# 20 - Finding Strength
My top five strengths from a Gallup Clifton Strengths Assessment, tennis, Tanglin Gin, Republic Bar, Essentialism, The Missing Cryptoqueen, Liu Yang River, a Haydn Piano Sonata and training
Hi friends
Hope you have had a good week!
In today’s issue, I look at my strengths from a Gallup Clifton Strengths Assessment that I took as part of my day job, discuss what I’ve been reading, listening to and practising and review how my running, golf and tennis training has been going.
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✍️ This week: Top three things
Gallup Clifton Strengths Assessment | Tennis | Tanglin Gin & Republic
1. Gallup Clifton Strengths Assessment
I took this survey as part of the day job. I understand it’s not free to do so I took it seriously and was keen to see the results. Similar to the more recognised Myers-Briggs personality test, it identifies 34 strengths from my responses to 177 paired statements (see a demo here) that set me apart from others:
I’m never always 100% certain how much I should read into all of these assessments (especially Chinese New Year horoscopes!) as I sometimes wonder how much of these strengths and descriptions are just self-fulfilling prophecies.
Is is really possible to pigeonhole one’s character into a few labels?
Anyway, healthy scepticism aside (or rather, in tow), I’ve copied the descriptions from the report for my five strongest strengths that describe (i) why these strengths are unique; (ii) action steps I need to take to maximise my potential for these strengths and (iii) blind spots I need to watch out for with these strengths.
The statements I can most relate to right now I’ve bolded and italicised:
💪 Strength #1: Futuristic
🙋 Why my Futuristic strength is unique:
Because of your strengths, you treasure the one-on-one conversations you have with visionary thinkers. Their ideas can force you to expand on your plans for the future.
It’s very likely that you sharpen your ideas about the future by spending time with possibility thinkers. These individuals regularly talk about inventions, medicines, designs, technologies or food supplies that no one else has even considered.
Instinctively, you regularly set aside the majority of your time to contemplate what the world could be like years or decades from today. Ideas come to you when you are in the company of visionary thinkers. These individuals often stimulate your inventiveness.
By nature, you sense your life has deep meaning. With remarkable vividness, you often imagine where you will be, what you will be doing and what you have the ability to accomplish in the coming months, years or decades. Your dreams of tomorrow are very alive in your mind today. You intentionally strive to transform these possibilities into reality.
Driven by your talents, you intentionally spend a lot of time pondering the behaviours, activities, skills, knowledge, processes and ideas you want to perfect in the coming months, years or decades.
🎬 Action steps to maximise “Futuristic” as a strength:
Use as much detail as possible when you describe what you see on the horizon. Not everyone can naturally fill in the gaps between the present and future like you can.
Choose roles that allow you to contribute your ideas about the future. For example, you might excel in entrepreneurial or startup situations.
Help those who are struggling imagine their future. You naturally foresee a better tomorrow, and that motivates you to overlook today’s pain and problems.
Write down your ideas for the future to clarify your visions for yourself, your colleagues and your friends.
Read articles about technology, science and research to fuel your imagination. Thinking about the future comes naturally to you, and learning more about it will inspire you.
🛑 Blind spots I need to watch out for with “Futuristic” as a strength:
Because you live in the future, you may find it difficult to enjoy the present moment. While it will always be important for you to have things to look forward to, don’t overlook opportunities to experience and appreciate where you are now.
Some people may dismiss your visions because they can’t see the future like you do. Accept that you must address real issues today to get to a better tomorrow.
💪 Strength #2: Restorative
🙋 Why my Restorative strength is unique:
Chances are good that you frequently consider ways to enhance your ability to reduce difficult-to-understand ideas, processes or plans to their most basic elements. You generally seek opportunities to make things simple and easy to comprehend.
By nature, you commonly consider what rules, processes or procedures need to be made better. You like to redesign how a task is performed so those doing it only have to follow the pattern you create. You enjoy working with people who comply with the standard operating practices you set up for them. Individuals who “march to the beat of a different drummer” — that is, insist on doing things their own way — are apt to annoy you.
Because of your strengths, you usually spend hours assessing the reasons why you failed or missed a goal. In other instances, you carefully examine why you were caught off guard by a crisis, stalled by a problem or stymied by an obstacle. When you arm yourself with the right answers, you probably do things much better. You probably break through barriers and succeed.
