing this?

You bet! You are using your talent for intellectualization ("I've been thinking") to select a product that is truly useful for people ("self-sustaining and helpful to the end user"). Combine this with the techniques in High Trust Selling and you are on your way to becoming a multimillionaire, my friend.

I suggest you next read the book and then come back to me with more questions.

[Dave Kaminski]

Originally Posted by Cat Dancer

You bet! You are using your talent for intellectualization ("I've been thinking") to select a product that is truly useful for people ("self-sustaining and helpful to the end user"). Combine this with the techniques in High Trust Selling and you are on your way to becoming a multimillionaire, my friend.

I suggest you next read the book and then come back to me with more questions.

I'm halfway through it already. I told you I was buying it today! I'm stuck on chapter five, because I had a hard time on the Life Plan thing and I can't get the other three plans off of my freakin' mind!

Any add'l suggestions? How about how i'd go about finding/getting said job?