I was cleaning out my archives and ran across the results from the self-assessment tool Strengths Finder 1.0. After taking that test, I purchased and read Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath and retook the exam. The results are based on more than 40 years of research by The Gallup Organization.

My Top 5 – from Strengths Finder 1.0

1. Intellection – People who are especially talented in the Intellection theme are characterized by their intellectual activity. They are introspective and appreciate intellectual discussions.
2. Input – People strong in the Input theme have a craving to know more. Often they like to collect and archive all kinds of information.
3. Learner – People strong in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them.
4. Individualization – People who are especially talented in the Individualization theme are intrigued with the unique qualities of each person. They have a gift for figuring out how people who are different can work together productively.
5. Achiever – People who are especially talented in the Achiever theme have a great deal of stamina and work hard. They take great satisfaction from being busy and productive.

I picked up two more with Strengths Finder 2.0

1. Arranger – People strong in the Arranger theme can organize, but they also have a flexibility that complements this ability. They like to figure out how all of the pieces and resources can be arranged for maximum productivity.
2. Maximizer – People strong in the Maximizer theme focus on strengths as a way to stimulate personal and group excellence. They seek to transform something strong into something superb.

And repeated Intellection, Input, and Learner.

I highly recommend taking this assessment no matter where you are in your career. It’s empowering to know what your STRENGTHS are – I promise you, will not look at your career, or your life in the same way. I know it certainly helped give me the confidence to start my Virtual Assistant business.