This was an essay written for my Law & Leadership class, during the Spring 2022 semester at Loyola Law School, under the guidance of then Dean Michael Waterstone. More about the CliftonStrenghts bellow.*
According to the Gallup’s test, my Top 5 CliftonStrengths are, in order: Strategy, Empathy, Achiever, Futuristic and Positivity. I think they paint a fairly accurate picture of who I am. This is how they have played out in my life so far.
There aren’t many grand instances that would better depict how these strengths are reflected in my life. They are woven into my everyday life. As Gandhi said, our life is our message, and all that which I am is inherently imprinted in everything I do.
How I’ve carried myself to how I’ve conducted my life. From building relationships to performing at jobs. From how I handle my own emotions to how I move through my days: it all reflects the characteristics shown by the Gallup’s test.
The best place to start is with the Futuristic strength, which is very telling, given that I always like to begin in the future.[1]
The truth is…
it is hard for me to move unless I have a purpose.
Gallup describes this strength as: being inspired by the visions of future, energized by plans and excited to bring ideas to life. That’s absolutely right. To me, purposefulness is key.
Whatever I do, from the water I drink to the pillow I rest my head in at night: it all came about from the life I have envisioned for myself. Being a student at Loyola today is a result of a vision of the future I had for myself: becoming a trial attorney in the US.
Once I have a clear vision, or even a wisp of it, I move.
From there, I’ll break it down into goals and direct my steps accordingly. It encompasses big projects (such as moving to another country), building a new habit (such as going to the gym at 6am), preparing for a case or simply studying for school (and covering all my bases for the exams).
Once I have the prize in sight, my biggest strength comes in: strategy. It permeates all my days.
The most telling tale I can think of is how at eight years old I became obsessed with a book I found at my mom’s bookcase. I carried it everywhere and unsuccessfully tried to read it over and over. It was none other than The Prince by Machiavelli. I’ve always thought of it as an omen of sorts, an early sign of the hunger with which I accomplish the things I set out to do.
Per Gallup, the Strategy Strength allows you to pinpoint the core problems, transform obstacles into opportunities and look for alternative ways. I have seen this play out not only in my career as a Lawyer in Brazil, but also in my personal life. I always look at the most elegant way of doing things: the best results with the least amount of wasted effort.
Strategy provides flow to my days. How I set up my daily activities, how I ensure my commitments are attended to, the order in which I put on creams right before bed. Everything is intentional. My mind naturally asks…
What is the most efficient way of doing it?
Nothing, however, is accomplished without hard work, discipline and stamina. This is probably why “Achiever”, my third strength, is perhaps the most noticeable thing about me. I am relentless – or how a kind soul once put it, obstinate. I don’t stop until I get what I want or where I am going. I am focused and tireless. Here’s where my strengths start connecting beautifully: it is my purpose and my vision of the future that ignite and feed me endlessly. They give me the enthusiasm and determination to realize my plans, and in doing so, they give rise to my fifth strength: Positivity.
Positivity is contagious enthusiasm. And that is so true, when it comes to me. Nothing makes me quite as happy as infecting those around me with a joy for living – AKA, turning up the heat. I love aiding others in realizing that life is whatever we make of it and that, truly, the sky is the limit. We can accomplish anything we set our minds to when we have a clear goal and a plan. The path reveals itself.
Finally, for the last – but certainly not least – strength.
I used to think of it as a weakness. For a long time, I saw myself as a people pleaser. I genuinely enjoy making people happy, but I would often be too quick to prioritize the needs of those around me over my own. Now, I know that was just my second strength at play: empathy.
I like to see the best in everyone I meet and I love to see them thriving. My own happiness and my own success are not enough. When I rise, I want to take others with me. As the saying goes, “Happiness, when shared, is multiplied.”
Overall, it was a wonderful experience to be assessed and to learn more about myself. I discovered that qualities I had often overlooked were, in fact, beautifully woven together to form one tiny human being: me. And I just fell a little more in love with myself. Isn’t that wonderful?
[1][Post with using reverse engineering to scheduling – in Portuguese – here]
* My class used the CliftonStrengths for Students. More about it here.
Paula Camila Pinto | Direito, Consciência & Arte 