Your Virtues
Extraversion/Introversion Make friends easily Can take charge and lead Feel at ease with people Am skilled in handling social situations Am often happy Like to invite people out or at home to socialize Can listen well Am comfortable alone Enjoy time in natural surroundings Let other people have the spotlight Openness/Traditionalism Am full of ideas Can handle a lot of information Have a rich vocabulary Have a vivid imagination Am always learning new things Spend time reflecting on things Am entrepreneurial Have a lot of insight into myself and others See the value in tradition and custom Am seldom attracted by foolish, new-age ideas Conscientiousness/Carelessness Am always prepared Have a very long attention span and can work without being distracted Strive for efficiency and economy Get chores or tasks done right away Have seen my tendency for hard work pay off Make plans and stick to them Pay attention to details Am extremely reliable Am very goal-oriented Do not feel that I always have to be in control Emotional Stability/Low Stress Tolerance Am in control of my emotions Am rarely or never stopped from doing what I want by my fears Calm down quickly when I do get upset Don't get caught up in my problems or blow things out of proportion Rarely or never suffer extreme anxiety, even when stressed Feel enough shame if I do something stupid so I won't do it again Watch what I eat carefully Am aware of potential trouble even when other people appear confident Am protective and careful with little children Am very careful with my sexual behavior Agreeable/Assertive Am on good terms with nearly everyone Feel others' emotions Have a soft heart Work very well with other people on teams Inquire genuinely about others' well-being Love children Am a good peacemaker Truly care about others Am a very loyal friend Can see when people are playing games Virtues Analyses Truly care about others An Experience Due to the Positive Trait There have been many small occurrences in my life where I have went above and beyond, the extra mile as they say, to care for someone. I have given more than I have received in that sense. I showed I truly care about others through my actions.If I were to explain one situation that exemplifies truly caring about others it would be one tough situation that happened between my mom and pop-pop whilst at home. My dad wasn't present so maybe this happened for that reason because it allowed all the pent up anger that my mom and pop-pop had to be projected onto one another without interruption. So, maybe it was a good thing my dad wasn't home to see that or stop that. The release happened, yet not in the best one possible. Thankfully I was there and handled it with God's Grace beside me.See my mom was frustrated because my pop-pop was living at home with us (this was at the 65 Hamilton Ave house I grew up in during my childhood for a duration of 18 years before I went to university). My pop-pop was always interrupting her bathroom and shower by knocking on the door, he would sneeze and yell in his sleep which didn't help my mom sleep, all because he was so near in proximity to my mom and dad (there rooms were close). All in all, my mom wanted pop-pop out. It was annoying her. Meanwhile, my pop-pop didn't like how my mom treated him. He felt disrespected and would use his kind deeds of helping my mom and dad financially as leverage for feeling guilty for not getting the respect he deserved from my mom.Listen, you never disrespect your parents or elders. However, my mom treated her father-in-law just like that, not here actual father. There are more details to uncover there and provide context with for the story, but in short, I helped mitigate emotions during a burst of an altercation that happened late one night between the two. I sat them down separately and was the liaison of communication. Like a therapist. My mom cried at one point in happiness and relief. A Possible Alternative Outcome Something I could have done different is putting them in one room and commanded attention for no one to talk but me while I was the liaison and while someone else was talking. However, to diffuse the anger quick, I think it was best to separate them both.I did a great job listening. I truly did.To answer this actual question though, I could have ask them questions at the end to prompt them both in the direction of questioning their own behavior. I didn't have them reflect on the situation that much. Instead of being a kid who talks to them (because they might feel like not listening to a kid handling this situation), I could have asked questions in a curious manner and provided memorized, biblical verses as evidence for not behaving in this way ever again. I respect my elders and parents. Always. It's a commandment. But when they act like this, I must lead, take charge, and love them but through tough love. They taught me everything, so now I can teach them some things.But inserting God into the situation would've been ideal.That's all. That's how it always is now. Furthermore, I want to balance being helpful with being annoyingly, persistent. I don't want to push someone over the edge with my love for spreading God's Word and Jesus' love. However, always be there to listen and insert to a small degree upon God's working throw me when appropriate. Guidelines for General Improvement I could make sure to listen like my life depends on it. Always. That will show great presence and care.I could also make sure I demand attention for when I speak and make a punch when it happens. A profound impact. Like hitting them in the chest with my words. Lastly, as I said before for an alternative outcome, I could make sure to memorize Scripture, so that I can insert it into my speaking whenever it feels right to chime such a thing into a lesson being taught or an experience being had.What happens in private and in dark, always, always, is seen in public and revealed in