Our “Calling” is Described by Peter Weddle
Strengths Profile July 17th, 2007Peter Weddle has written a new book “Career Fitness” and in chapter 3, I really appreciate what was written. Peter states, “To be your personal best is to draw on the special talent and wisdom with which you were born. It is to give expression to the self-defined and self-created excellence that resides within you and each and all of us. It is to enjoy 
your NATURAL your unique occupational mastery-the workplace activity at which you excel and in which you feel the most challenged, purposeful, happy and complete. This mastery is your calling, and it is the only work that isn’t onerous, dissatisfying and, ultimately, harmful to the health of your career.
Many of us never get to work at our NATURAL. In fact, we don’t even know what it is. That’s why there has been so much focus, in recent years, on helping us to achieve “work-life balance.” The term implies that work is a negative activity that has no intrinsic value other than a paycheck which is almost always less than what we want or need. Our jobs cannot lift us up, but can only drag us down, so we must find a way to counteract them. We must balance our experience in the workplace with activities that occur someplace else and do have enduring value. And, sadly, survey after survey confirms that balance is exactly what a growing number of Americans are struggling to achieve in their lives.”
What is your ’special talent and wisdom with which you were born’? What activities do you enjoy and feel most challenged, purposeful, happy and complete?
I’d enjoy sitting down with you and discussing with you your key strengths, ’special talent and wisdom’! I have a two-session package called “Strengths Identification.”
July 18th, 2007 at 11:41 am
Terri,
Reminds me of the old Chinese proverb …
“Find a job you love and you’ll never have to work.”
July 18th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
Peters book says that “To be your personal best is to draw on the special talent and wisdom with which you were born”.
But what are our natural talents? As an occupational psychologist that specialises in careers coaching, assessment and guidance I find that many of my clients seek to know what they are good at.
Of course I start by asking them - finding out what they consider to be the strengths, their skills, values, passions and if they have a sense of vocation. But people don’t always know themselves well. Many people will tell me about what they have learnt to do, but this won’t necessarily be what makes their heart sing.
Assessments are out their to identify passions and strengths but what I’ve found is the very best way for people to understand their natural abilities is to undertake an assessment which does not ask people what they think are their strengths but which instead gets people to take timed work samples to find out what they can actually do.
I use the Highlands Ability Battery: http://www.amazingpeople.co.uk/HAB.htm
I beleive it is very helpful for people to know their abilities and natural talents to understand in black and white they would be happy in some fields and not happy in others; know how to study most effectively and to use their true strengths more effectively and more consistently.
When we study and work in line with our natural abilities it is like driving along a brand new four-lane motorway. Working against your natural talents is like trying to make your way along a narrow, muddy, footpath. You can get there either way, but working with your natural talents is a lot easier and you will find much greater success.
denise taylor
http://www.amazingpeople.co.uk