THE ULTIMATE GUIDE "TO FINDING YOUR NATURAL TALENTS AND STRENGTHS"

1. TO FINDING YOUR NATURAL
TALENTS AND STRENGTHS
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE
By Real Help Author
Ayodeji Awosika

2. I get many emails from readers, and the No. 1 message goes along
the lines of “I feel lost. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what my
strengths and talents are. I have no direction. I need guidance.”
I often don’t have time to provide a full response like I will
in this book, but the short answer is that you know what
you want to do, deep down, but you’re scared. You can
be so scared that you’re completely blind to your gifts
So it can help to try and unearth them.
WHAT FOLLOWS IS EVERYTHING I’VE LEARNED
ABOUT THAT PROCESS.
REAL HELP: AYODEJI AWOSIKA

3. The oft-cited and misguided form of
passion means having the feeling of
ultimate bliss, joy, and motivation before
you try to experiment with or pursue a new
path for your life. It’s this idea that positive
emotions precede the action when the
truth is the opposite.
Passion does exist, but it’s a feeling you
earn with experience, instead of needing it
to get started. Strength and talent are
tangible. When you have a talent for
something and get good at it, you’ll know.
What constitutes a talent? A talent is any
trait you have that can help you achieve an
outcome you want. There’s a wide range of
talents, e.g., being good with your hands,
being a great conversationalist, math,
innovative thinking, video games,
organization. Some talents are more
“macro” and tangible like the ability to build
something. Some are “micro” and more
intangible like the ability to think on the fly.
If you actually, you know, do something,
your talents will emerge. You know,
actually trying to build a different life
instead of incessantly searching for the
magic potion of passion.
When you find something you’re good at,
practice, and get better at it. You’ll start to
feel passionate about it. I don’t love writing
because I always find writing fun. I love
writing because I’ve grown more
competent over time, and becoming more
competent at something gives you the
meaning and passion you so desperately
desire. Most people get this backward.
Do you wish there were a genie who could
tell you what you’re good at and how to
make a living from it? There are clues all
around, trying to tell you what you should
be doing with your life, but you’ll miss them
if you’re not paying attention.
The idea here isn’t to find out exactly what
you’re good at down to the finest detail. In
fact, you won’t have to “find” anything.
Instead, you’re going to experiment with
potential pathways and discover your
strengths and talents by acting on your
inclinations.
But before I continue, I want you to make
me a promise. I want you to promise me
that you’ll actually use this information.
Information is useless without action. Most
people will read books like this but won’t
take action on the information. I want you
to be different. Not for me, but for you. I
write these books knowing that only a
handful of people will follow through. And
it’s worth it for me. Make it worth it for you.
The Pitfalls of Passion
Strengths and talent matter most. Forget
about passion.
What do I mean by passion?
CONSIDER THIS YOUR ROAD MAP TO
TAKING THE FIRST STEPS IN DESIGNING A
CAREER AND LIFE YOU LOVE.

4. TOOLS TO HELP YOU DISCOVER
YOUR STRENGTHS AND
TALENTS
We love using surveys and questionnaires to “find out more
about ourselves.” In truth, these tests don’t have any real
scientific efficacy, meaning, there is no proof that any of these
things actually work. But they are useful.
WHY?
Well, if you use these as a guide to get whatever insights you
need to start, then they’re worth it. I tried all of these techniques
without knowing their efficacy, believed in the techniques, acted
on the advice, and it worked. Maybe they’re not “gold-standard”
science, but they’re accurate enough for you to use them as a
guideline for your future. They can help you to actually set your
future in motion.
Strengths Finder 2.0
Researchers from the Gallup company spent years testing and
tracking data to compile a list of 34 “natural talents” people
have.
The assessment has 200+ questions. The questions help
determine your strongest talents from the list. If you buy the
standard package,43 you’re allowed to see your top five
strengths. If you buy the expanded version,44 you can see all 34
of your strengths in order from strongest to weakest.
Your assessment will include descriptions of your strengths,
examples and quotes from people who share that strength, and
a detailed list of actions you can take to develop your strengths.
I remember when I first took the assessment and read the
descriptions. It was eerie how accurate they felt. You’ll feel like
someone read your mind.
Let’s go through my results to see how I’ve used the information
to develop my strengths.