Instinctively, you are fascinated with the way things operate. You frequently have insights about how to upgrade a process, mechanism, regulation, programme or project. Individuals, situations and things have benefited from your betterment plans.
It’s very likely that you typically concentrate on things you need to improve about yourself, your work or your studies. Practising what you do well usually positions you to do these things even better. You are likely to feel more accountable for cultivating your own gifts than for helping others enhance their abilities.
🎬 Action steps to maximise “Restorative” as a strength:
Look for roles in which your success depends on your ability to solve problems. You might particularly enjoy medicine, consulting, computer programming or customer service.
Seek out tough turnaround situations that others might avoid. You will enjoy the challenge of revitalizing something, and you will build your reputation as a valuable partner.
Celebrate your successes. Difficult problems might entice you, but also acknowledge easy-to-solve issues that have big results.
Tell others that you enjoy fixing problems, and offer to help. Many people shy away from difficulties, but problem-solving comes naturally to you.
Give yourself a break. You might be overly self-critical and your own toughest critic. Try to redirect your energy toward things about yourself that you know you can fix or toward external, tangible problems.
🛑 Blind spots I need to watch out for with “Restorative” as a strength:
Others might think that all you see are their flaws and shortcomings. Remember that there are times when people need you to see their successes and give them praise.
You tend to focus on processes, not people, and you might automatically rush to solve every problem. Sometimes others need to solve their own problems, so try to give people space to experiment and find their own solutions.
💪 Strength # 3: Relator
🙋 Why my Relator strength is unique:
By nature, you routinely reduce elaborate or intertwined ideas, processes, legal documents and/or action plans to their basic elements. As a result, people usually turn to you for plainspoken, easy-to-understand explanations.
It’s very likely that you bond with and work well with people who tell you what they want to accomplish in life.
Because of your strengths, you are frequently sought out by people whom you have got to know on a personal basis. They come back to you again and again because they trust your judgement. Many of them realise you tailor your words of wisdom to fit their unique needs, strengths, limitations, goals or personalities.
Chances are good that you exercise good judgement and common sense when congratulating someone. Your comments tend to be sparing. They carry a great deal of weight, however. People generally value your praise. These individuals are apt to grow personally and professionally because you call attention to their moments of excellence. They understand that any recognition you give them is hard won.
Instinctively, you enjoy counseling friends when they turn to you for help, suggestions, opinions or fresh perspectives. Usually you make discoveries and gain new insights each time you freely share your ideas, experiences or feelings with your companions.
🎬 Action steps to maximise “Relator” as a strength:
Try to get one-on-one time with people, rather than attempting to connect with them in a group. This will help you build the deeper and trusting relationships you value most.
Stay in contact with your friends, no matter how busy you are. Your closest relationships energize you.
Make sure people know that you are more interested in their character and personality than in their status or job title. You might serve as a model for others.
Let your caring show. For example, find someone to mentor, help your coworkers get to know one another better or deepen your existing relationships.
Look for workplaces, classes, teams or groups that encourage friendships. You prefer a casual style and culture and will likely not do well in overly formal situations.
🛑 Blind spots I need to watch out for with “Relator” as a strength:
Because Relators typically do not trust others implicitly and people have to earn your trust over time, some may think you are hard to get to know. Be aware of this perception with new people you meet as well as with the people you see every day.
Your tendency to spend more time with the people you know best might give the impression that you are exclusive or unfriendly to those outside your inner circle. Consider that you might be missing out on the benefits of widening the circle and getting to know more people.
💪 Strength # 4: Responsibility
🙋 Why my Responsibility strength is unique:
Driven by your talents, you set up standard operating procedures because you want to perform the same task the same way time after time. You care about doing things right from a moral and legal perspective. In addition, your sense of correctness extends to the quality of your own work. Understandably, you favour everyone using reliable, step-by-step procedures. You probably believe everyone should follow the same set of rules.
Instinctively, you volunteer for additional duties. You really enjoy being given authority over projects, individuals or groups. You expect to be held accountable for the results you produce as well as your words and deeds.
It’s very likely that you are naturally open and honest about who you are, what you have done, what you can do and what you cannot do. Your straightforward explanations and stories help listeners see you as you see yourself. You reveal your strengths and limitations. You are forthright and plainspoken. People generally seek your company and want to work with you. Many are impelled to move into action by your words and examples.
