Entrepreneurial StrengthsFinder

Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com, is quoted in this book:"If you double the number of experiments you do per year, you're going to double your inventiveness. The thing about inventing is you have to be both stubborn and flexible, more or less simultaneously. If you're not stubborn, you'll give up on experiments too soon. And if you're not flexible, you'll pound your head against the wall and you won't see a different solution to a problem you're trying to solve."That's from the nine-page color commentary on "Creative Thinker," one of the 10 talents of successful entrepreneurs according to the hot-off-the-press book/assessment from Gallup, the creators of the international bestseller,  StrengthsFinder 2.0 .This new book and 25-minute online assessment, "Entrepreneurial StrengthsFinder," measures 10 talents, or drivers of entrepreneurial success. "The degree of your natural ability in each of the 10 talents will determine where you will be successful and where you will fall short in your entrepreneurial journey."Co-authors Jim Clifton, chairman and CEO of Gallup, and Sangeeta Bharadwaj Badal, Ph.D., say their research reveals that "only about 5 in 1,000 people have the aptitude for starting and growing a business. In comparison, 20 in 1,000 have IQs high enough to be accepted into Mensa." (My assumption: if you're reading this review, you're a Mensa member, right?)Over the years of guilting leaders and managers into reading books, I've probably gone overboard on entrepreneurship books, like  Entrepreneurial Leadership: Finding Your Calling, Making a Difference .So finally, I have a cogent reason for my gut instinct that entrepreneurs are needed more than ever. But is this new assessment just one more flash-in-the-pan, leadership fad-of-the-year?To find out, I was the almost-silent observer last weekend when my entrepreneurial son, Jason Pearson, author of  Unseen: Jason Pearson Paintings , completed the 25- minute online assessment. (Each book includes a unique access code that can only be used once.) My gut response while looking over Jason's laptop: fantastic questions!Gallup wants to inspire Americans to wake up and start spotting young entrepreneurs. The message: the need is not more innovation; we need entrepreneurship which creates customers--and customers create jobs. Jim Clifton (the son of the late Donald Clifton, the father of the StrengthsFinder movement) sold me on this bedrock core belief in the first 35 pages.Upon completing the assessment, Jason downloaded two helpful documents: a color-coded three-page report of his entrepreneurial strengths--strongest to weakest; and a 20-page practical guide on suggested next steps.Jason was dominant in three talents: Creative Thinker, Relationship-Builder, and Risk-Taker. He had four more talents termed "contributing," and three at the bottom in "supporting." Nothing complicated--and all very practical and straightforward.The customized color-coded report defines your entrepreneurial strengths:* Dominant talents. "You consistently and naturally lead with your dominant talents."* Contributing talents. "You show some evidence of your contributing talents, but you must deliberately apply them to achieve success."* Supporting talents. "The talents that you don't naturally lead with are your supporting talents."Jason, who has started four companies, has the entrepreneurial genes. The authors note research "that the tendency toward entrepreneurship is between 37% and 48% genetic."I wasn't surprised that Creative Thinking was Jason's top entrepreneurial strength. Ask him for 10 ideas, and he'll deliver 20 by the time you've learned how to spell "entrepreneurial."But I was pleasantly surprised by the book's practical definitions and color commentary on each of the 10 entrepreneurial strengths. That section highlights key traits of each strength "in action" (with PowerPoint-worthy quotes from well-known entrepreneurs like Warren Buffet and others); cautionary notes (be sure to read the warnings for Risk-Takers); and then a practical list of next steps for maximizing that talent. All in about eight or nine pages each--easy reading and immediate comprehension (for you Mensa types!).For example, under Creative Thinker:* "You have a mind that is typically firing with many different ideas."* "Comfortable with the unknown and the unfamiliar, you always look for new ways to combine and recombine resources to create innovative solutions for your customers."* "As a Creative Thinker, you are quick to act. You seize opportunities and are usually the first mover in the market."* Other code words: "rule breakers," "refuse to be bogged down," "you like to work autonomously," "push the boundaries."* Under cautions: "You may fall prey to `incumbent inertia' as you achieve success and growth. Maintain the organizational flexibility that allowed you to explore your creative imagination in the first place."If you score high, as Jason did, as a Risk-Taker, share the color commentary with your spouse, family, and friends. "Contrary to popular belief, highly successful entrepreneurs are not risk seekers, they are risk mitigators par excellence. If you are a Risk-Taker, you instinctively know how to manage high-risk situations."While Risk-Takers are "avid problem solvers," some (on the extreme side) hold themselves in high regard, a phenomenon known as "hyper-core self-evaluation" (hyper-CSE). This may lead to "shiny new object syndrome."Andy Dunn, co-founder and CEO of Bonobos: "Prior to a lobotomy I just underwent which removed shiny new object syndrome (SNOS) from my brain, I was both an asset and a threat to my own company."There are six ways for Risk-Takers to maximize their talent (plus color commentary on each):1. Know what you do know and what you do not know.2. Take risks incrementally.3. Beware of confirmation bias. ("Ask people with opposing views to counter your initial idea or concept.")4. Construct different scenarios to guide your decision-making process.5. Don't gamble. (Institute a "cooling-off period" before you're swept away by the brilliance of your own ideas!)6. Kill unimportant projects.Bill Gates on Warren Buffet: "He doesn't invest--take a swing of the bat--unless the opportunity appears unbelievably good."Who should read this book?* CEOs and senior leaders (to spot and coach young entrepreneurs)* Educators* Parents and grandparents* Spouses and family members (part encouragement, part therapy!)* Mensa members!Clifton suggests every city (his core belief: cities are the fulcrum for the future) install an early identification assessment system and offer the Entrepreneurial StrengthsFinder assessment to thousands of students (prime age: high school freshmen to sophomores in college).Clifton begins this book with a sobering thought: "During my 40 years at Gallup, I've observed that when very talented leaders fail, it's often because their thinking failed them. Not their management or leadership skills, but their thinking about a core belief that they put at the center of all of their strategies. Because they are so wrong about that core belief, every subsequent decision actually makes things worse, because every decision is tied to that belief. The more they manage and lead, the worse things get.""This is happening in Washington, D.C., but it is also happening in many cities throughout America." His core belief: "Entrepreneurs create customers. And customers, in turn, create jobs and economic growth. Almost no leader knows this.""Virtually all U.S. and world leaders have misdiagnosed the core problem and put billions and billions of dollars into mistaken strategies that are not helping America's economy, much less the world's."I must end this review--but you MUST read this book!