the light. Have a soft heart An Experience Due to the Positive Trait I have an extremely soft heart. I get it from my father. Absolutely. He can be tough and give love in a tough way sometimes, but he just has such a genuine soul. My mother too. She is the kindest person there is. It doesn't mean she doesn't stand her ground. She will sense and smell something bad from a mile away.With that said, I can think of many occurrences when my God given gift and parent/family-inherited genes came into effect. One simple one that I will explain is this: texting every single person I know happy birthday throughout the year. Along with keeping in contact all 99 people I graduated with (at least I try to).I keep track of all these conversations and try to learn how to provide the best value possible. I want to get to know these people because I care for them. Texting people happy birthday is such a small thing, but can amount to a big thing - especially if done with a moral intention and for good, kind reasons. It's a way to love. It's a way to give. Without getting anything back but a person's joy. A Possible Alternative Outcome I believe I can review notes of people more from past conversations I had with them. I track these things for a reason! In order to hit the aim with them the best I possibly can. That's the truth. The more I prepare behind the scenes, the more I can be present and giving and caring when "on the stage" with them (for lack of a better metaphorical use).I can also go the extra mile and make my messages and exchanges fun. I can add a flare without making it seem too much. I can communicate vividly and deeply in making sure what I'm trying to convey is being articulated properly.That's it. Yeah. Just prep because I put the systems in my relationships for a reason. Use it! Communication is part of your 3 words of life man. Be the person you are meant to be. Guidelines for General Improvement Every single person I meet, I can act as though I will never see them again. Like deeply. Genuinely. With every experience I can give my all... because it could be a possibility that I will never see them again after a certain occurence - whether due to me or them dying or us both just fading out in relationship.Many say, "treat each day as if you'll never get it back", which you won't! But many times, as well, the same person that says that doesn't act upon their belief or, simply, they just don't embody that saying for the sake of not doing it deeply enough.When you have a meaning, reason, and why to do something you will. What better why is there to have, then that I might never see each person I meet, ever again in this life. I cross paths with them for a reason. Let me give my all to improve them or make their experience in life better, more enjoyable, more satisfying, etc.... Have a lot of insight into myself and others An Experience Due to the Positive Trait I can talk on this exactly. The self-awareness, decisiveness, and reflective mind to leave Philadelphia after dropping out and living home for a year to then leave my hometown and move to Austin, TX after a string of decisions to join another startup. Think about the ability to be frugal and to sacrifice for the betterment of my growth that I wanted to achieve.Things were going great while at home in the start of 2021, it had been a whole 6 months since moving houses within my hometown. It was amazing to be home to help my family and be next to my brothers Zach and Nick and see my grandpa so much. I was home during a time when everyone was home. It made me feel safe but allowed for me to go all in on my mission like crazy. I got to see my little bro grow up! He is doing his thing now!When an opportunity arises and your will is aligned with God's Will. It's smart to act on such a thing. Although it happened quickly, I was able to decipher my the decision was right for me to move to Austin, TX during this point in time. That takes a great deal of knowing myself and knowing what's around and more specifically those around me. I have to know if they fit into my value set and if my being around them will allow me to grow positively towards my future being. It takes strategy without overthinking.To note: I even kept a red notebook and everyday I would grade myself on my 13 core character values that I identified in myself. That's depth!To the point of insight into others, I read others so well. I know where they're at and have gotten to the point of knowing how to give them information and ask questions without giving unneeded and unsolicited advice.It was a lifelong sculpting of such a thing, but definitely took a high uptick in lesson learning during 2020 while living at home. Thank you mom and dad, Dr. Orin Davis, and God. A Possible Alternative Outcome "Pray like it all depends on God, act like it all depends on you." (Dave Ramsey)STUCK IN MY HEAD!That quote has been STUCK in my head lately. For a good reason.It answers how I could have done things different in that situation. No one is going to save me. Well, Jesus has, but in terms of my actions I can't act like anyone is. I have to be building my ideal future and become the person I want to be through hard work, persistence, patience, and courage.Feeling sorry for oneself is the worst thing one could do. It's never going to lighten up. The world will punch you repeatedly. To build oneself up to be a better fighter to fight off that of the world is the best thing one could do.With my ability to have deep insight into myself, I know that I'm a preparer. I know I'm good at foreseeing what's ahead. With that situations I explained before, I could have saved as though it all depended on me and been even more frugal (even though I already was). I wouldn't have been caught up in the situation I had to if my business had just a little more income or I was just a little more well off in wealth.I never want to make decisions off of desperation, but instead out of