I love when people share great books and learning tools with me. This was a book I was introduced to just recently. It is called Strengthfinder 2.0. 

Amazon says this about the book:

DO YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT YOU DO BEST EVERY DAY?

Chances are, you don’t. All too often, our natural talents go untapped. From the cradle to the cubicle, we devote more time to fixing our shortcomings than to developing our strengths.

To help people uncover their talents, Gallup introduced the first version of its online assessment, StrengthsFinder, in the 2001 management book Now, Discover Your Strengths. The book spent more than five years on the bestseller lists and ignited a global conversation, while StrengthsFinder helped millions to discover their top five talents.

In its latest national bestseller, StrengthsFinder 2.0, Gallup unveils the new and improved version of its popular assessment, language of 34 themes, and much more (see below for details). While you can read this book in one sitting, you’ll use it as a reference for decades.

Loaded with hundreds of strategies for applying your strengths, this new book and accompanying website will change the way you look at yourself — and the world around you — forever.

I love assessments which allow you to learn more about yourself. After taking the assessment (which took maybe 20 minutes) you receive your top five strengths. Here are mine and their descriptions…

People who are especially talented in the Woo theme love the challenge of meeting new people and winning them over. They derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection with another person.

People who are especially talented in the Communication theme generally find it easy to put their thoughts into words. They are good conversationalists and presenters.

People who are especially talented in the Positivity theme have an enthusiasm that is contagious. They are upbeat and can get others excited about what they are going to do.

People who are especially talented in the Strategic theme create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues.

People who are especially talented in the Activator theme can make things happen by turning thoughts into action. They are often impatient.

Do they sound like me? What are your strengths?

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As you know, all the stores are ready for the holidays. There are all the sales, decorations up and the holiday music playing in all your favorite restaurants. You have your gift list and you are running around picking up all the gifts for your loved ones. You even have plans to extra gifts just in case there is a last minute holiday party or a neighbor drops in. 

But, which gift is for you? I know you will receive gifts from others but did you get yourself something for the holidays? You are just as special as all the people on your list. Why not get yourself something to celebrate the holidays. 

We forget that it is OK to treat ourselves. You had a great year and you are going to make the next even better. Give yourself something to remember all the challenges you faced, all the opportunities you created and simply that you love yourself.

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During the election everyone had a different perspective on how it should turn out. I was fine with all the different views but was shocked by the postings of a friend from grad school. She posted daily updates on her views on who should president. These posts were not about supporting her candidate but putting down the other. They contained threats, bullying and ridiculous claims.

I thought they were silly and just showed who she was. I let her have her voice and just did not read them. 

As time passed on, I realized I may not be supporting her claims but by remaining silent I am showing that I do not mind them. It comes back to being bullied in school. It is one thing to be the bully but another to be the bystander who does nothing and lets it go on. 

I did not need to read the bulletins and I did not need to write a comment back. I just deleted her from my friends. I do not want hate messages coming across my reading each day. 

I think we tolerate people’s words or actions when we simply need to realize we do not need them in our lives anymore.

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Justin is a Starbucks addict. He goes at least 3 to 4 times a week to the exact same location. He uses the drive through but is known simply by his voice and is always greeted with by name because of his frequent visits to this one location. 

Justin was in class last night when he noticed a girl who looked very familiar to him. He spent most of the class wondering how he knew this girl. He has been in the same class for weeks now but never noticed her even though she sits seats away from him. 

He realized as the class was ending that she works at the local Starbucks he visits so often. She happens to take his order on a regular basis and remembers his name but he didn’t even notice her in his class sitting a few feet away. 

I know I spend a lot of my life in my head. What I mean is that I am spending a lot of time thinking about myself, where I am going, what I am going to do next, what is my next goal… My mom says you can almost see the wheels turning in my head. I can find myself stuck inside my own little world at times. I can park my car at a destination and realize I do not even know how I drove there because I was so consumed with my thoughts.

Think about all the people and opportunities I miss out on because I am not taking the time to look around. What would happen if I just took an hour of my day to leave my world and just be in the present? Would I make a new friend? Would I learn something new? Would I be thankful for the wonderful rainbow I happen to get a chance to see?

Life keeps us so busy we miss out on what is going on right in front of us. Those are moments we can not get back. So what can we do to help change this habit so we do not miss out on what life has offer? 

We can open our eyes.

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One of my coach friends challenged me to this activity. She asked me to create a list of words the tell who I am, the good and the bad, and allows me to see what makes me, me. 

This list makes you reflect on who you are and how you describe yourself. It also allows you to see the words you don’t use that maybe you want to add in your description of you by developing these areas in your life. 

