16A-What's Your Secret Sauce?

Human Capital:

1.Leadership-Since I can remember I have always enjoyed being a leader. I look for ways to solve a problem and will encourage others to do the same. I am not one to wait on others to initiate a plan and then follow their lead. This trait has allowed me to become a great problem solver as well as someone who can help others achieve success in issues they may be faced with.

2.Thinker-I am the type to think before I act. I know that some may find this trait to be flawed and that you have to jump into things head first but I have found it much more beneficial in my life and personal experiences to think things through. When you weigh out options you are able to make a informed decision that will most likely allow you to achieve a more positive outcome. This is extremely important as you become an adult and decisions hold more weight.

3.Compassionate-This is a trait that I am most proud of. From a young age I was taught to treat everyone with compassion no matter what their race, gender, religion, or personal beliefs are. I have always walked through this life with the mindset that we are all brothers and sisters and should treat one another in that way. When we are able to put ourselves in others shoes then we begin to see people in a different light. The most positive thing you can ever do is show someone compassion in a time when it may be most difficult.

4.Spiritual-Whatever you may believe, having some sort of faith or spirituality to hold on to can change your life. Through my own faith it has allowed me to be brave when things did not always look like they were going to work out in my favor. It has allowed me to gain strength when I had little. Most importantly it has made me the man I am today. It has taught me morals that I am able to live by and incorporate into my daily life.

5.Observant-I have the type of brain that allows me to walk into a room and be able to walk out and tell you what most people were wearing or certain contents that were displayed in the room. Sometimes this trait can be a curse because I am always aware and which can be exhausting on your mind. It also has many benefits which allow me to focus more on little things others may pay no attention to. The more details you are able to retain the better advantage you will have in this life. Details are important in everything we do in this life and should be something that is never overlooked. I am not only proud of this trait but grateful for the benefits it has given me.

Interviews:(I could not get my sound to work for some reason so I had to do each interview using pen and paper. Each interview provided was quoted word for word.)

What makes me different when it comes to knowledge, skills, abilities, and emotions?
Mother:  "You are extremely determined in anything you put your mind to. I have never seen you interested in a topic and not give it your all. When you truly want to succeed at something you do not let any obstacle get in your way. You work full time and are able to still attend college and keep your GPA over a 3.5. You are so kind and a people person. This allows you to connect with people in a way that most find hard. I am so proud of the man you have become and the man you continue to be."

Sister 1: "You focus on the big picture in life. You are not close minded and are willing to hear anyone out. Even though I am older than you, you hold so much knowledge and never want to stop learning. I feel like your compassion towards people shines through and I see you making connections all the time. I love that you are not afraid to express your feelings and be open about anything you may be going through. You are a leader and have been that way since you were little. I think your leadership has allowed you to grow so much as a person. Putting your mind to something has never been a issue and I think you continue to work towards a bright future."

Sister 2: "You are a over thinker. I think this is great but has also messed with you in life. I remember when you would have a lot of anxiety about situations because you would think about the outcome to much. You're extremely skilled with public speaking and connecting with people. I have always seen you treat everyone with kindness and can remember even when you were young and people were giving you a hard time you would still try to be nice to them. You're great at coming up with ideas and putting them down on paper. I know you are a really good writer and that has helped you it seems with a lot of stuff you have done in life. I am proud to call you my brother and also my friend."

Wife: "You have me as a wife so you obviously are smart, haha. In all seriousness though you are one of the kindest men I know. You always put me first and stay strong for us even when times get tough. You are one of the smartest people I know and I have hardly ever seen you fail in life. I know when you become interested in a topic or hobby you do everything possible to learn and become as skilled as possible as it. I know you are a deep thinker and spend a lot of time trying to solve problems. I've always admired your ability to connect with others and inspire them to live their best life. I am so blessed to have you in my life and know that your love and kindness means the world to me."

Best friend: Since I have known you there has always been something special with you. I have always looked up to you and how you live your life. Your dedication to your faith and family shines through every day and it inspires me to be a better husband and father. Since middle school you have always been there to help me out in tough situations. I always remember the times when I was having issues at home and you were there to look out for me. You are a hard worker and dedicated to anything you put your mind to. You continue to stay open to all aspects in life and I like the way you take each day as it comes. I know you have a lot of great things in front of you."

Reflection:

I have always seen myself as someone who tries to look out for other people. I try my best to make and keep positive relationships in my life. It was nice to hear that the interviewees took notice to that. I assume because I am a very open purpose when it comes to my life and things that take place within it is why my interviewees had the same thoughts that I have about myself. There are times when I become discouraged when I find interest in something and do not catch on as quickly as some of these interviewees seemed to make it. Also there are times when I get down and am not as positive as some of the interviewees seemed to think. I try to keep a open outlook at life and stay as upbeat as possible but this can be hard at times. I really would not make any changes to my list from Part 1. I noticed besides one interviewee not many mentioned my spirituality but that it something that is near and dear to my heart and I may not express that as much. Otherwise this was a great way to get others opinions on what they think and it opened my eyes to some things I never even realized people were taking notice of.