There is a question that we would like to ask you. Who are you?
First name:_________________ Last name:______________________
We are fairly certain that your first instinct was to respond with your first and last name – following a pattern deeply embedded in your mind. You give this answer automatically, not because it truly defines who you are, but because you have learned that it is the socially expected response.
Let’s do an experiment: Let’s assume that we have two dark booths and two persons with the same name. Mr. John Smith and Mr. John Smith. Let’s also assume that one of these two persons is you. How would you make it apparent that you are yourself and not the other Mr. John Smith? You see that your name is not a differentiating characteristic. What distinguishes you from everybody else are your values, skills and talents. The combination of these characteristics is you. Understanding and acknowledging them makes you a unique person, a person with integrity that deserves a successful and respectful career path.
The following exercise can help you get closer to your career path or change and will work best when done in order.
Your Values
There are values we esteem for all our life. For example: Always be friendly. Do not lie, etc.
List them below:
1. Values given by your parents:
- ___________________
- ___________________
- ___________________
- ___________________
- ___________________
2. Values given by your school and society:
- ___________________
- ___________________
- ___________________
- ___________________
- ___________________
3. Values developed and esteemed by you:
- ___________________
- ___________________
- ___________________
- ___________________
- ___________________
4. Values developed that you will teach your own children:
- ___________________
- ___________________
- ___________________
- ___________________
- ___________________
Your Skills & Talents
5. Skills or talents that motivate you to live and progress in your life:
- ___________________
- ___________________
- ___________________
- ___________________
- ___________________
6. Skills or talents that others would pay you for:
- ___________________
- ___________________
- ___________________
- ___________________
- ___________________
7. Skills or talents that make you unique:
- ___________________
- ___________________
- ___________________
- ___________________
- ___________________
8. Skills or talents that bring happiness to others:
- ___________________
- ___________________
- ___________________
- ___________________
- ___________________
The Result
“My name is ______________ (LASTNAME, First name), living in _________________ (city, country). My parents taught me that the most important thing in life is 1.a ______________ and, as it has been made clear to me while going to school and by all persons I have met till now, I have to 2.a ________________. Though, inside of me, I strongly feel and will always believe that 3.a __________________ and now I know that the purpose of my life is 4.a_______________ and that this is what really defines me, making me the person I am, making me unique.
And I am ready to express my 5.a ______________ by being esteemed and working as 6.a____________ because of 7.a__________________ nobody else but myself can bring 8.a _________________ to others, being certain of experiencing my potential to the maximum, being successful, happy and most of all myself”.
We are confident that these final words will stay with you and guide you throughout your career, helping you avoid failure, shielding you from letting others’ opinions define you, and empowering you to build the career you truly aspire to.