leverage and ability to do what I want. No one is going to save you. Act like that. Take ownership. Have your accountability partner be you. Go to God and work on your faith and the world will come to you. Don't go to the world and lose everything all at once or bit by bit. Guidelines for General Improvement I know myself and my internal damn well. I know the human condition and I am learning the tools to combat it. I know others well for that reason and I know how to look deeply into others to get a gauge on them.One thing I must keep in mind at all times though is that I must balance great power and insight with great responsibility. I should never get ahead of myself. I should never fall victim to giving more than is needed in a bad way or in giving advice that's unwarranted.I can give, give, give, but do that by listening to others or answering one's questions forthrightly. As I was talking to my friend Tom today, "Communication is my greatest strength but it's also my greatest weakness." Because as Ray Dalio says, "On the flip side of your greatest strength is your great weakness."I can peak into others internal well, but I must be able to articulate thing even better and assume (the only time one should assume) that they understand nothing about what I'm saying beforehand. With that mindset, it will force me into explaining things coherently and explicitly.I am not God too. Yes, I was made in God's image. However, I am not God. I can use my God given gifts but must not step the bounds to thinking I'm omnipotent and all-powerful. That pride will lead to destruction as it says in Proverbs 16:18. Haughtiness before a fall right. Have seen my tendency for hard work pay off An Experience Due to the Positive Trait Working hard is what my family does best. Last year, I found out that my last name stands for "to set the horses free." I think that is symbolic of my lineage and our characteristics. I most definitely get my hard working mentality from my mom and dad and their ancestors.I only surround myself with diligent individuals too.There have been many times in my life where my dreams have come to life in full, all due to God's grace and gifting and my hard work or what I needed to do within my will.It's interesting too because today, as I write this, I just got a pay raise within the startup I joined 3-4 months ago. I moved from NJ to TX and bang, it happened. I was lucky to join at the time that I did - call it God's Divine timing and Grace because that's what it is. I am also reaping rewards from Dream BIG & Co in making money while I am doing less because of the foundation I have built for myself in the past and the team I am forming now with that. Even my partnering companies have helped me a ton. For example, the Dream BIG & Co YouTube page has gained 250 subscribers in 3 days. That's unprecedented to me!Hard work is the precedent to all gifts in my life. Without it, I wouldn't be where I am today. People respect me for my courage, willing to take risk, and my diligence too. A Possible Alternative Outcome When I was in my first couple years of college, I was going deep into my internal. I once heard the great idea from someone that I should ask my 5 closest friends. along with family members, what my strengths and weaknesses were. That would give the most clear picture because bias wasn't clouding such a perspective. A.k.a I couldn't do it to myself because I would be bias in giving myself feedback.The reason I ended up following through with this practice was because I was curious. What were my strengths and weaknesses besides how aware I am of my own of myself.It was sobering to hear the responses. The strengths were spot on and many gave the same answers (even hard work was a BIG one). Whereas, the weaknesses revealed to me what I already knew and some blindspots I didn't. For what I knew though, they were subconsciously dormant and not being shined into the light. So, at first I subconsciously rejected such feedback and responses from friends/family in this practice. And then minutes later, I accepted. Acceptance was the key opening the gates to let the floods of betterment come through. Letting go and then acceptance. Bang.But they were right, especially one of them in being "enjoying the process more" and "smelling the roses more often". So, that's the moral of the story. To work is great, but to enjoy the work and suffer well is even better. Cherish and don't rush the things that you wish can last forever right Ant. :) Guidelines for General Improvement I don't always have to be talking about work. I love it, so I will. But some just want to see me, hear from me joy of life, and be around me.A great example is my parents. We love talking about career and work because we are a driven family and them seeing my success makes them happy. But telling, showing, and explaining to them why I'm happy (outside of work), will make them the most happy.I can talk about the present journey and lessons/learnings (as I do) with those around me that I cherish to show that I'm absorbing a ton and enjoying my journey.The more at-tentative and thoughtful I am with my interactions, the better things will be. I am self-aware enough to know when I'm not giving my full presence to someone in an interaction, or more broadly, in a relationship. So, I can balance my awareness of my awareness (haha) with what each person in each interaction would enjoy most, while still being my authentic, expression self.I can continue to have the mindset I have to. The hard I work and suffer well in my sacrifice or pursuit, the more I can soak it up to pass down to generations to come and give to those because I'm in a place to do so. Humble and hardworking, always. Pride and haughtiness, ever - avoid it at all costs. Am in control of my emotions An Experience Due to the Positive Trait Due to the standard person, me saying I'm not where I should be in controlling my emotions would bring a