Do you have an opportunity to do what you do best every day?

This provoking question thus so opens you up to the thesis of the book, which is that you are able to get a much higher return in working in areas that you are strong in, rather than trying to fix your weaknesses. You should be able to digest the content of the book in one sitting as the actual book itself is roughly 30 pages in length.  Once you read the introduction, you can then take the online talent assessment designed by the Gallup company, called the “Clifton StrengthsFinder.”  This online assessment provides your top 5 talent themes along with a customized report describing your potential strength areas and action steps to take to grow your talent themes stronger.  In addition, the remainder of the book describes each of the 34 talent themes that Gallup has defined in their research.

 One striking statement in the book is that our education and improvement systems teach us something that isn’t exactly the truth.  The book states that one of the largest fallacies that we are taught is that we can be anything that we want to be, if we just try hard enough.  The book calls this a “misguided maxim.” On the other hand, the book does point out that you can be a lot more of who you already are. It is true that our culture focuses on weakness when people take efforts to develop themselves.  See the self-help and psychology sections at the local bookstore if you have any doubt.  You will find hundreds of books on how to overcome weaknesses. Nevertheless, there are now many business and success authors writing and speaking to us about a very differing thought- grow your strengths areas. 

I recommend that everyone read this book as a quick introduction to the strengths based movement.  In addition, unlike many personality tests, this one provides some simple action steps that you can quickly apply towards your talent zone.  However, to truly learn more about growing and focusing on your strengths, I recommend that you only start with the strength finder book to discover your natural talent zones and practice some of the action steps that are suggested in the book and your customized profile. Once you discover your natural talent areas, invest in other books from Gallup or from other authors that teach on the subject.  The Strengths Finder is an introduction to this field of thinking and discovering the things that are right with people.  I encourage you to start here, but you must explore further for learning how to apply this new thinking.

In closing, the book points out:  “Hide not your talents. They for use were made.  What’s a sundial in the shade?”- Benjamin Franklin

 Check out the website at  www.strengthsfinder.com