strengthsfinder 2.0 – Page 2

Identifying Your One Thing

07/06/201606/28/2016 Scott AsaiLeave a comment

One-thing

Several years ago when I worked as a Youth Pastor I came across a book called The 1 Thing: What everyone craves – that your church can deliver.

It was a good, not great book, but the message was simple: build relationships. In the context of “church” it’s a crystal-clear way to set your mission.

Here’s how it applies to you: what do you do best? What is your 1 thing?

If you don’t know, keep reading…

As a huge supporter and user of the StrengthsFinder assessment, I believe everyone should live/function out of their strengths. This particular test reveals your Top 5 strengths and how to use them in your personal and professional life. It’s a great application tool towards becoming the best version of yourself, but I’d like to challenge you to take it a step further.

My Top 5 results from the StrengthsFinder are: Relator, Individualization, Maximizer, Arranger & Strategic. Don’t worry if you don’t understand the terminology, the reason I’m using this example is from these 5 themes, my most marketable talent is: efficiency (Maximizer).

I’m obsessed with efficiency. I plan out everything (even though it rarely plays out the way I envision it). I care about “flow,” punctuality and running ahead of schedule. I apply this strength to the one thing I do best: lead Millennials (that’s why my blog is called Maximizing the Millennial).

The point of my example isn’t to bring attention to myself. It’s to show you narrowing your brand down to one thing is powerful.

People do contact me about career coaching, but I don’t proactively market it. I have other skill sets and interests that excite me, but I don’t focus on them. Customers want to know the one thing you do and how you do it the best. That’s why they hire you.

Job descriptions desire generalists, but within those multitude of tasks they still want to know your speciality. Not only will identifying your 1 thing help you answer the dreaded interview question, “what are your strengths?” It defines your brand.

You can’t be anything you want to be, you can only be the best version of you (2.0). So what’s your 1 thing?

An Invitation To The Freelance Party

06/08/201605/31/2016 Scott Asai4 Comments

freelancers

Freelancers, also known as the gig economy, are rapidly becoming the norm.

Millennials are leading the charge and companies such as Uber, Postmates and Google Express are thriving.

The benefits of freelancing are: flexibility, control and convenience.

The cons are: lack of a steady paycheck, no benefits and minor predictability.

Some call it a side hustle, but with pensions/retirement disappearing faster than Google+, the reality is everyone should freelance at something.

Freelancing is essentially selling yourself. News flash: college/degrees don’t prepare you for the real world, so figure out your strengths and start getting paid for them.

Millionaires typically have 7 streams of income. If that isn’t motivation to get started, I can’t help you. It proves the theory of not putting all your eggs in one basket. Think of it in money management terms: diversify your portfolio.

Job hopping was made famous by Millennials, but you can’t blame them. No one will build your security net for you. My advice is: if you’re not looking for the next best role, you’re susceptible. You don’t have to start a new company, but you should be strategizing how to monetize your skills/hobbies.

Freelancing isn’t the next best thing. It’s a party you should be at and you don’t need an invitation to attend.

How To Sell Yourself

11/18/201511/10/2015 Scott AsaiLeave a comment

Face it. Selling is hard. If it were easy, we’d all be rich.

You may sell products or services during the course of your career, but what everyone sells is: themselves. After selling services for a while and now transitioning to a physical product (a bit easier), one lesson I’ve learned is: in order to be successful in sales, you have to be confident with what you’re selling.

As a relational person, I prefer to connect vs. sell. If you listen close enough in a conversation, you can identify a pain point. If you can relate to it, trust is gained much more rapidly.

A practical example is on a job interview. Your resume may qualify you for an interview, but what you say and how you say it will validate if you have a chance moving forward. Most people get nervous before interviews and that’s normal, but what you don’t want to do is be unprepared or panic. Think about your body language, tone and message you are communicating. Are you being authentic or trying to be someone you’re not?

As a career coach, the advice I give is: understand your strengths, know how you add value to the organization and be yourself. It’s difficult to know exactly what an employer is really looking for, so instead of worrying what they’ll think of your answers, focus on where you fit in.

