New Ideas

My sister gave me an idea about what to write about on my blog ... She said I should try writing about AdvoCare and that part of my life!
Good idea sister! :) I was going to start that right now, but I need to go clean up a baby who just urped on herself! haha Later! :)
**
Okay, I'm back!
Here's what I wanted to write about today. I read this book a few weeks ago and I think everyone should read this! It's called "Strengths Based Leadership" by Tom Rath and Barry Conchie
There's a test in the back that you take and it picks out your top 5 leadership strengths (out of 35). The research was all pulled together by those Gallup research people. They found that the leaders people follow all have one thing in common. They all know what their strength's are and they gather people around them to bolster their weaknesses. Each 34 of those themes are broken up into 4 different categories: Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building, Strategic Thinking.
Here are the 34 themes: achiever, activator, adaptability, analytical, arranger, belief, command, communication, competition, connectedness, consistency, context, deliberative, developer, discipline, empathy, focus, futuristic, harmony, ideation, includer, individualization, input, intellection, learner, maximizer, positivity, relator, responsibility, restorative, self-assurance, significance, strategic, woo.
I took the test! I'm just going to copy what I am! And then you can read what each one means or not :)
ME = 2 in Influencing: Woo, Communication; 3 in Relationship Building: Positivity, Developer, Empathy. (Empathy was my number 1)
Here's what they mean!
****
Woo
Instinctively, you sometimes enjoy surrounding yourself with companions rather than being
alone. Because of your strengths, you have a gift for spinning tales and weaving yarns. You
traditionally use stories to entertain people whom you have just met. They probably share
their own stories. Why? They are apt to feel very comfortable and safe in your presence. Chances are good that you might gravitate to activities that permit you to join specific teams.
Perhaps you figure out ways you can work or study with them. Driven by your talents, you
might welcome the opportunity to bond with others around a favorite pastime. Watching,
discussing, or debating the outcomes of athletic events may appeal to your sociable, talkative,
open, and fun-loving nature. Perhaps you are enthused whenever you have a chance to be
around people who share your interest in sports. It’s very likely that you probably tell jokes
and act out funny stories to involve newcomers as well as outsiders in discussions. One of
your joys is making strangers feel welcome and part of the group.

Positivity
It’s very likely that you might be content with your results when you can honestly say you are
producing as much as you can. Perhaps you maintain an optimistic outlook on life regardless
of the value some people place on your results. Driven by your talents, you may be regarded
by some people as a big-hearted person. Perhaps this is one way you transform strangers into
friends. Perhaps out of kindness you share your time, knowledge, or possessions with selected
individuals. By nature, you might feel best about yourself when you are honest and forthright.
Perhaps telling untruths or omitting important facts violates your personal code of ethics.
Instinctively, you may raise people’s awareness about what is correct, right, proper, or good
with your upbeat attitude about life. Because of your strengths, you are comfortable
complimenting individuals you know quite well. After discovering each one’s preferences,
you can tailor your recognition to fit the person and the situation. You tend to lavish praise on
people. You make sure what you say and do pleases rather than embarrasses them. You want
the experience to be a good one.

Developer
It’s very likely that you realize that sharing information, resources, talents, and even time
provides you with experiences to grow as a person and as a professional. Driven by your
talents, you support the people around you by acknowledging their outstanding
accomplishments and stellar performances. By nature, you occasionally inconvenience
yourself to help someone else. Maybe the person’s appreciation, smile, or words of thanks
make you feel good about yourself and life in general. Perhaps you have a bit more energy for
your own job or studies after you have done a good deed. Because of your strengths, you
have a special gift for helping people realize that you truly value them and hold them in high
regard. Instinctively, you capture others’ attention with your open and talkative style. You
support and inspire people. You boost their confidence and support their resolve to respond to
change, overcome obstacles, acquire new skills, gain knowledge, or reach lofty goals.

Empathy
Instinctively, you rely on your awareness of others’ feelings, thoughts, and needs to guide
you into and through partnerships. You consider various ways to initiate, nurture, and sustain
the linkages between individuals and groups. You bring people together. You help them
discover reasons to cooperate and support one another. It’s very likely that you might be
prompted by a natural impulse to answer questions, deal with perplexing issues, or overcome
obstacles. This need to do something arises from deep within yourself. Chances are good that
you sense when someone needs your assistance without the person having to tell you.
Because of your strengths, you occasionally give yourself credit for overcoming certain
problems or conquering specific obstacles. Maybe your ability to find solutions contributes to
your optimistic attitude. Sometimes you notice certain individuals who are easily defeated by
life’s challenges. You might try to help them cope with their difficulties. When you can
encourage people to take action, they might feel a little better about themselves and about life
in general. Driven by your talents, you may sense more strongly than others that sometimes it
is best to trust your instincts — that is, your gut feelings — when deciding how to resolve
issues, complaints, grievances, or puzzles.

Communication
By nature, you may be quite comfortable telling stories or describing your experiences.
People might look forward to hearing what you have to say. It’s very likely that you select the
right combination of words to convey your ideas or feelings. In the middle of discussions,
your vocabulary provides you with precise phrases and terminology. You probably express
yourself with ease and grace. Chances are good that you may gravitate to groups whose
members love to exchange information, ideas, opinions, stories, or jokes. Perhaps you have
an easy time sharing your thoughts and feelings with people. Driven by your talents, you
occasionally recount — that is, tell in detail — some of the stories you have read in
newspapers, books, magazines, research reports, correspondence, or public records. Maybe
the more you satisfy your desire to read, the more tales you have to tell. Perhaps few
activities delight you as much as evoking images in your listeners’ minds that bring forth
laughter and tears. Because of your strengths, you may be drawn to discussing issues and
ideas with others. Perhaps you avoid or excuse yourself from situations where one person
monopolizes the conversation.
(More to follow since this post is so long now!)