My Secret Sauce

1) Describe five ways in which you think you have human capital that is truly unique. What is it about you, exactly, that makes you different? Write this up in a detailed list. 

1. I am an overly optimistic
2. a giver of smiles
3. a lover of random acts of kindness 
4. an advocate for positivity. 
5. I try to seek progress—it’s like a thirst I can’t quench.
6. I do not really have insecurities about myself. I am very blessed to say that I am thankful for what I have.
7.  I am a supporter; I give more than I usually receive, which hurts me in the end. There have been times when I would choose to put others before myself, even though I knew I should have been #1 priority.
8.  I am not afraid of failure, but when I do receive it, I take a few moments to make sure I understand that failure is the best sign of direction towards improvement. 

2) Interview the five people who know you the best. Ask them what they think makes you different -- remember, focus on your knowledge, skills, abilities, emotions -- in other words, your human capital. Try to stay away from discussing your other types of capital (such as who you know). Record each interview. In your blog post, please post each interview, as well as a two-three sentence summary of each interview, explaining what your key takeaways are.

 Two-three sentence Summary: "Everyone thinks I'm basically a cool person. LOL I love them." 

•  Carolina (Roommate): "Lauren always has a smile on her face. Her drive makes her different; I can tell she really enjoys advertising." 

• Demetri (Boyfriend): "Well rounded, ambitious person. Like meeting people. Like doing things that involve talking to people. Really good with technical skills, like photoshop and video editing."

• Anna (Second Roommate): "Very nice person, speaks your mind, honest."

• Shahayra (Best friend): "Very approachable, not intimidating, easy to talk to. You don't intimidate people with how smart you are."

• Eleyn (Sorority Sister): "You have a different mindset. Very positive. It is really encouraging to see you so happy. The way you connect with people because it's not easy to make friends with random strangers you meet."

3) Reflect on the differences. How do you see yourself, and how do others see you? Are there differences in how you assess yourself compared to others? What do you think causes these differences? Do you think your interviewees are correct about you? Finally, going back to your list from part 1, would you make any corrections to the list? How? 

I definitely feel like with anything in life, there is going to be a drift in perspective. I see myself as confident, and while some people may think the same, there are some who believe that my insecurities are things that I try to hide. For instance, the search for constant improvement and progress is unnecessary. The fact that I’m looking for constant improvement, to some, means that I am not satisfied with myself at the moment, and that is something that I definitely need to ponder/reflect/and work on. I think they are correct in that they are outside perspectives and opinions other than my own. It is true what they say, you view yourself differently than from what others view you. I definitely would keep the things on my list but understand that with each positive thing, there is a negative alternative linked to it. For instance, yes, it might be good to be a good supporter for others, but when you put so much time and effort into something/someone, you might not get the same, especially when you should have focused on yourself.