When Yelena asked me this question on my interview with her the other day, I gave a flip answer but I've been thinking about it since then and figured out what they are:
1) I'm kind of a loner.
If I didn't have a blog, sometimes I wonder what I would be doing on a January Sunday like today. I don't have children, but I do hang out with my sisters (often) and my nephews (sometimes). Growing up I always had one best friend and then another one. When people would say things like "I'm going sailing with a bunch of friends" I always felt left out and like I was missing a gene in my personality that I didn't have a 'bunch of friends'. I also work better alone than with a team of people.
Last week when I did this personality test, I learned that I have a 'Director/Influencer' personality vs. Steadiness/Compliant . And you know where I apparently need to improve? Cooperating more with other people :) Dang it, but on the other hand it's also part of why I'm probably a better entrepreneur than employee!
2) What I'm thinking is always right there on my face, obvious to everyone.
Before I was self-employed (thank God) and had jobs--I would try so hard to have everybody like me--but then something would happen that I thought was wrong or I didn't agree with, and although I would do my best to pretend that everything was fine--there my opinion would be, written all over my face!
This trait works well for me in my current career however. When clients get to know me and they buy something for their house (without asking my opinion),and then ask me what I think, they can immediately tell how I feel about it (even if I try to pretend--which I mostly don't, unless I truly feel bad and don't consider it to be that much of a white elephant).
3) Lately, I've realized that I'm loyal--almost to a fault [but I’m not sure it’s a good thing].
For years I sent all my business to the same drapery workroom. When I would call for help to work out measurements and yardage, the owner would usually respond with a great deal of impatience--cranky that I didn't know his job as well as he did and couldn't figure it all out myself (By the way because I am that way, most of my installations go perfectly). Anyway, I would justify his bad-customer-service-behavior to myself because of the fact that his workroom did perfect work (very important in my business). Then, I just got tired of hanging up feeling like I had been reprimanded by my boss when I was the paying customer!
I also go to the same mechanic to fix my car because he knows me even though sometimes I feel like I've been overcharged. Better to deal with the devil I know than the devil I don't is how I operate.
I care more about making things right and 'fairness' then I do about having everybody like me. I'm very nice and witty and fun to be around until something goes wrong--and then (most of the time) have no problem stepping in and having the 'uncomfortable conversation' if necessary to sort things out.
So there it is. Another side of me that you didn’t know!
Related posts:
What I learned about Design while Decorating for my Mother
10 things I hate/Love/Share about Me
If you are new to this blog, click here to see the Best of Colour me Happy
