I know I sound like a broken record, but here is more critical self-understanding few high school or college students achieve or at least to the level needed for greater if not greatest achievement. For not having a thorough understanding of one’s talents, abilities, gifts, weaknesses, learning style, intelligence type(s), SuccessType, and more, how can one know with certainty what it is they have been called to do or put on this earth for? (All are called to greatness but few seek it, mostly due to lack of awareness, unfortunately). For we all have a general combination of the above that lends itself to that which we would not only do best but that which allows self-actualization or maximized contentment and joy in life.
And even though that may mean a lot of work and struggle, we owe it to those who sacrificed their lives to the maintaining of this freest of countries to not only seek the greatest for ourselves but that which translates into doing the greatest for the greatest number we may touch in our lifetimes. But back to the topic at hand.
Time and time and time and time again, I see students picking a major with about as much thought as they put into choosing a flavor for their ice cream cone. Often they go from one flavor to the next before during and, unfortunately, even after college (choosing a major), or that which they’ll be doing HALF their lifetime waking hours, like it’s about as important as what they’ll put into a cone for a simple treat.
So what exactly is this SuccessType Learning Style Type stuff all about? Before we get into the specifics, let’s take a look at a beak down of the various types:
Extravert (E): “How do you recharge your battery?” People in this category pay attention to people and things around them. As learners they:
Learn best when actively involved.
Like to learn with others
Like background noise while working / studying
Desire to discuss things with others to problem solve
Introvert (I): These people pay attention to the world inside their heads. They pay close attention to their thoughts, feelings and ideas. They draw energy from these inner experiences. As learners they:
Learn best by pausing to think
Like to work or study alone
Believe they aren’t good public speakers
Need to think in quiet
Need to be given clear instruction to work on assignment / task
Sensing (S): What kind of information do you rely on? People who are sensors become aware of things that are real through their senses: sound, touch, taste, feel, and smell. They are focused on the here and now. As learners they:
Look for specific information
Memorize facts
Follow instructions
Like hand-on experience
Desire to be given clear instructions on assignments / tasks
Intuition (N): People who trust their intuition or sixth sense, look for patterns, possibilities, and the big picture. As learners they:
Look for quick insights
Like theories and abstract thinking
Read between the lines
Create their own directions
Desire to be encouraged to think independently
Thinking (T): People who like to make decisions objectively using logic, principles, and analysis. They weigh evidence in a detached manner. As learners they: :
Use logic to guide their learning
Like to critique ideas
Learn through challenge and debate
Can find flaws in an argument
Want material / info. presented logically
Feeling (F): People who value harmony and focus on what is important to them or others when they make decisions. As learners they:
Want information to apply to them personally
Like to please their teachers
Find value or good in things
Learn when they are supported or appreciated
Want to establish report with others
Judging (J): People who are judgers like to make quick decisions, settle things, and organize their worlds. As learners they:
Like more formal class structure
Plan their work in advance
Work steadily toward their goals
Like to be in school
Desire people they work with to be organized
Perceiving (P): People woo are perceiving want to adapt to the world around them. They don’t like to close off options; instead they’d rather experience whatever comes up. As learners, they:
Like informal learning situations
Enjoy spontaneity
Stay open to new information
Work in energy bursts
Want learning situations to be entertaining and inspiring
If you’d like to know your LearningStyle Type, go here SuccessTypes Learning Style Type Test Go ahead, I’ll wait ;o)
So you’re back, did you discover your four letter profile? Are you an ESFP? An ESTP? An INTJ?
Keep in mind that this test is not scientifically reliable. The test illustrates a type; it doesn’t prove it. The type is a place to begin, and as you progress, your type can be altered. But it all begins with awareness of what you had as strengths when you came into this world or at least have developed as strengths to this point in your life. More about the test.
The test makes you choose between opposites. This is because theoretically you can’t simultaneously prefer two opposite things at once. This does not mean that you’ll never choose the other under varying circumstances; it means this is your preference most of the time.
Any Myers-Briggs type instrument (Yes, like the SuccessTypes Learning Style Type) answers four basic questions about you:
1. What energizes you and where do you direct energy? E or I
2. How do you gather information and what kind of information do you trust? S or N
3. How do you make decisions, arrive at conclusions, and make judgments? T or F
4. How do you relate to the outer world? J or P
It all begins with awareness. Most students have little clue as to who they are in regards to where they should spend one-third of their lives. And as you become aware of preference, you can then choose to add to your tool box those attributes you desire or need to improve your chance of success in many areas of life.
All success in life begins with awareness. Who are you? Why do you do what you do? Why do you think what you think when you think it? And so on. But a point to remember is that you may have a preference for something but that doesn’t mean you can’t add or subtract to your preferences. Or just plain old change who you are, really. Back to the issue at hand.
You may by nature have a propensity toward EITJ or Extravert, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging learner. However, you may find that in order to accomplish a particular job or task you need certain skills that a Sensor has: memorize facts, follow instructions. Or maybe what a Feeler has: find value or good in things. Or possibly a Perceiver: spontaneity, openness to new information.
You certainly want to work the majority of time in a field or job that utilizes your natural learning style, but in order to achieve you may just have to learn certain skills, attitudes, or knowledge that don’t come naturally to you. After all, we are human and prone to adaptability. But at the same time you don’t want to begin with adapting but rather what’s natural and go to adapting.
Bottom line, the more you know about you and how you operate, the more you’ll have a chance of achieving something great in your life. And here great doesn’t necessarily mean power, fame, and fortune, but find that which optimizes your strengths, abilities, gifts, talents, and desires. And to the end of being greater, greatest use to those you love and come in touch with every day.
But really, you’re choice. You don’t have to find the greatest joy and satisfaction you could imagine in your life. Yes, it’s all up to you.
Here’s to your success.
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