My dad attended the Chicago Music Conservatory as a piano proficiency major. Needless to say he is a great piano teacher and taught all of his own kids at an early age. My sister and brother could read sheet music very well. I was a different pupil. For three or four months I had faked my way through song after song without my dad knowing I was not reading the music. When I started taking lessons around the age of five I found that I could remember what the song was supposed to sound like after hearing Just one or two times.
I can remember getting so bored looking at those weird white sheets of paper with funny black markings in between rows of lines. My dad was an extremely patient teacher but I was not a patient student. I wanted to make music and not talk about it. I thought to myself, “ If I know what it is supposed to sound like or even how to make it sound better why do I need to know all of this theory stuff? ” That pretty much sums up my Myers-Briggs type. I had taken the AMBIT once before but was not allowed time to explore and digest the findings.
After going through the AMBIT this last time and taking the time to dive deeper into my type I have men equally encouraged and enlightened as to who I am and how I approach life situations. My type is NEFF with a slight pull toward . NET. NEFF types are extroverted with intuition and feeling. As I have read through the many different books, booklets, and handouts explaining types I could not agree more with the description of my type. In Introduction to Type in Organizations, Hirsh and Summered define NEFF as being, “. Enthusiastic, insightful, innovative, versatile, and tireless in pursuit of new possibilities. They enjoy working on teams to bring about change related to making things better for people. ” I have always been an extrovert and was not surprised how strongly I preferred extrovert to introvert in my AMBIT. I was very encouraged to know I am not weird Just because I like to “ make the rounds” during my workday. I did take special note of how others can view the way I deliver information and the speed in which I deliver.
I never want to viewed flippant or shallow and I also want to make sure everyone is involved in the situation at hand. Through my reading and research of types I have been paying very close attention to Intuition and Sensing. I scored all 26 possible points on the intuition side so I feel hat my strengths from this preference will be very strong and my weaknesses may prove to be very difficult to overcome. I don’t think anyone that truly knows me would be shocked if I had brain surgery and the surgeon could not find the left side of my brain.
My sister was the valedictorian her senior year of high school and was a much better student than l. However, I would consistently amaze her at how fast I could solve problems or come to conclusions about certain matters. She would plead with me to actually try to be a better student and sometimes I would listen. I have always enjoyed solving complex puzzles Ana am great a channeling processes. I was relieved to know I am not trying to be difficult but I need to be aware of coming across as haughty and pigheaded.
I am uncertain if I completely agree with my type as preferring Feeling to Thinking. I identified with the description of the . NET type, especially in the workplace. One of my main reasons for this disagreement is that I tend to place the project or outcomes over people during meetings. However, I am typically overly aware of offending people and make it a priority to ask for forgiveness later and explain myself. Because f this factor I do agree with my preference for Feeling. I am also naturally conflict avoiding and I desperately want harmony in any environment in which I find myself.
I know I am a people pleaser and that characteristic continuously comes back to bite me when I promise more than I am capable of delivering. Judging and Perceiving were extremely close in my type indicator. I prefer flexibility and possibilities but I do also love seeing projects completed and I like to know what is expected of me. Both times I have taken the AMBIT I have scored one more point for Perceiving than for Judging. After reading through all of the heartsickness of these two preferences I can see that I am very balanced in this area of my life.
After reflecting on my life I can safely say my parent’s supported my natural preferences as opposed to most of my teachers and bosses who tried to conform me as it pertained to their style of leadership and teaching. I am exceedingly grateful to my parent’s for many things. One of the things I appreciate the most is the lack of toys my siblings and I had. While my friends always had the latest 6. 1. Joe action figures or the latest and greatest video games I was busy drawing with colored pencils or building giant Logo castles. My life was somewhat structured but in that structure I had plenty of time to be creative.
I was also my own worst critic. I would keep a binder of all my drawings and when I looked through it even only two months later I would have to take another crack at certain drawings knowing I could do a better Job. Homework, especially math homework, was always an ordeal. I can remember telling my dad, “ If I got the correct answer why do I need to show my work? ” That was my entire educational experience. If the subject interested me it was extremely easy but if I could not figure out how to apply the subject to my life I would struggle to cake a passing grade.
I hardly ever took notes in class but would try to soak up the words that were said and the pictures that were shown. I will always be indebted to my parent’s for teaching me and exemplifying humility. Ever since I can remember I have always had this feeling that I know a better way or I have a solution to most problems. Without the humble spirit my parent’s helped instill in me I know many people would find me to be very arrogant. The more I mature the more aware I am of this personality trait. I am also now blessed with a wife that keeps me in check.