laugh to them. But it's exactly that. I am above standard in how I want to control my mind. To let one's thoughts waver and become uncontrollable within the conscious and subconscious is not going to bring positive affects.I can think back to the time in high school when my best friend Tom and I went to a local party at a girls house. Tom was going to a private Catholic school at the time and so was I. See, the party we went to was for our town's friends groups that went to the local public school. We were outcasts from the jump. Although, we both knew of so many of the individuals there. We went to middle school with them, even elementary school.When we arrived at the party, we got a lot of eyeballs our way, yet things eased up. For a while, that is. Because at one point in the party, Charlie, a friend of Tom and me, got a little drunk. He was in a state opposite to what this virtue holds with being in control of one's emotions. Long story short, a kid who has some deep angry inside his internal got ticked off by something that Charlie said. It wasn't bad or offensive. But this individual took it the wrong way. Charlie was drunk and not in total control of his behavior. A bad decision because what came next was bad. The individual, let's call him Elijah, pushed Charlie once, then twice.I was on the couch far away at the time. I was talking to other friends. Tom tried calling my name and getting my attention to help out. But Tom's angry couldn't be contained and he threw punches at Elijah in order to protect his friend Charlie.What came after is the entire meaning of this virtue of self-control. So many kids came after us as we scrambled through the back. I kid even punched me on the way out. But I didn't want to chase him down. I wanted to help Tom. I helped cool the situation and avoided all having a fist fight. It took about 20-30 mins to do so. A Possible Alternative Outcome Pertaining to this virtue, nothing really. But in regard to the entire situation, I could have been more aware of what was going on in the beginning. I could have used my spatial hearing and awareness to know that friends were in danger and diffused the situation before it boiled over the surface of instant controllability.I was talking to others that I haven't seen in a while, so I'm not hard on myself for what happened. I'm no one's parent or guardian angel either.Nonetheless, the best thing to do would have been to not go to the party at all. What a waste of time such things are when younger. I barely remember them other than the drunk people, the effects of such things, and the desired habits of all for sexual and sensual behavior. There is no real growth that occurs in those gatherings.Whereas, gatherings that foster great growth, community, and connectedness through pure, upright ways that align with my values, I'm all for that. Guidelines for General Improvement I can work on always detaching from impulsive behavior, impulsive thinking, and ego-led, malice, immoral behavior.The more I live this life, the more I see that it is so unnecessary to think short-term. It's better to have long-term thinking and planning, which brings short-term pain and sacrifice, than short-term thinking and planning, which brings long-term pain and sacrifice.Be willing to control oneself, take ownership of one's emotions, and never let anybody get the best of you on this humanly plain. Their opinions or behaviors are outside yours. If you truly want to embody the characteristics of Christ, you have to live em' daily!Time to better. :) Am very goal-oriented An Experience Due to the Positive Trait Goal-orientation has been fostered in me since I was young. Same with my brothers. Why is that so? My dad has done a phenomenal job of teaching us how to set goals, why to set goals, and how to review such goals.As I have grown with that practice (I started doing it in a focused manner in 2013), I have added to my toolkit of doing it effectively and have evolved into learning about systems more. Learning about goals led me to learning about systems which led me to implementing systems into my life. It has made me such a better person, oriented my lifestyle to fit my values, and allowed me to focus on what I enjoy most, while I know everything is happening how it should be (within my control that is ;)).A great example is every achievement I've had in my life that God has aided with and fulfilled and I did what I needed to do "on the ground" per say. Going to a high-school that was foreign to me, to then start senior year, and that same year be top in the nation and state champs. Or building my own company. Or going to a new startup full-time (second real full-time job ever; first full-time startup gig) and moving halfway across the nation to then elevate within that. My finances. My relationships. My life playing out and meeting new milestones every month, quarter, year.Thanks to my dad's effort early in my life. Thanks to my mom's patience and care. All thanks to God. I just did what I was supposed to. A Possible Alternative Outcome My brother is right. Sometimes I don't ask for help when I should. That's not a good thing. I like independence and doing everything myself. When setting up goals and systems though, it is always helpful and needed to ask for help. I give so much. I truly do. In the past, I used to the point where it got so bad because I was burning out and over-extending myself or being "underleveraged" when it came to business even. So, to ask for help when I needed efforts delegated is the best thing I could do.A dream isn't accomplished by one person. Ever.And not just asking for help with other humans. But instead, getting out of my own way in thinking I can accomplish it on my own. Instead, being vulnerable at times when it's needed and opening up to God for guidance. He is my Father. He is my manager of everything I receive. Why would I not consult Him? Why?A silly thing. A selfish thing. An