The Great Niche Adventure: O's 4-Step Guide to Discovering Who You're Meant to Be (Part IV)

Thursday, September 26, 2013

O's 4-Step Guide to Discovering Who You're Meant to Be (Part IV)

According to Keirsey, Oprah Winfrey may be a Teacher. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

All right! Over the last few weeks, we've Oprah'ed up: we've examined our passions, investigated our strengths, and considered what motivates us.

So what's left to do?

Part 4: Go!

All right! That's it! We're done!

...Oh, come on. You knew it wouldn't be that easy.

Something's probably holding you back. So what do we do about it? Apparently, we throw an idea party!

(No, I do not have any parties planned for the near future. If I do and you're invited, you'll know.)

I've seen so many fantastic plans get traction at idea parties. A woman interested in fashion got instructions on how to work backstage at Fashion Week—and an introduction to a local designer. Someone who couldn't afford to quit her corporate job but dreamed of working with primates met a zoo liaison who invited her to volunteer with spider monkeys on the weekends. A woodcarver who designed harps out of rare wood was upset that her usual supplier in England had run out—until another woman at the party exclaimed that her brother had a stand of the same trees in Australia.

Before you throw (or, presumably, attend) an idea party, it's a good idea to get a sense of what you think your obstacles are. Me? I never did get to figure out my strengths (hint, hint, folks!), so I'm still stumped, but if you've been able to follow along, you probably have a goal for the middle of the chart, and that leads to some good obstacles for the outer sections.

To plan this party, apparently you just invite a handful of friends and encourage each of them to do the same (oh, yeah, an introvert's dream, she notes sarcastically).

Next, play an icebreaker game where everyone tells the biggest lie about themselves they can think of, and what they like about their lie.

Finally, everyone takes turns saying what their goals are, and what their obstacles are, and the other guests offer feedback for getting over those obstacles.

Now, ideally you've gotten rid of the things holding you back, so you have no choice but to do it! Yay!

And good luck. Don't know about you, but I need it.

Have you been following this series? Think it helped you?