Designed by Carolyn Kahil

Purpose of Exercise

To assist you in creating a business that is built on your expressing who you are, and doing what you do well and feel passionate about.

Learning Objectives

To clarify your personality preferences and unique talents

To write an intention statement that delineates your strengths on which you can base your business

Target Entrepreneur Population

It is best for those who are developing a new business, but it can also be helpful for entrepreneurs who want to re-evaluate their roles in their business.

Participants

This exercise is designed for you, the reader. You may want to share with others interested in becoming entrepreneurs.

Setting

Pick a favorite place that opens you up to your creativity. I can work in coffee shops in spite of the noise, but you may prefer someplace more peaceful such as the beach, a park, or the library.

Time Required

Proceed at whatever pace works for you. It depends on how aware you already are of your personality preferences and talents.

Materials

These are optional if you already have the information. Book: Follow Your True Colors To The Work You Love or MBTI or Keirsey Temperament Sorter.

Instructions

1. Make a list of five of your positive personality traits if you already know them. If not, you can take the True Colors Assessment and find a list of these traits based on your first color in Follow Your True Colors To The Work You Love.  You can find the same information from your MBTI or Keirsey Temperaments.

2. Next, make a list of five things that you do particularly well - your talents.

3. From your lists of personality traits and talents, which two traits and which two talents do you feel the most passionate about? In other words, which ones give you the greatest satisfaction or sense of excitement?

4. Who needs a service using your particular traits and talents - students, job seekers, career coaches, and others?

Write an intention statement that includes the four steps above. Example: I intend to use compassion and my desire to help people reach their potential to inspire and train professionals to better prepare job seekers in finding fulfilling and rewarding careers. Write your intention statement: I intend to use ( list 2 of your major personality traits) to ( list 2 of your special talents) (what audience for what purpose).

Focus your attention on your intention by reading your statement daily until you actualize it. This is exactly what Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, authors of Chicken Soup for the Soul did. Their book was turned down by all of the major New York publishers but they didn’t let that stop them. Two years before their book became a best seller I visited their office in Southern California and they had posted all over the walls – Chicken Soup for the Soul, #1 New York Times Bestseller. They believed in the idea so strongly that they wrote it down and focused their attention on what they wanted daily. Within two years they turned that book and many others into New York Times #1 Bestsellers. Like them, don’t allow any obstacles or challenges of any kind deter your efforts to be successful. Build your business on your strengths.

Discussion Questions

Are you open to introspection and discovering your true self?

What brings you satisfaction at a soul level?

How can you turn your strengths and passion into a service for others?

What are people looking for that you can provide in a unique way?

Is there a need for a partner and what strengths could they add that compliment yours?

Who would make good mentors?

Are you willing to stretch yourself and take some risks?

Assessment

Did you clearly state your personality traits and unique talents?

Did you write an intention statement that explains how you will use your personality strengths and talents to build your business?