Chances are good that you are quite comfortable being honest about yourself with others. You harbour very few illusions about who you really are. Furthermore, you can openly acknowledge your mistakes and shortcomings. This is apt to distinguish you from most people.
By nature, you are known as a reliable and dependable person. You are motivated to work diligently. You cannot rest until you have completed what you told someone you would do.
🎬 Action steps to maximise “Responsibility” as a strength:
Always check your schedule and to-do list before taking on a new request. This will help you realistically meet all of your commitments without overworking yourself and demonstrate to others that you are serious about your responsibilities.
Align yourself with those who share your sense of commitment. You will thrive when you are surrounded by others who take their responsibilities as seriously as you do.
Be an ethical watchdog for your school, organization or community by taking action to eliminate and prevent any unethical behavior you see.
Let your teacher or manager know that your natural sense of responsibility gives you an exceptional capacity to function independently.
Be selective. Because you are instinctively responsible, it might be difficult for you to refuse requests from others. Sometimes you need to remind yourself to say no.
🛑 Blind spots I need to watch out for with “Responsibility” as a strength:
Because you find it difficult to turn down others’ requests, sometimes you overcommit. Try to manage your Responsibility talents by giving up something before you take on a new task.
Too many obligations can keep you from spending time with the most important people in your life. Remember that sometimes, no is the best answer for the health of your relationships.
💪 Strength #5: Achiever
🙋 Why my Achiever strength is unique:
It’s very likely that you genuinely delight in juggling multiple tasks within the course of a day, week or month. The challenge of keeping several assignments moving forward simultaneously, yet independent of each other, sparks your drive to excel.
When you are forced to concentrate on one task at a time, however, you risk becoming bored, frustrated and/or inefficient.
Instinctively, you devote yourself to working out what makes a person unique and special. You are likely to invest a lot of energy in this activity.
You typically consider yourself successful when you can identify a person’s talents, weaknesses, interests, motivations, moods or experiences.
Chances are good that you naturally are drawn to start-up activities. Why? They give you an opportunity to accomplish something no one else has done. You are likely to push yourself to reach goals. You are hardwired to double-check your work to verify that everything is going as planned. You are equally concerned that every person and piece of equipment is in its assigned location.
Driven by your talents, you are motivated to prove yourself to yourself — rather than to others — by being more successful or productive than you have ever been in the past. You seek to resolve any doubts you have about your ability to reach your goal. You examine numerous assumptions — that is, anything taken to be true without proof — rather than automatically accept them. When perplexed, you investigate the situation. Why? You have probably set high expectations for yourself.
By nature, you approach your work-related or academic assignments with a great deal of intensity. You are known for putting in long hours and working hard.
🎬 Action steps to maximise “Achiever” as a strength:
Set challenging goals. Take advantage of your self-motivation with a more ambitious goal every time you finish a project.
Take time to celebrate each success before moving on to your next item or task, even for just a few minutes.
Limit your commitments to projects or assignments that align with your highest priorities as much as you can.
Be sure to take regular breaks, even though you might be naturally equipped to work harder and longer than others.
Make sure your to-do lists include tasks and responsibilities beyond work.
🛑 Blind spots I need to watch out for with “Achiever” as a strength:
You might get frustrated when others don’t work as hard as you do, and they might see you as too demanding. Remember that not everyone has the same high expectations for themselves or is driven to work as hard as you are.
Your pressing need to get things done might cause you to take on projects or agree to deadlines before you know everything that’s involved. Before you commit to something, make sure you have the time and resources you need to do it right.
2. Tennis
Even though my partner and I took the L on Friday evening in a local doubles league competition, it was still a great evening out in Simei in Singapore’s east. We went down to a team that was clearly better and more relaxed with their style of play than us:
3. Tanglin Gin and Republic Bar
I went to these fairly new establishments over the past week with some friends.
See “This week: what I’ve eaten / drunk” below.