5. Some strength development suggestions from the book include:
01STRENGTH
People with the ideation talent are fascinated with ideas.
They’re always looking for connections between different
topics to come up with novel ways of looking at the world.
Strength 1 - Ideation
Seeking a career where you’re paid for your ideas.
Scheduling time to read.
Taking time to understand where your best ideas come from.
How I’ve put these suggestions into action:
I started blogging and wrote multiple books—I’ve been paid for my ideas.
I (usually) read a book per week.
I began a daily practice of writing down 10 ideas per day to strengthen
my “idea muscle.”
REAL HELP: AYODEJI AWOSIKA

6. 02 & 03
STRENGTHS
Some strength development
suggestions from the book include:
taking the time to think deeply about
your future goals.
making yourself available to consult
with people on their problems.
trusting your intuition.
How I’ve put these suggestions into action:
I set clear goals for myself, and
constantly tweak and refine my vision.
I run “mini experiments” to try new
methods of doing things.
People like to confide in me and ask
questions, so I make sure to provide
the best advice I can when asked. I also
encourage people to ask me these
questions, people from my tribe to
those in my personal network who
seem like they’re searching for
answers.
I make moves. I’m not passive in my
approach to getting ahead. When I see
a potential strategy for advancing, I
execute.
Strength 3 - Intellection
People with the intellection strength
love to think. They’re introspective. Even
if they appear extroverted on the
outside, they enjoy time alone with their
thoughts.
Some strength development suggestions
from the book include:
reading philosophy and psychology
books.
taking the time to write.
engaging people in thoughtful
debate/dialogue.
How I’ve put these suggestions into action:
I’ve read several books about
philosophy and psychology. When I first
got into self-improvement, I’d buy books
from lists created by writers and public
figures I followed. Tai Lopez’s top 150
books list45 was the main one where I
started my major reading habit if you’re
looking for someone to start.
I’ve developed a healthy writing habit. A
friend asked me to write articles for his
website right around the time I was
investigating my strengths. I published
on his site consistently then started
looking for resources to help me stay
focused. People like Jeff Goins, Jon
Morrow, and Ryan Holiday come to
mind. When I’m at my best, I’m able to
write every day.
I will talk about unique concepts and
ways of viewing the world with anyone
who will listen. Mainly readers like you.
People with strategic strength are
always plotting their next move. They’re
always asking “what if?” They look for
the best route of action. If one strategy
doesn’t work, they ditch it and move on
to the next tactic.
Strength 2 - Strategic

7. Some strength development suggestions from the book include:
04STRENGTH
People with the input strength have an insatiable appetite for information.
They are voracious readers who love to collect facts, quotes, books—
anything they can store in their reservoir of knowledge.
Strength 4 - Input
Finding a way to use your knowledge to benefit other people.
Positioning yourself as an expert.
Deliberately increasing your vocabulary.
How I’ve put these suggestions into action:
I use the facts and quotes I collect into my books and blog posts in the
hopes it benefits the people who read them.
I wouldn’t call myself an expert, but I’ve built authority by learning,
implementing, and sharing my ideas.
I have multiple vocabulary books that contain a bunch of words and
definitions the authors think you don’t know yet. I use them to learn new
words.
REAL HELP: AYODEJI AWOSIKA

8. 05
Strength 5 - Adaptability
PEOPLE WITH ADAPTABILITY STRENGTH ARE ABLE
TO CHANGE PACE QUICKLY AND THRIVE IN
SITUATIONS WITH UNEXPECTED CHALLENGES.
They prefer to work under flexible conditions and can
get bogged down with having to work in a structured
environment.
Some strength development
suggestions from the book include:
seeking roles where success depends
on changing circumstances.
avoiding roles requiring structure and
predictability.
turning mundane tasks into games to
keep them interesting.
How I’ve put these strengths into action:
I come up with new topics to write
about and refine my approach
depending on how they resonate with
readers.
I try to keep a set time each day to
write, but the number of words varies.
It could be 500 or 5,000.
I don’t plan far ahead. I set 90-day
goals and break down what needs to
be done into monthly and weekly
goals. I’ll often reward myself for
getting through large tedious tasks
with things like TV time, a massage, or
a nice meal. If I don’t “beat the level”
for the day, I don’t get the “points.
Take this breakdown of my strengths
and ways I’ve put them into action to
help you learn how to do this for
yourself.
They key here is taking action. I’m not
the first person to discover or write
about Strengths Finder 2.0, but many
other people will just say “Read
Strengths Finder 2.0, and learn about
your strengths.”
REAL HELP: AYODEJI AWOSIKA

