. . . especially if you are seeking a new job and most especially if you are seeking a job in professional ministry. (Yes, I know it’s more than “a job” but hear me out.)
Although this is not a new book, like the Lencioni books it’s interesting in terms of figuring out how we work together best.
Interesting:
“In every culture we have studied, the overwhelming majority of parents (77% in the US) think that a student’s lowest grades deserve the most time and attention.)”
Yep.
I grew up wanting to be one of the Supremes. Big problem: Singing is not my talent. I could have taken voice lessons. Practiced my moves. Trained and trained for years. But still singing would not be my talent.
So here’s the jarring note from Tom Rath which seems almost anti-American: “You cannot be anything you want to be – but you can be a lot more of who you already are.”
This is the task of the Commission on Preparation for Ministry or any organization charged with developing people for professional ministry: helping people discern their strengths rather than “work on” their deficiencies. Check out yesterday’s post. Maybe their strengths are pointing in a different direction.
A Church for Starving Artists 
Actually, I prefer the Dependable Strengths method. Discover Your Call is a religious derivation of that system. I just became certified in that system. (Discover your Call that is), and I’m looking for a place to do a workshop! (Anyone? anyone?) It’s really cool, and the reason I like it better than Strengths Finder is that you don’t have to fit yourself into a particular vocabulary. Anyway, that’s a long way to say yes, strengths triumph weaknesses. And there’s nothing I hate more than a student who comes back from meeting with a committee having been told that they need to take more of something that they are terrible at, hate and fear. And to take the “more” they need to drop the things they love. Booo!
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Susan – this is great. Thanks. Contact this woman for a retreat!
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What a lot of anguish I would have been spared if my CPM group had embraced this concept.
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