I realized this morning on my short drive to the office that communication is actually a big part of how I feel alive.
Back in the day, even at the height of my singer/songwriter music performer career, I would have never called myself a prolific songwriter. And now, I write a LOT, and do a ton of graphic design, but I wouldn’t call myself a prolific writer or designer.
But today, it suddenly became clear to me that I am a rather prolific communicator. In some fashion, I am always producing some form of communication.
The reason for that, at least in part, is probably because when I feel/hear/think/realize something, in a strange sense it doesn’t become REAL for me until I’ve shared it. I may do that through a song, a piece of visual art or graphic design, a website, a book, or this blog, but until I’ve passed it along, I’m not actually sure it happened.
To a large degree, I seem to absorb reality by communicating it.
Strange, I know, but it probably has something to do with my StrengthsFinder Communication Theme… can anybody else relate?
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Genius & The Weight Of Creativity by Josh Allan Dykstra on May 31st, 2009
How To Build A Personal Leadership Brand by Josh Allan Dykstra on November 27th, 2011
Why "Tribe" Is The New "Job Security" by Josh Allan Dykstra on March 7th, 2011
Copyright © 2005-2012 Josh Allan Dykstra
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shanda
Hello,
)
I wandered on to your post because of the title…
Communication is one of my Strengths as well, and I fully agree with your analysis here. I’m compelled to share… and I didn’t realize it until I read your words here, but it’s true! It doesn’t feel REAL until I’ve passed it on. Good insights. Its as if you sat in my head for a little bit.
Shanda
02 Oct 2007 02:10 pm
joshallan
Haha! Glad to be of service!
What are your other 4 themes, if you don’t mind me asking??
03 Oct 2007 02:10 pm
shanda
You may ask…
They are:
Belief
Responsibility
Developer
Positivity
Communication
03 Oct 2007 07:10 pm
joshallan
Those are some fantastic themes! What do you do with your talents??
05 Oct 2007 01:10 pm
shanda
My life is currently a random compilation of many things:
I work at Starbucks where I LOVE meeting all sorts of people, building relationships, and influencing people’s daily lives and hopefully – over time the way that they think.
I am a student working on my MA in Christian Education with a Missions concentration… developing a deeper understanding of who God is as well as who He created me to be… learning to think strategically about serving Him locally and globally and infecting others with a passion to do the same!
I spend time every week in the inner city – serving and loving some very amazing people!
And basically, pouring into people’s lives in many unofficial capacities and learning a TON in the process…
… Because that is what makes my heart tick!
05 Oct 2007 02:10 pm
joshallan
Hey Shanda, it sounds like you really have found a lot of places to use your talents! That’s fantastic! How did you get hooked up with the StrengthsFinder? Have you found it to be helpful/insightful in your life? (I’m an always curious StrengthsCoach…
08 Oct 2007 04:10 pm
shanda
I’m not really sure where I first heard of it. I took a class from Erwin McManus a while back and he refers to them a lot… Other churches and organizations I’m familiar with have used it with their leaders. I’m always interested in such things, so I bought the book and took the test on my own. I’ve taken various tests over the years and I’d definitely say it’s one of the best! I probably would have guessed most of my strengths/talents just by flipping through the book but reading about how to further develop them and utilize them to the fullest has been very helpful/insightful.
)
08 Oct 2007 09:10 pm
joshallan
I first discovered it at Mosaic, so I get the Erwin connection! It absolutely IS one of the best… I liked it so much that I got trained by Gallup to be a Coach! It was a really phenomenal experience, and perhaps also explains why I persist in asking you such invasive questions. Ha!
09 Oct 2007 03:10 pm
shanda
I’m always open to invasive questions.
)
Where do you use your skills as a Coach?
09 Oct 2007 04:10 pm
joshallan
Haha, good! I’m currently working at a small church called Journey (avjourney.com) outside of Los Angeles, which is where I get to do most of my coaching. I’m hoping to possibly parlay it into my next job, too, though… whatever that may be. I really love helping people discover what they’re good at, and then helping them achieve it. I guess it makes sense why I love the StrengthsFinder so much, eh?
11 Oct 2007 10:10 am
kale alloiosis +++ josh Allan
[...] breath for me to write another blog entry, I still like to stay in touch. Maybe it’s my communication addiction, but unless I’m somehow interacting with “the world” (that’s you!) I just [...]
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