9. MYERS-BRIGGS TYPE INDEX
To get the most from the book, go through the
exercises and follow the suggestions.
The Myers-Briggs test shares concepts with
Strengths Finder 2.0. You’re asked a series of about
80 questions, and in the end, you’re given one of the
16 personality types. Each personality type is
separated by the weight of four different factors.
Extroverted or Introverted - E or I
Intuitive or Sensing - N or S
Feeling or Thinking - F or T
Perceiving or Judging - P or J
My personality type is ENTP. ENTPs are known for
being fascinated with ideas and novel ways of
thinking (remember this was my No. 1 strength
found on StrengthsFinder 2.0. You will find more of
the true answers with the “overlaps” you see
between different tests). They have a nonconformist
view of the world, love to debate and play devil’s
advocate, and are eager to start new projects.
ENTP personality types have weaknesses in that
they can get distracted easily and have problems
following through with their plans. They have a hard
time paying attention to detail and hate having to do
repetitive tasks or planning.
You can take the free version
of the Myers-Briggs Test.46
After you take the test, you’ll
get insights like which
careers to choose from, how
to hone your strengths, and
which other types you pair
well with in both professional
and personal relationships.
Again, this isn’t like a DNA
test. But it can be useful. Use
it semi-seriously, take it with
a grain of salt, decide what’s
actually true, and use it to
begin taking action.
BIG 5 PERSONALITY TEST
Now this test is supposed to be the most scientifically accurate of them all.47 Many very
intelligent people and world-renowned psychologists swear by its validity. Again, you can never
really know its true effectiveness. You can understand its usefulness, though.
The Big 5 personality test measures these core personality traits:
Contentiousness - How diligent, organized, and persistent you are
Agreeableness - How well you “get along” with others by deferring to their opinions
Openness to experience - How receptive you are to new ideas and adapting
Neuroticism - How often you get irked over petty shit
Extraversion - How much energy you get from being around and interacting with others

10. I’m a very disagreeable, slightly
extroverted, very open to experience type.
I score very low on conscientiousness, but
I think the score is off because I am very
conscientious in one area: my writing. You
can hack conscientiousness by finding
something you’re talented in. Just ask any
video game-obsessed kid with a dirty
room whether his conscientiousness is
context dependent.
Many psychologists believe high IQ people
with high conscientiousness are most
successful. And they are, but only in the
conventional sense. Each type has its own
strengths and weaknesses.
Most artists are the opposite of the
prototypical career person. The point is to
figure out who you are and avoid trying to
be anyone else.
These are just a few of the many
examples. From Enneagram to DISC, Color
Palette and more, there are enough
resources out there to rid you of the
excuse that you don’t know your interests.
The point? Get going.
Now that you’ve learned how to identify
your strengths, I’m going to show you how
to pay attention to the world around you
so you can find some interests to pair
these strengths with.
Listen To What the World Is Trying To Tell You
What if I told you your “passion” was sitting right underneath your nose? Unless
you’re the most boring person on the planet, there has to be something you’re
interested in or willing to learn more about.
People get lost trying to find their passion or purpose because they peer too
far into the distance. In reality, passion is nothing more than a subject you’re
interested in that you can pair with a certain skill. Simple.
I’m going to share a few techniques with you to help you find out what you’re
interested in. At the end, we’ll tie everything together to give you a solid roadmap of
what you should be doing going forward.

11. My upbringing tells a tale of my love affair with
words. When I was younger, I used to love reading
books to my parents instead of the other way
around. In grade school, whenever the teacher asked
someone in the class to read out loud, I would raise
my hand. The other kids in the class always wanted
the teacher to choose me, too, because I was the
fastest reader and that meant we could get it over
with sooner.
I was fascinated with learning new words. In school,
we would have to take vocabulary tests. A week
before the test, we’d be given a set of words to
study. I would wait until about 10 minutes before we
had to take the test, memorize all the definitions,
and ace it every time.
I started writing poetry in middle school. I would give
my poems to girls to get them to like me (it didn’t
work). I even attempted to write a YA novel while in
high school. It was about a high school boy’s life,
mainly focused on the protagonist trying to get a
girlfriend. I wonder where I drew that inspiration
from. The papers I wrote impressed my teachers.
YOUR UPBRINGING
Looking into your past
can help you figure out
what to pursue going
forward.
What did you want to be at the age of 14? What
recurring themes or patterns can you spot, if you
think about your past?
IT’S CLEAR TO ME NOW THAT MY LIFE’S MISSION IS
TO USE WORDS TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON OTHERS,
BUT IT WASN’T ALWAYS THIS WAY.

