August 19, 2008
ON THE TWISTING ROAD
(c) 2008 Discovery Lookout, Inc. and Stephen Coxsey
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IN THIS ISSUE:
*Steve’s Field Note
*The TWISTING ROAD TRAVEL LOG
*ANYTHING BUT MARKETING!
*ADVISORY BOARD — Spread the word!
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Steve’s Field Note
August 19, 2008
I don’t remember if I’ve written about the VIA (Values In Action) Survey yet. It ranks your strengths as defined by the field of Positive Psychology. The survey is here.
We’re discussing the VIA in coaching class, so I looked up my results from a few months back and there it was, staring me in the face. My top strengths is Perspective!
Considering I experience the discoveries of my creative career choice and self-employment in a new field as a Twisting Road, it makes me laugh. My gift is to put things in context but my experience is to be in the dark a lot with this.
It got even stranger. I’m reading The E-Myth — more on that in my TRAVEL LOG — and I’m realizing a central theme and purpose of my life is a quest for clarity. My comfort, my certainty, and my power seem to come in clarity.
Clarity seems a little contradictory with perspective. Perspective is seeing different points of view and how things might seem to other people. It makes things multi-faceted and sometimes nebulous. Clarity IS. Black and white thinkers probably have clarity, I assume. People who see lots of perspectives probably find clarity a challenge. I often do.
So I’m pursuing something which I value highly that will often be eluding me. Thank goodness my second strength is Spirituality, a sense of purpose and faith. Relying on spirituality, I can look for clarity in deeper places, and I can rely on faith when things are foggy.
Take the VIA. It’s illuminating and encouraging.
Enjoy the scenery On The Twisting Road!
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TWISTING ROAD TRAVEL LOG
“I’ve Got To Stop Reading!”
I set aside the three (or so) books I’ve been reading consecutively after I spent a little time at Barnes & Noble evaluating another book. I’ve heard about it for years, even picked it up a couple of times, but never read more than the flaps and maybe a chapter introduction. But once I committed to looking closely and started reading, I was mesmerized. Two days later I was deflated and, well – forlorn.
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ANYTHING BUT MARKETING!
“Riding Trends Or Chasing Coattails”
Most of the seasonal promotions I see are logically connected to the season. For example, fine restaurants and florists and jewelry stores have special offers around Valentine’s Day. Costumes, candy, and decorations are promoted by discount stores and party stores heading into Halloween. But people seem to have lost their senses as they rush to connect the Olympics to their products and services. The Phelps Phenom Phanatics aren’t going to buy something just because it mentions medals and champions!
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ADVISORY BOARD
That’s you. As always:
If you like what you read, please tell your family and friends. If you don’t like something, please tell me!
Thanks for Joining Me on the Ride,
Steve Coxsey
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On The Twisting Road is a publication of Discovery Lookout, Inc. and Stephen Coxsey
(c) 2008 Discovery Lookout, Inc. and Stephen Coxsey