Leaders are self-aware about their weaknesses and strengths. Not everyone is meant to lead others, but you should be able to lead yourself. One goal I set with every networking opportunity is to try and get the other person to like me. You’d be surprised how much people brag and show off just to look good, but the person on the other end leaves disgusted.

Life is a game of who you know. The less you worry about being the smartest, the better. In fact, too much knowledge can come off as intimidating or arrogant.

Selling yourself comes down to: interests, passions and values. Connect on one of those points and your chances increase dramatically.

Would you buy what you’re selling?

Why Seniority Is A Terrible Qualifier

08/18/201508/04/2015 Scott AsaiLeave a comment

Work your way up the corporate ladder is what you were told. Hard work does pay off, but it’s not enough. When you get promoted into a leadership or executive role, it may not be the best move for you. Here’s why:

Think of 3 different levels in an organization.

The foundation is the technical worker(s) a.k.a. the widget maker.

The middle layer is leadership, also known as management.

On the top is the executive team, otherwise known as the C-Suite.

Historically managers are promoted because of tenure on the job, but the skill set needed to lead is much different than dealing with customers. I’ve witnessed older managers get promoted because of their loyalty to the company, but once elevated the proverbial wheels fell off. Just because you were great as sales, production, service, etc. doesn’t mean it will translate well at the next level (it has little to do with age, much more to do with mindset).

The same happens for middle management. Leaders are focused on managing people, but with an upgrade to the executive team, now you have to forecast growth. Thinking strategically is not the same as relationally. As a CEO, CTO or CFO you’ll spend most of your time in meetings and researching data. The additional money is nice, but you’ll soon find out if it’s the right fit for you.

This comes back to self-awareness. Knowing what you can and can’t do. Higher pay is always nice, but nowadays people quit their jobs much quicker if they don’t love and thrive in their position. Climbing the corporate ladder isn’t what it used to be. And although entrepreneurship may be sexier it’s also not for everyone. When it comes to your career path, figure out your direction before you start traveling. Pursue a role where you can make the biggest impact, learn the most and utilize your God-given abilities. Otherwise you’re just driving without a destination in mind.

Winsight Episode 31: #1 Trait for Leaders

11/25/201410/27/2014 Scott AsaiLeave a comment

What do you think is the most important trait for great leaders? Charisma, honesty, a strong will? Actually it’s self-awareness. From the outset that doesn’t sound vital, but leaders are not cut from the same cloth so what makes them different is what makes them great.

In this episode you’ll learn the following:

– What Steve Jobs & Walt Disney had in common

– Is there a “prototypical leader?” If so, what does he/she look like?

– What to do you if you don’t know what you’re good at

– What your personal responsibility as a leader is

So what are your strengths? How would you define your style as a leader? Share how being self-aware helps your ability as a leader.

Winsight Episode 22: Dream Chaser

09/23/201408/25/2014 Scott AsaiLeave a comment

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You don’t go after your dream. Your dream comes after you. Have you ever thought of your dreams in that order? Most people believe dreams are out in front of you, but what if in order to find your dreams you actually looked backwards?

In this episode, we’ll discuss the following:

How your past is more telling about your dream than anything else

What role frustrations play in your dreams

How big your dream actually needs to be

Why chasing your dream really doesn’t work

After listening to this podcast how much closer does your dream(s) seem to you? What’s one tangible step you can do this week that will help you get closer to making your dream a reality?

Winsight Episode 18: What Growth Tastes Like

09/05/201408/08/2014 Scott AsaiLeave a comment

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/winsight/18_Winsight_Episode_18_-_What_Growth_Tastes_Like.mp3]

Growth is necessary in order to succeed. If that’s a fact why doesn’t everyone want to grow? Answer: because it’s hard. Everyone wants to get rich quick, but not do the work to get there. We want to be in shape, but hate going to the gym and eating healthy. We want to have the best friends and relationships, but are quick to point out others’ flaws.

I can sit here and lecture you on how to grow, but that might be boring. Instead, let me focus in on another one of your senses that appeals to you, taste. Let’s face it. Some things will never taste good. Other things over time you build a tolerance for and you can actually trick your mind into thinking it actually isn’t half bad. Well, I’d like to think growth tastes like the second example I gave.