📚 This week: what I’ve been reading
Essentialism by Greg McKeown
My Dad read this over the course of a week during his stay in Singapore over Chinese New Year this year and left the book with me. I’ve just picked it up over the past week and will try to finish it this week. Here are three takeaways so far for me:
Do not try to fit it all in
The way of the Essentialist isn’t about setting New Year’s resolutions to say “no” more, or about pruning your in-box, or about mastering some new strategy in time management. It is about pausing constantly to ask “Am I investing in the right activities”?…The way of the Essentialist rejects the idea that we can fit it all in
Prioritise your life, otherwise someone else will
…What should have been one of the happiest, most serene days of my life was actually filled with tension. Even as my beautiful new baby lay in my wife’s tired arms, I was on the phone and on email with work, and I was feeling pressure to go to a client meeting…[M]y colleague said, “The client will respect you for making the decision to be here.” But the look on the clients’ faces did not evince respect…As it turned out, exactly nothing came of the client meeting. But even if it had, surely I would have made a fool’s bargain. In trying to keep everyone happy I had sacrificed what mattered most. On reflection I discovered this important lesson: if you don’t prioritise your life, someone else will.
Ask myself, what is one thing you could do that would make the highest contribution to my life and to others?
I worked with one particularly driven executive who got into technology at a young age and loved it. He was quickly rewarded for his knowledge and passion with more and more opportunities. Eager to build on his success, he continued to read as much as he could and pursue all he could with gusto and enthusiasm. By the time I met him he was hyperactive, trying to learn it all and do it all. He seemed to find a new obsession every day, sometimes every hour.
And in the process, he lost his ability to discern the vital few from the trivial many.
Everything was important. As a result he was stretched thinner and thinner. He was making a millimetre of progress in a million directions…[I asked him] “What would happen if we could figure out the one thing you could do that would make the highest contribution?”…As it turns out, many intelligent, ambitious people have perfectly legitimate reasons to have trouble answering this question…Success can distract us from focusing on the essential things that produce success in the first place.
🎹 This week: what I’m practising
1. Liu Yang River by Wang Jianzhong
This has been on my list for a long time and I think the YouTube algorithm must have caught on, and I’ve been listening to this recording whilst reading through the score:
2. Piano Sonata Hob. XVI/34 in e minor by Joseph Haydn
With my piano finally out of storage and back in its original corner position of my apartment in Singapore, I’ve been relearning the first movement of this Haydn Sonata, which I first learned almost 17 years ago (yikes!!).
It’s great to reintroducing some dexterity and strength to my fingers.
You can check out some practice clips on Instagram here and here.
🎧 This week: what I’ve been listening to
This BBC podcast on the infamous Ruja Ignatova One Coin scam (see Investopedia summary here) was recommended by a person I indirectly report to at work, and I finished all nine episodes this past week. TLDR: watch out for scams!
🍔 This week: what I’ve eaten and/or drunk
(i.e. Interesting places I’ve checked out this week aside from the regular cai fan, Hainanese chicken rice and spinach and soup!)
Tanglin Gin - 26A Dempsey Rd, Singapore 247692
I went here yesterday evening to celebrate a friend’s birthday.
It’s located in Singapore’s Dempsey Hill, a popular spot filled with many restaurants and bars.
This particular shop has only been around for a couple of months, and I really enjoyed the quiet vibe and refined (but unpretentious) fitout. I generally prefer beers nowadays (especially after an activity like tennis or a long run) over spirits, but this was a refreshing change and out of the tropical downpour that was threatening to come down.
My friend generously shouted the drinks and I had a gin tasting flight consisting of Tanglin Gin’s Orchid Gin (favourite), Singapore Gin and Black Powder Gin (least favourite):
Republic Bar - 7 Raffles Ave, Singapore 039799
I went here with my running group (see “This week’s training below) where one of the group’s university classmate joined us for a start-of-week catch-up. Similar to Tanglin Gin, a nice and quiet space if you’re looking for hotel bar setting that’s good for friends or colleagues:
🏟️ This week: how I’ve been training
🏃♂️ Running: I’ve signed up for the Chicago Marathon on 9 October (221 days to go!) and my good friend, Colin, put together a neat video summary of our long run last Saturday, 26 February around Singapore’s picturesque Marina Bay:
⛳ Golf: Made a couple of trips to the indoor simulator at GolfX. The swing is noticeably different (I hope smoother!) and I felt like I was generating more “effortless” power and hitting distances with the shorter clubs that I haven’t hit for a long time. You can see one of these swings on Instagram here.
🎾 Tennis: Had a lesson on Thursday morning focusing on the crosscourt forehand. Nothing much to report on here, except to say it’s still a WIP in terms of effectively transferring my body weight through the shot.
That’s all for this week. Hope you have a great week ahead!
David