12. Thinking of the words that come after
this phrase will help you discover what
you were meant to do. Instead of this
end-all, be-all passion, what are some
of the things that make you think “Hm,
this would be cool to try.”
You’ll often notice this in the pursuits
other people have already achieved
that make you envious. Find a use for
all emotions, even negative ones. Your
desire pangs can point you in the right
direction.
Not in the direction of material
success, because that’s just the
“keeping up with the Joneses”
mentality. Instead, you want to keep
up with the Joneses when it comes to
doing the type of work you want to do.
This test works by finding out what
makes you a bit envious that other
people are doing, not what they have.
I can remember talking about writing
for a living, in one way or another.
I would always say things like:
“It’d be cool to write a book.”
“It’d be cool to be a writer.”
“It’d be cool to start a blog.”
I’d stumble upon articles about
blogging and self-publishing and
would think “How cool would that be
if I pulled this off?”
At that point in my life, I had a
tendency to write these long-winded
Facebook statuses about my beliefs,
goals, and dreams. I was already
writing; I just didn’t pay attention to
the signal my actions tried to give
me. You have these too. Watch your
behavior.
I got lucky. A friend of mine noticed
my penchant for pontification and
asked me to write blog posts for his
website. The rest is history.
I’m thankful for the push he gave me
because I’m not sure how long I
would’ve waited to get started, or if I
would’ve gotten started at all. Don’t
wait too long like I did. Focus on the
question.
THE “IT’D BE COOL …” TEST
What comes to mind when you think
of the phrase “It’d be cool … ”? I bet
there are some things you’ve
offhandedly mentioned wanting to do.
Your passion might be closer than you
think, if you stop and reflect for a
while.

13. Your friends, family members, acquaintances, and even
strangers are all giving you clues to help you discover your
strengths and talents. Success in life comes down to being
observant.
Most people are so desperate to find their passion that
they let their mind wander instead of looking at what’s
right in front of them! Don’t be this person. Like I said,
deep down you already know. The people around you
know, too. They’ll even flat out tell you sometimes.
Also, people are usually OK with talking about your dreams
when they sort of think you’re full of it. They’ll shoot
around ideas with you with the underlying sentiment that
you won’t do anything with the information. But you will.
Often, the subconscious negativity won’t manifest itself
until you actually start succeeding.
Feedback: The Insights That “Hide in Plain Sight”
Friends/Family
What do your friends compliment you on? What do they
find difficult that you think is easy? What do they ask for
your advice on? You can think about the answers to these
questions yourself, or you can also ask your friends what
they think. Earlier, I said your family and friends
subconsciously don’t want you to succeed, but you do have
some people in your life who want you to win.
Most people are so desperate to find their
passion that they let their mind wander
instead of looking at what’s right in front
of them!
Tell them you’re thinking of
making a career change or
starting your own thing,
and that you want to know
what they think you’re good
at. Tell them to be honest.
Your friends and family can
see things in you that you
can’t.

14. Strangers/Acquaintances
Feedback from strangers, acquaintances,
and people who aren’t so closely tied to
you but do know you, e.g., professors,
teachers, counselors, co-workers, friends
of friends, etc, can be even more useful
than feedback from people you know.
They’re not so close to you that they have
any stake or ulterior motive for pointing
out your strengths. Your strengths just
seem obvious to them, and there’s
nothing people love more than giving
advice.
Have you ever received a compliment
from a stranger? A colleague? Someone
you’re loosely tied to? What did they say,
specifically? I’ve been told that I’m
articulate. I have a large vocabulary by
default. The words just come out, and
I’m not trying to be smart. People can
sense this.
I’ve often been told I belong in business or
was meant to be an entrepreneur because
of my creativity, the fact that I have a lot of
ideas, and because people who know me
know I don’t deal well with authority.
When I used to work at the counter of a
video store, an unusually high number of
people told me how much they loved my
voice. I’ve specifically been told, on more
than one occasion, that I have a voice for
radio or podcasting. I’d give presentations
in class, effortlessly. I remember one time
a student in my class told me how great
my presentation was and thought I
worked on it tirelessly. When I told them I
threw it together an hour before class,
their jaw almost hit the floor.
Not to make this seem like I walk
around bathed in compliments. I often
got negative feedback, too. My teachers
didn’t understand why I didn’t “use my
full potential.” My parents wondered
why I was so lazy and disorganized.
For a big chunk of my life, I felt like I
wasn’t normal because I didn’t have this
base level of conscientiousness most
people came with “out of the box.” I’m
ill-equipped for any job requiring
attention to detail and monotonous
tasks.
I especially knew I was ill-equipped, as I
was fired from every job requiring these
qualities.
REAL HELP: AYODEJI AWOSIKA

