In 2008, Victory Tacloban Staff encouraged me to take the Strengths Finder test. I did so reluctantly. Honestly, I wasn’t too thrilled with my results because they just confirmed that I am not that good in other important areas of life. I hid my Strengths Finder results in my bookshelf for three years. Last week, before the School of Local Church Ministry started, I looked at my results again and realized they are actually good. The first one is LEARNER. I know, I’m officially a nerd and I would really love to protest but, well, it’s kind of true so… anyway, here’s the description:
People who are especially talented in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them.
Instinctively, you acquire knowledge more easily when you can talk with others about ideas, concepts, or theories. Thoughts come alive for you when questions are posed and answers are proposed.
You have a delightful time thinking out loud and listening to intelligent people express themselves. You naturally document or store in your mind bits and pieces of discussions. You want to refer back to these insights or facts whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Because of your strengths, you relish reading about topics that fascinate you. People are not surprised to find you with your nose in a book — that is, reading all the time.
When a subject intrigues you, you review a wide range of printed materials. You glean — that is, collect bits and pieces — as much information as you possibly can about your areas of greatest interest.
Driven by your talents, you sometimes enroll in difficult or demanding classes. You might aim to expand your knowledge or challenge your thinking about certain things.
Excerpted from Tom Rath, Strengths Finder 2.0 (Gallup Press, 2007)
Bill Hybels on God-given visions.
Jojo Agot 