Let me explain the following in today’s episode:

How focusing on the benefits can override the pain involved to get there
The relationship of fear and growth
What a “green drink” has to do with growth
The 3 things you need to focus on in order to grow

So what does growth taste like to you? When have you experienced it before? Please share below because your stories inspire us!

Winsight Episode 12: Why I Coach

08/15/201407/31/2014 Scott AsaiLeave a comment

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/winsight/12_Winsight_Episode_12_-_Why_I_Coach.mp3]

I first experienced coaching as a client over 10 years ago. I met my coach, Jay Hostetler at a conference where we were in a program evaluation meeting and he was the speaker. Jay shared what changes needed to be done in order to get us to the next level. Even though no one else in the meeting agreed with him, I thought he was spot on. After the meeting, I approached him and asked him more about what he did. We agreed to touch base on the phone within a week and our working relationship started there.

Understanding my story is at the center of why I became a coach. During this episode I’ll share how my experiences can help YOU make the right career decisions in the following ways:

How the relationship between confidence and momentum are crucial to success
What coaching actually does for you
What the best performers in every industry utilize daily
How looking at your past can clarify your future

What did you want to grow up to be when you were a kid? Share how your childhood dreams can influence your future professional ambitions below!

Your World is Made of Stories

06/12/201301/23/2014 Scott AsaiLeave a comment

Guest Post by Josh Allan Dykstra

The world we see is dictated by the stories we’ve told ourselves about the world.

From…

• The stories we tell ourselves about people of other faiths

• The stories we tell ourselves about where human beings came from

• The stories North Korean leaders tell its citizens about the outside world

• The stories we tell ourselves about gay people

• The stories we tell ourselves about what it means to be successful

• The stories we tell ourselves about Republicans

• The stories we tell ourselves about Democrats

• The stories we tell ourselves about how we manage our own strengths and weaknesses

• The stories we tell our kids about how to “get a job”

There’s a stark difference between facts and stories, after all.

When someone doesn’t call you back when they say they would, that’s the fact: They didn’t call you back when they say they would.

The story, however, is what we tell ourselves about that fact.

“Oh, they’re pissed at me.”

“I must have done something to annoy them.”

“They’re so disorganized and irresponsible.”

These are stories.

For all we know, they got in a fender bender and had to speak with the police, or their kid got sick at school and they had to go pick them up.

Our worlds are made up of stories — some big, some small — and they define the world around us.

In our day-to-day life, the way we feel about the items on the above list are more constructed from stories than from facts. The majority of the hatred and destruction we see on the news is born out of a terrible, tragic story that people have been convinced is a fact. (Likewise, the joy and beauty around us comes from stories, too — they are just very different ones.)

I think it would be great if we could spend more time pondering the stories we tell ourselves — and we should certainly learn to have more respect for the power these stories wield over the way we live our lives.

Dismissing Generation Y

02/06/201301/23/2014 Scott AsaiLeave a comment

Guest Post by Josh Allan Dykstra

This weekend I had the pleasure of bringing the keynote message to a student leadership retreat for a group at a private university in Denver, Colorado. This was particularly exciting for me because exactly ten years ago, I was them — a student leader watching from the crowd.

I have to confess; I love the university environment. I always have. I love the energy, the passion, and the optimism. I love the world-changing ethos. I love the youth and the naïveté. This weekend reminded me of all that.

It also reminded me how completely brilliant Generation Y can be.

These students were amazing and remarkable people. They sincerely cared about their leadership roles and thought deeply about the world. They brought insightful questions and an enormous amount of focused attention.

I know there are a lot of negative impressions of Gen Y out there. Primarily I know this because people complain to me about them. I understand that they are a bit different in the way they see the world (people say: “annoyingly technology-obsessed”). I also understand that they are looking for more mentoring and development at work (people say: “needy and entitled”).

But, if I wasn’t convinced before, this weekend proved to me that these dismissive and disparaging blanket assumptions need to stop.

If you think “all Gen Y’ers” are like the bad rumors you’ve heard, I’m here to tell you that those rumors are grossly misguided. I was honored to meet these exceptional “kids,” and you’d be lucky to have them join your organization.