15. How To Go From Potential to Kinetic
So how did I solve the strength conundrum? I looked at
both the positive and negative pieces of feedback I got.
Then, I focused on the positive ones, and either ignored or
mitigated my weaknesses.
Now, I live a life that looks a lot like the output of the
compliments I’ve received. I’m a writer. I have a few little
side businesses going. I don’t have a boss. I’ve spoken
onstage in front of 1,000+ people, and I have a
podcast/vlog.
I’m still disorganized. In fact, I’m only ever motivated when
I’m trying to do things I’m suited for. We’ll talk about this
more in a future chapter called Play Games You Can Win.
But the biggest mistake people make is trying to achieve
something they’re just not wired for. This truth can either
be limiting or liberating. You do have a finite amount of
skills and pathways to choose from.
That being said, that finite number is large enough to build
a lifestyle that fits you perfectly. I don’t try to be something
I’m not. I don’t tackle goals I don’t think I’m suited to reach.
I play my position.
The world around you is pointing a neon sign saying “Your
life purpose is here!” But you ignore it because you’re
focused on the wrong things: other people’s opinions, the
carrots and sticks doled out by society, and the petty
annoyances and trivialities that distract you from who you
really are and who you’re really supposed to become.
Steven Pressfield says it well in The War of Art, “Our job in
this life is not to shape ourselves into some ideal we
imagine we ought to be, but to find out who we already
are and become it.”
This isn’t about what I think or what society thinks. It’s
about what you think. Ironically, though, sometimes other
people know your true path better than you. They know
your faults as well. Stephanie Horton, a character in the
show Mad Men, put it well when she said, “Nobody knows
what’s wrong with themselves, and everyone else can see
it right away.”48
If you use the opinions of
other people for
anything, there is one
great purpose they
serve. You can use
them, filtered with your
understanding of the
world, to figure out who
you really are, and take
steps to become that
person.

16. Try finding a nonfiction section.
Nonfiction sections will deal with real-
life areas of interest, so if you find one
that’s interesting to you, it will translate
to a field you can enter in the real world.
Although fiction might help you if your
goal is to be a fiction writer.
I can spend the rest of my life reading
books about business,
entrepreneurship, pop psychology, and
philosophy. Going back to the
“upbringing” section, in addition to
being interested in words, I was also
interested in business for as long as I
can remember.
Those two interests have overlapped,
and I’ve been able to make an income
from writing. I’m also an entrepreneur
(of sorts) and have used my writing
skills to land paying clients and
freelance work. We’ll keep going over
more ways to find your interests, but
you have to be seeing a pattern by now.
The Bookstore Test
I learned this technique from one of my
favorite writers, James Altucher. Go to the
bookstore and browse through each of
the sections until you find one that
interests you.49 The goal here is to find a
section in the store where you would
literally read every single book.
Talk Isn’t Always Cheap
What can you talk about without
stopping? Everybody has a subject they
could talk about for days if someone
were willing to listen to them. What do
you talk about with your friends on a
Saturday night? If you had to give a
speech about one topic, what would it
be?
You probably think your little hobbies are
worthless. Those conversations where
you’re able to talk about the origin stories
of every comic book character, spit out
the stats of every athlete, or talk about
some seemingly obscure interest without
end are valuable. There is a niche for
everyone in business and in life based on
all sorts of idiosyncratic interests.
Don’t believe me? This person created a
six-figure business by giving people tips
on how to have a great Disney
Vacation.50
REAL HELP: AYODEJI AWOSIKA

