Strengthsfinder 2.0
"I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence but it comes from within. It is there all the time." Anna Freud
So I picked up a copy of Strengthsfinder 2.0 and took the code from the book and did the online assessment. It seemed like a lot of questions but it did not take long to answer them. It came back with my assessment of my 5 key strengths:
- Context
- Individualization
- Connectedness
- Learner
- Intellection
The book and online aids give out some great information on the strengths it finds you reveal in your answers - and the list of possible strengths is a long one. The answers you pick in combination are used in some complex matrix to come up with the key 5. The way to use them in your teams, work environments, and probably relationships looks to be pretty interesting.
Here's what the expanded explanations were for mine:
11/16/04
The Paradox of Paradox
Pardox, CO
I don't know about you, but I've lived in earthquake-prone areas most of my life. I've never much been afraid of them, nor even thought about them much, until I was in a 6.9 earthquake - and felt every moment of it. All I'm going to say about that particular event is that I learned to not disregard earthquakes anymore.
So it is with extreme confusion and consternation that I read this article from the CNN website. The idea that a government sanctioned (thanks Nixon!) activity has the effect of causing "natural" disaster - and no one is blinking an eye!
[**Edit: The CNN article no longer exists - and I have no idea why. It also no longer exists on any of the news sites where I did my initial research for this article. You can read what it once said by visiting this site.**]
To be fair it seems the sizes of the quakes are rather insignificant - but the number caused by this little operation is in the thousands. Thousands. Am I the only person thinking "Hmmm... maybe that's not such a good idea..."?
11/15/04
Alas, Babylon
zeitgeist: height of the cold war
ortgeist: the United States
I read an interesting book this weekend. It was called Alas, Babylon. Like most Americans, I know the idea of nuclear war was considered a certainty during the 1950s and 1960s - however, maybe unlike most current Americans, I believe it is not all that unlikely for it to occur today.
I'm aware that there are only a few countries with ICBM capability, but it's not the governments I worry about so much - accept, perhaps, for China's. I worry about things like "rogue" agents working nuclear material into Mexico and then bringing it over to the U.S. - something that is a lot easier to do than many might think.
11/08/04
That Intolerant Spirit
zeitgeist: Friday, November 23, 1787
ortgeist: On the campaign trail for the Constitution
"Ambition, avarice, personal animosity, party opposition, and many other motives not more laudable than these, are apt to operate as well upon those who support as those who oppose the right side of a question. Were there not even these inducements to moderation, nothing could be more ill-judged than that intolerant spirit which has, at all times, characterized political parties. For in politics, as in religion, it is equally absurd to aim at making proselytes by fire and sword. Heresies in either can rarely be cured by persecution." - Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist Papers #1.
11/03/04
Hemlock Anyone?
zeitgeist: November 3, 2004
ortgeist : Southern California
I arrived at work around 9am this morning. When I walked up to the lobby deli counter to purchase something for breakfast, I was greeted by a very cheery "What can I get you, today?" from the person behind the counter. Not seeing any hemlock in view I opted for a plate of fruit and headed upstairs.
10/29/04
Elevators Cause Neuron Suppression!
If you've ever watched Star Trek (old or newer versions) you are probably familiar with the phrase "there's an anomaly within the space-time continuum". If you've ever ridden in an elevator, you know the origin of these anomalies.
For some reason, and if any scientists are reading this article please look into this, when people step onto an elevator they lose the ability to reason. All rational thought gets left on the previous floor the moment the elevator doors close.
But, I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me give you a better piacture about what I'm referencing.
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