So here you go, 30 words that describe me:

1. Funny
2. Silly
3. Driven
4. Demanding
5. Trusting
6. Loving
7. Careless
8. Clumsy
9. Energetic
10. Enthusiastic
11. Down-to-Earth
12. Positive
13. Hopeful
14. Insecure
15. Charismatic
16. Flexible
17. Impatient
18. Focused
19. Smart
20. Intuitive
21. Dreamer
22. Honest
23. Influential
24. Warm
25. Open minded
26. Fearful
27. Zany
28. Encouraging
29. Open book
30. Friendly

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As you all know, I am spending the weekend relaxing and getting back to me because life has been a little crazy lately.

I receive daily notes from the Universe which jump start my day each day.

This is the email I receive today:

The only person you really have to make happy, Michael, is you.

Good thing you are so cool!

Love the Universe

What is one thing you can do to make yourself happy today?

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Life has been a little crazy for me lately. I noticed things have been spiraling out of control and I am living in chaos.

As you can see from the picture, I haven’t even had the time to get a haircut! Everything else has taken control of my life instead of me.

My friend Karen told me this great story about her being an extra in a photo shoot this week. She was working at the shoot where she stood on a line and when they yelled, “Action!” she was to walk a few steps forward. Then a woman on a megaphone would yell, “RESET!” which meant go back to the starting point.

Karen and I decided it was time for us to reset our lives. We are both taking this weekend to spend it on ourselves.

When life is feeling out of control, it is because you are not taking care of yourself. The best way to regain control is to take a time out to set new goals, create a to do list, or simply to relax and regain perspective on your vision in life.

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This weekend I finished reading Tori Spelling’s book. I really liked it. Of course, as you know, I am a 90210 fan so it was great getting an insight what happened behind the scenes. You also get to learn about her life growing up, her relationships and how she found true love in an unconventional way.

A lot of people may have read the book to her about her relationship with her mother and how their fighting came to be. But, I think the book is really about love and how you realize that you must create the life you want to live against all odds. It is also about the fact that life is not a fairy tale no matter how famous, how rich or how success you are.

As I have mentioned before, I am writing a book and finishing up the details. When you write about your life, you truly think no one would want to read it. But of course, I am reading about people’s lives all the time and I learn so much from them. It always gives me energy again to continue writing so I can share my story.

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A lot of you loved the 150 things about me and have asked I do another list. Well after some time I was able to create another list to let you know a little more about me. Here are 100 more things about me:

1. I love mint chocolate chip ice cream
2. I don’t like getting to the movies early because I hate waiting for the movie to begin
3. I tend to self doubt myself and have to work on not allowing it to hold me back
4. I am so excited to see the new 90210 show because Brenda is back
5. When I was younger, I watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer the movie over and over again and until I new the script and the sounds in the background by heart
6. I saw a Great White Shark frozen in ice at Sea World once
7. I wanted to get a tattoo and then realized I could never come up with anything I liked that much to have on my body forever
8. The first time I was put into a pool, I just started swimming
9. I quit the tanning bed because it is so bad for your skin
10. I do not know how to parallel park
11. I always wear sunglasses
12. I hate wearing a suits and ties
13. I am passionate about stopping bullying in schools and workplaces
14. I will not try on Crocs because I am afraid they will be so comfortable I will want to wear the ugly shoes forever
15. I can not stand Dr Phil
16. I love Big Brother but I only watch the last 30 minutes of the live eviction/HOH competition episode. The rest I get from spoilers online
17. When I was younger, I was in love with New kids on the Block and Jon Knight was my favorite
18. I can spend hours on MySpace looking for people I use to know or actors/singers who are no longer famous.
19. On wii Fit, I love all the balance games and playing Super Hula Hoops
20. I love playing board games and I do not even need to win
21. I use to put the Yankee Candle car jar, Midsummer’s Night in my car because it smelt like I had a hot guy in my car
22. I am a big tipper
23. I love the show Will and Grace. I think I am the most like Grace
24. I own the Paris Hilton CD and I like a few songs from it
25. I love Lucky Brand jean button fly   Continue Reading »

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What is that? That is my new car’s first little accident. If you notice it is a paint smudge from where I hit my passenger side mirror on the garage last night as I was pulling in.

Sure I could blame the garage for being so small. Sure I could pretend it didn’t happen or spend my day dwelling on the incident but I learned a long time ago that wasn’t going to help. I know I am just clumsy.

I do not wear ties because all they do is collect the food I drop at lunch so they become a badge of what was on the menu that day. Justin always gives me extra napkins when we eat because he knows some food will just not make it to my mouth during dinner. My macbook has a small little crack spot where it fell when I placed it just for a second on a shaking surface so I could adjust the music volume I was listening to.

I must own that I am clumsy and I know exactly why. It is has nothing to do with bad luck. It all has to do with me being careless and not paying attention. I know I am the only one to blame for these accounts.

Now it comes down to how important is it to me. Yes I wish I didn’t hit my mirror but I did. Now I have to make an effort to pay attention more to the things I care about. I know this won’t be the last time it happens but I can at least be more mindful when they do.

What is something  in your life that you could change if you just took the time to think about the cause?

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