What makes me who I am?

That is a complicated question, to be sure. What makes a person? Is it intelligence, self-awareness, or consciousness? I suppose that would be enough to differentiate me from any AI algorithm. I do in fact exist, and I am indeed a person.

Consciousness

I am a highly conscious person. I keep my things in order. I take detailed notes, and I come prepared. I have a well defined set of goals that I work hard to achieve and I’m very persistent. I am cautiously optimistic. I am somewhat risk averse, although I have been known to take well calculated risks if they have a good chance of helping me to achieve my goals.

Agreeableness

Generally, I am very agreeable. I love jumping in and helping out. I care about all people, and I rarely tell a lie. I believe in the best about people, until they prove me wrong. I can forgive, but seldom do I forget. I am genuinely interested in people, and I’m seen by others as trustworthy. I listen more than I talk, I’m a good arbiter, and aside from this web site, I generally do not easily self-advocate.

Experience

I have experienced many difficult situations in life and in work, and so I have become thick-skinned. I do not get easily stressed. I have an even keel, and I am comfortable in my skin, thick as it is. I am also very introspective, which helps me to examine and understand what I feel.

Creativity

I love to try new things. I am very open to new ideas. I enjoy solving problems, and I love using my creativity and imagination to come up with novel solutions. I love being able to pivot and take on any role. I can handle lots of responsibility.

Cautiousness

I tend to be cautious when meeting new people or making new friends. However, the friends I make I keep. I am not an adventure seeker, bungie jumper, or sky diver. I do not peel out or pop wheelies. I am not a party animal, or a social butterfly.

Privacy

I am a very private person, and I see no need to tweet about my day-to-day activities, or personal proclivities. I do not gossip, and I don’t share secrets.

Achievement

I get great satisfaction out of achievement. When I pass an exam, earn a certification, close a deal, solve a problem, or catch a big fish. I am a technician that loves to make sales. I am definitely coin-operated. I am not a cheat. I am very ethical, and I believe in being fair and square. But, if I can score a big win while being honest, I get an immense sense of satisfaction. This makes me very motivated to try and do it again.

Purpose

Making measurable progress toward achieving life goals is what gives me purpose. A good analogy would be boating in a shallow bay. You might clearly see where you want to go, but you need to be alert and prepared to take action to avoid dangers that might be lurking just below the water’s surface. You make adjustments for wind and current, make constant small corrections and eventually you will safely reach your destination. Sometimes along the way, the destination changes. That is ok. At the end of the day, it is not the destination that provides the motivation. It’s getting to drive the boat!