17. They offered tips on how to find the best hotels,
get travel points, get upgrades for free at the top
hotels in Orlando, find access to secret deals that
Disney doesn’t advertise, etc. The value of the
deals is more money than the cost of learning
about them. Simple.
I’ve always been intuitive, even at a young age. I
always had a sense that I was being lied to by the
authority figures in my life. I’ve always been a
dreamer.
I’m always talking about fighting for freedom and
choosing your own path rather than the one
society lays out for you. I talk about the problems
with society, our education system, and the status
quo. This theme runs through my writing and
shapes my worldview.
You have a subject you can’t keep your mouth
shut about as well. Consider it another piece of
the puzzle. Using the Strengths You’ve Already
Developed
Maybe you’ve been working in a career that doesn’t
fulfill you for a long time. When moving forward on
a new path to discovering your strengths and
building a new life, you might think the skills you’ve
used in the past are useless. This couldn’t be further
from the truth.
Regardless of what industry you’ve been working in, there
are some skills you can take from your experience and use
them on your new path.
REAL HELP: AYODEJI AWOSIKA

18. Keys to Identifying Strengths in Past Work
Think about the tasks you’ve done well in previous roles. These are
skills you have gained competence in, whether you liked it or not.
IDENTIFYING YOUR
STRENGTHS
Think about the tasks you’ve done well
in previous roles. These are skills you
have gained competence in, whether
you liked it or not. Using myself as an
example again, I used to work in retail
and customer service. I was good with
customers and used problem-solving
skills to help them when they had
issues. I had great communication
skills, knew how to build rapport, knew
how to persuade, knew how to
recommend and sell.
I use these skills now when I’m looking
to land a new client or if my current
clients have any problems needing
resolution. Running a successful blog
will come with its fair share of new
challenges, and my adaptability helps
me iterate faster to grow my audience,
market my work more effectively, and
find new opportunities for my
business. Think about the parts you
disliked about your previous roles.
Time and time again, the No. 1 problem I
had in previous jobs was staying
organized. I hate having to deal with
tedious tasks. Although I still have tasks
to do for my business, I structure them
in a way that’s not so rigid. I also look to
find my 80/20, meaning I spend the
majority of time on what will have the
most impact on my business and ignore
everything else.
I’ve had writing assignments where I was
praised for creativity and originality.
When I was a member of my university’s
student senate, I was praised for always
challenging the thinking of my peers and
being relentless in voicing my opinion in
order to come up with the best results.
Think of any assignments or projects you
were praised for. You must have
achievements you’ve been praised for or
are proud of. Notice the strengths in
your work pointed out by other people.

19. Use Your Strengths To Take Action
Now you need to start searching for a new career/life path, or begin to think about
building your own. It’s important to have self-awareness, but if you don’t take
action on what you’ve learned, you’ll stay stuck in the same place.
So how do you take action? Your plan
will likely involve one of these options:
Find a new career, start a business, or
toy around with a hobby. Any choice
will suffice as long as you make one.
There are certain roles that turn you off
the instant you imagine yourself doing
them. Bye bye customer service rep,
journalist, HR recruiter, and researcher! I
already tried customer service rep; didn’t
like it. I’m not a huge fan of the
media because of the biases I explained
earlier; scratch journalist. HR goes
against my entrepreneurial nature,
which I’ve always known existed. And I’m
not into minutiae and tedious work,
which cancels out research. Follow this
intuitive process for yourself.
Narrow your list down until you’re left
with some that seems workable. Once
you have these in place, you can go
online and look through job descriptions
of each to get a feel for whether they’d
be the right fit. After looking through the
descriptions, some will stand out more
than others. If you can, narrow it down
to three.
Once you’re left with three options, you
can reach out to people who work in the
same field, and ask them questions to
learn the ups and downs of the industry.
Find someone local. You can type in the
job type on LinkedIn to get a list of
results. If their email is listed send them
a message; otherwise, you can
message them directly via LinkedIn.
Chances are they’ll respond unless
they’re a high-level executive or celebrity
(but even then they might reply if you
reach out the right way.)
Using Your Strengths To Find Better
Employment
Let’s say you’ve taken the personality
and strengths tests. These tests come
with potential jobs for people with your
“particular set of skills.” You’ve
developed a solid profile that can be
coupled with different available jobs.
Here are some of the potential careers
that align with my strengths and
talents, based on the surveys and
personality tests.
Journalist
Research and development
Entrepreneur
Author
Customer service representative
HR recruiter
Marketing manager
Sales manager
Actor (ooo I like that!)
PR specialist
Real estate agent
These are just a few options. Once you
have this list in place, you can start by
crossing out the ones that are a
definite no.

