Last year, I stumbled across a video by Gary Vaynerchuk, and he spoke about the greatest asset that a business owner can have is self-awareness.
“Self-awareness isn't only just betting on your strengths, it's accepting what are your shortcomings.”
When I heard this, I loved it. But then I wondered: Am I self-aware? Am I conscious of my strengths and my weaknesses?
Ever since I was a kid, when I don't understand something, I just figure it out. This is especially true in my business!
So when I went to the University of Google, I realized there really isn't a perfect self-awareness quiz to take. So, I did what I do best and I figured it out myself.
This is my patchwork, make it work, ghetto-fab version of how to gain self-awareness. And the best part is that it's broken down into just three easy steps!
- First, list five of your strengths and five of your weaknesses.
- Then, list five questions you think people would ask you, probably related to your specialty.
- Finally, email five of your closest friends, peers, and family members and ask them to list what they think your five strengths, five weaknesses, and five questions they would ask you are.
This is the key component: when you get their responses, and see how it compares to your personal assessment.
If their responses are close or similar to what you wrote, awesome! That is a great sign that you see yourself the way that outsiders do.
>>Focus on doubling down on your strengths in your business and then you can get help with your weaker points.<<
Now, if the answers are different than what you listed, this is your chance to really dig deep and understand if you're not as self-aware as you once thought.
**To increase your self-awareness, I've discovered personality tests are game changers in helping me acknowledge my strengths and weaknesses.**
They have actually changed how I function as a business owner, as an entrepreneur, and now as a CEO. Three of my favorite tests are: the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicators, the Enneagram test, and the Kolbe test.
I would highly recommend taking these tests because if you’re anything like me, you will be blown away by the deeper understanding that you have of yourself!
>>That type of self-awareness gives you the confidence to take risks, play to your strengths, and then for you to let go of the weakest parts by giving them over to be handled by someone who's better at it than you are.<<
And that, my friend, is the sign of running a really successful business.
If you have taken the Meyers Briggs, Enneagram, or Kolbe test, leave your results below so we can connect over our similarities and differences!
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best as you double down on the best part of you.