I give this book/test 3 out of 5 simply because I believe the test to be flawed. The initial portion of the book deals with current issues and how enraptures are vital to solving many of the problems our world faces. I completely agree with this. My only issue with that is that the book acts as if entrepreneurship is the end all be all solution. However, most nonfiction books trying to make a point are written this way. For this alone the book deserved 4 out of 5.Now, I give the overall package, the book and test, a 3 out of 5 simply because of the test. I had taken the strengths builder 2.0 and I felt it was decent. This one, not so much. The aim of this test is to determine how good of a natural entrepreneur you are and how to improve your shortcomings. Great premises that, in my opinion, can’t work if the test does not adequately judge you.The primary problem I see with that test is that it is too vague with its questions and too precise with the given answers. It is really meant, from what I can tell, for people who focus on content rather than context while going about their daily life. I am the latter and simple black/white right/wrong thinking does not work for me. This is why I feel the test is not as good as it could be. To the credit of the authors though, the numbers are on their side. From what I’ve seen, most people are primarily content oriented and this test could work for the majority of people.The test is setup as a 3 point system. I got the lowest score on all but one of the traits. That was Business Focus and I received a middle grade score. I can see that in me but I would still place it in the lowest grade personally. However, there are a few traits that should have at least been middle if not high grade. These are Creative Thinker, Risk Taker, Independent and knowledge seeker. I know myself and I know my greatest short comings. I lack confidence and my social skills are horrid. These are my 2 greatest obstacles to starting any one of my 3 desired businesses; Rabbit farming, real estate and short term loans. Creative Thinker, Risk Taker, Independent and knowledge seeker have never been issues for me. Actually, I take that back. Independent thinking could easily be a crutch senses I am often more willing to give up than ask for any assistance or delegate tasks. Risk Taking, investing and business are all about risk. All three of the businesses I’ve chosen are incredibly risky. As for Creative Thinker, I am always trying to come up with new ways of doing things. I also do more knowledge seeking, mostly related to my chosen business ventures, than I really need to sense I graduated college 2 years ago. I have little starting funds and have to increases the odds in my favor as much as possible. Acquiring knowledge is one of the primary ways I can protect myself. On the bright side, the book does have advice on how to compensate for your shortcomings. As I begin to develop my businesses, I may very well find the advice very valuable.

Eccellent

Some advise is too generic. The online assessment does not give you enough time to really think through before answering.OK for first timers...

A must read for every entrepreneur and the assessment gives valuable insights