20. After you’ve learned more about each of the
three positions, you have to decide which
path you need to get the job you want. Do
you need additional education? Or can you
slide into an indirectly-related career, based
on your past experience? What are the
requirements for the type of job you want?
Think about how you can add value to these
companies.
If you’re trying to break into a new industry,
there are many little tips and tricks that can
help you do it.
Volunteer in a capacity similar to the work
you want to do.
Try something like a “bootcamp” instead of
a degree. There are countless programs,
like Lambda School, that will train your for
no upfront free.
Study on YouTube, Lynda, Skillshare, etc.
for little to no cost, and create a portfolio
where you share your work.
Join groups on LinkedIn related to a field
you want to pursue and actively engage
(without asking for anything).
Write a blog about your industry, aiming it
toward people who have public access to
your knowledge. Many people have
received job offers this way.
Prepare a full strategy for how you’d
improve the company you want to work
for, and send it to them with your resume.
If you have to go back to college to get a
new career (maybe you want to be a
lawyer or a doctor) then go back to college.
Using Your Strengths To Start Your Own
Venture
In the age of the internet and information
economy, it’s possible to build a tailor made
side-hustle or business from scratch. You can
take those same skills and use them to start
your own venture. This breakdown will be
simple, but it’s enough to get you started.
The key to building a career of your own
using the internet is creating what’s called
a platform. A platform is nothing more
than a medium to share your message and
unique worldview with other people, in
order to turn them into potential
customers.
Blogs
Websites
YouTube channel
Podcasts
Social media websites
Amazon/eBay/Etsy/Shopify
Email marketing
A combination of the above items
Examples of platforms include the
following:
You can use your platform to either build a
following or connect with potential clients
who could use your services. When you
combine your skills and interests with the
power of the internet, you can create a
business you love.
There are only two ways to make money
as an entrepreneur: You can either sell a
product or provide a service. You can use
your platform to find potential clients for a
freelance business or you can use your
platform to offer a product.

21. Freelancer Pros Freelancer cons
Flexible schedule
Potentially lucrative clients
Quicker transition from idea
to cash
Inconsistent income streams
Dealing with shitty clients
Business will only survive if you can work
(unless you hire staff, which is a great option
down the road when you have cashflow)
This is a basic overview of business that doesn’t do it justice, but at least you have an
idea of the available options. You’ll soon see a full nuts and bolts section on starting a
side business. How do these options tie in with your strengths? I’ll again use myself as
an example.
Why use myself? I want you to view the lens of my thought process to help guide yours.
If you’re still worried about how to implement the advice, you can use my example as a
framework. Obviously, we’re not the same. But additional examples can help you learn
how to think for yourself. So do your best to ingest this information and create a version
that works for you.
My strengths include coming up with good ideas, communicating, collecting
information, writing, and reading. My interests include outside-the-box thinking,
entrepreneurship, nonconformity, and a love for words.
I’ve taken these strengths and interests and used them to make a side income in a
number of different ways.
Product Business Pros Product Business Cons
Easier to scale
Opportunities for passive
income
Lucrative, once established
Takes more work up front than freelancing
The product might fail = wasting lots of time
High competition
I've written three books, which has created a passive stream of income.
I do freelance blogging and copywriting work.
I coach inexperienced bloggers on building an audience and using it to launch
their own businesses.
None of this would have happened if I had failed to take action. I started with one
action: writing my first blog post. I continued writing while learning more about internet
marketing and online entrepreneurship. I’m making great progress, but I still have a
long way to go.

22. So what about you?
I’ve given you actionable information you can use to discover your unique talents
and strengths. Are you going to use it? Are you going to take the time required
to increase your self-awareness and change the direction of your life?
We all deserve to have lives and careers that are built on a solid foundation of
strength. There are so many people in jobs that don’t suit them. We live in a
society focused on fixing weaknesses rather than developing strengths.
Imagine a world where everyone did work they were good at. Society as a whole
would be a happier, more productive and efficient place. I want you to join those
who have found their strengths and put them to good use. Use the resources, try
the exercises, and get results.
REAL HELP: AYODEJI AWOSIKA