Core Strengths – do you know what yours are?

Recently I took the Clifton Strengthsfinder(tm) test to determine what my core strengths are.  This test is absolutely amazing in that it can pinpoint who I am and what I’m all about.

I have known for years that I’d rather eat barbed wire than do anything related to accounting.  Although in my business, quite often I am required to look at the bottom-line numbers of my company, however, this is the least favorite thing on my “to-do” list.

Give me a widget to sell; sign me up to work the booth at a trade show; show me a new product that solves some problem and let my creative juices start to figure out ideas on how to market and I’m in my element.

So why was I so surprised at what the test results showed?  Well blow me over I don’t know.  What I do know is that I doubt there is anyone who knows me even slightly will disagree as to what the test results revealed about who I am.

The test results labels me is a “Passionistas” ™!  Ok, what does that really mean?  The formal or technical answers are:

    • Purpose driven–intrinsically motivated by my passion.
    • Warm, approachable and externally-focused.
    • Love leading others to action.
    • Personal and organizational mission statements are important to me.
    • Critical that I use my talents daily and love what I am doing.
    • Team-oriented–add gusto to any group!

What does this really mean in real down-to-earth terms:

    • I love to have fun.  If it ain’t fun, let’s find something else that is!  This why my friends refer to me as “Wild Woman”!
    • I make friends easily.  Well why not, I can clearly say, I never meet a stranger.  After all, Momma said I would talk to a sign post!
    • I explain things in story form.  Did you know that when I was 9 years old, …..happened to me and so, on and so on.
    • I want everyone in the room, on the block, in the building to come to the party.  We can’t leave anyone out.  Being an only child made me this way.  I had to go find friends because I didn’t have brothers or sisters to play with.  Now you know…I was deprived.  That’s why I married someone who is the oldest of 15 kids!  Really!
    • I am full of ideas.  Well that explains my sewing room with a zillion projects in various stages of completion.  Yes, that is because about the time I come up with one idea to make something pretty, I will start thinking of 5 other things I could make in the next hour.

So you see, if they had just asked me about me rather than me having to take a test to find out who I am, I could have told them all about me!

Peggy P. Edge (c) 2013

 

ROI – Business Networking

What you see is what you get!  How many times do we apply this little statement to things we do or think?  Yet when it comes to Business Networking, do you really know what you are getting out of your networking efforts?  It’s not all about $$/cents.

A few of Peggy’s Pointers on networking could net really great results:

  • Have clear cut goals for your networking activities.
  • Set aside time to develop the connections you make at events so that they become relationships, not just someone on a list of people you know.
  • Work on your 30-second commercial so that others will know exactly what you do and how they might help you.
  • Create a core of strategic partners in synergistic fields that can be your “go-to” person when you need to make referrals.
  • Be willing to serve others.  Networking is about giving first and the rewards will come back to you.
  • Be professional at all times.  Remember the saying that people make up their minds about you within the first 5 minutes after an introduction.  Make sure you dress the part and act the part of whatever it is that you do for a living.
  • Be attentive and listen for opportunities.
  • Remember networking events are the place to make connections, not sell your products and services.

Peggy P. Edge (c) 2013