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Jun 201810. Engineer (From The Structure Family)
Our civilization is built on layers of structure, operating procedures and quality control. Would you be comfortable driving across a bridge built without plans? Do you know someone who loves to organize an office, garage or kitchen, helping to create a sense of order? How many movers and shakers would be dynamically effective without the people who hold it all together behind the scenes? Engineers…
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Jun 201811. Refiner (From The Discern Family)
Designer, counselor, stylist, surgeon, coach, editor. Refiners will not let us settle for mediocrity. They insist that we go for the gold and give our best. Our lives would far less without their insights, discernment and passion to make the world the best it can be. Can you picture yourself driving a Model T to work or going to the doctor for your weekly leeching?…
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Jun 201812. Scholar (From The Learn Family)
Every age has its own outlook. It is especially good at seeing certain truths and especially liable to make certain mistakes. We all therefore need the books that will correct the characteristic mistakes of our own period and that means the old books.” C.S. Lewis from God in the Dock Scholars are compelled to discover and acquire knowledge. Teacher, scientist, explorer, historian, anthropologist, theologian…all are…
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Jun 201815. Experiencing Your Perspective of Time – Rhythm
“Humans live in time. Therefore, attend chiefly to two things: to eternity itself and to the present. For the present is the point at which time touches eternity. In it alone, freedom and actuality are offered.” C. S. Lewis In the precious present, we need to be aware of who we are, how we move, and what naturally draws our attention. These things reflect our strengths…
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Jun 201814. How To Use Your Abilities – Work Styles
My purpose is to provide practical wisdom you can immediately start applying to your life. As mentioned earlier, how you use your natural abilities is as important as the abilities you’ve been given. Based on their styles and perspectives, two people with the same five or six dominant abilities can look quite dissimilar in how they work, parent, and relate to others. Each needs a…
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Jun 201816. Focus
Focus is what a person actually sees. I call it their reality. It is like a camera lens, and there are different lenses for different purposes. Some people are born with a lens that sees the ladybug crawling across a leaf. They see close-up the vivid colors, the brilliance of the micro-world. Others have a zoom lens that moves in to see the ladybug and…
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Jun 201819. Significant Social Environment
Everyone has a “people fuel tank” which holds their fuel for engaging in social interaction. Some people have a tank that can hold 55 gallons of people fuel. Others are designed with a very small tank that holds at most 5 gallons of people fuel. Because people are designed differently, we need to appreciate and accommodate those differences. We can’t assume that everyone has the…
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Jun 201817. Performance
Performance is what you actually do while time elapses. Some people are designed to start things, to get things moving. Others don’t naturally start things, but finish what someone else has started. Some people naturally implement what’s already been started. Still others maintain what has been started. Most people think that they should be able to start, execute, finish and maintain everything they do and…
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Jun 201820. Core Nature
Your core nature is what attaches meaning to relationships, vocation, actions and experiences. It’s your significance filter. What’s meaningful or significant to you may completely elude someone else’s filter. It includes what you value most and seek most from interpersonal communication and other processes. It is your reward system, determining how your unique abilities are best clarified, evaluated and refreshed. A person’s core nature is…
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Jun 201821. Discovering Where You Are
In previous chapters, we provided information on inventorying your innate abilities and how you naturally use them. In this chapter, you will inventory where you currently find yourself, how you talk to yourself, and how your environment affects you. Although people don’t change, their environment and circumstances can. And you have the power to change your environment and circumstances. You also have the power to…