insecure and fearful and prideful thing I did in the past. Never again. No more. Vulnerability is strength. Guidelines for General Improvement I can think about my goal-orientation to the highest level possible first. To the highest possible aim. I learned such things from myself, God, my dad, Jordan Peterson, and more. Thinking big and dreaming big is great because the higher the aim, especially if for God's way and Will, the better you will land where is best.In doing that, I can reverse engineer properly and systemize on what is the best way to achieve my bucket list, my goals, who I need help from, how I can leverage my virtues, how I can avoid doing work that expose my faults but instead ask for help from others with that, and being humble and open and honest in that way.The path will be much easier if I go to my Maker first and think to the highest aim. Then, I can setup systems to make a path, co-designed by God, to achieve the goals I am aiming for.Bang. Am always prepared An Experience Due to the Positive Trait Being prepared is the pre-cursor to achievement. It is necessary to plan and prepare, however, sometimes you don't need to use the exact map. It doesn't mean it's useless to plan. Adjustment is inevitable because the world is not static. Agility is a must. But failing to prepare is preparing to fail. It's like having a system to operate within to even makes plans. That's especially important.Even though planning comes before and during many things, it can also come after. I learned a lesson from my dad when younger that helped bolster my love for preparing. It's an ingrained trait and virtue at this point.So, I'm going to explain that experience in life whereas my dad taught me an amazing lesson. There are countless examples of my being prepared. Like, planning out all the hires for hyper-scale with TruckBux, making a robust org system, thinking ahead and being ahead of the game of what I would need with my own company, my ultra-race training and planning, my finances and being a planner on that since young, and more. But the lesson comes first!So, it goes like this. When I was young, I was one to take showers frequently. I played sports all the time. All the time. So, if I didn't shower, I would be a smelly person. My hygiene would be gross. With that said, I always seemed to forget my towel in the closet when I would go to take a shower. I either always expected there to be a towel on the hook of the inside of the bathroom door, for someone to get one for me if I forgot, or I just plain-out forgot. When this would happen, I would always get out of the shower, be like in my head "ahhhh not again", then proceed to run out of the bathroom naked into the hallway to then get a shower. How backwards. It's just easier to get a towel first. But sometimes I would run out to get a towel and would call for help from someone in the house. My parents mostly. It was my dad though, who never helped usually. He would always say, "Think ahead." And walk past me haha. A Possible Alternative Outcome I could always think ahead. Second-principles thinking.... on top of my first principles thinking. Yes, I just talked about an improvement in the previous virtue of asking for help. That's crucial when it comes to goals and systems.However, when it comes to something you can easily do yourself, think ahead, and then do it yourself or then delegate out or get help elsewhere. You can direct people if you can't direct yourself. You can't prepare people if you're not prepared yourself.That's it. No need for more jargon and fluff! Guidelines for General Improvement I could prepare! I could show up. I could do the work and get the job done always - whether I want to during that particular time or not.True, true discipline is doing what you should even when you don't "feel like it"... or one of those excuse statements.Another add on is ownership. Complete ownership of my life and my wrongs. Yes, Jesus is my Savior. He died for me! God sent down his One and Only Son to die for me and others. All of us. Yet, if I have a victim mindset ever, it's going to deter me from the mission at hand and what I'm supposed to do on that mission. Pay attention to details An Experience Due to the Positive Trait With every girl I've had an amorous relationship with in the past, I have always scavengered for the details and made sure to remember them. I made it a point to know the little details about them because I enjoyed those things about them, which in turn showed care and listening on my end.With my family, I always keep track of the details with everyone.With business, I focus on the small things because as they say, and as I repeat now to my teammates, "What you do when you're small is amplified when you're big." When not paying attention to detail becomes the norm, bad things can happen, especially at scale.I don't have any story in particular other than remembering the little things and having my dad once say to me that it is a great thing that I do that. He said it means a lot to the other person when I act in such a way to remember details to their life. Because most of the time, it will gaze over people's heads. But with me, I focus on the things unfocused by others.Another point, is having every almost conversation noted in my relationship folder in my systems. I also write down everyone's birthday in my calendar and relationship folder. So, when I birthday arises, I'll see a past interaction I had with the person, refer to that, and text them in bringing about something within context of their birthday and our relationship. I care about others, so the detail in my conversions with others matters.How can I best help people? How can I best bring value to others? How can I best serve others? A Possible Alternative Outcome When it comes to paying attention to detail, I could make sure to always reference back the details that I note, whether it be for relationships, business, life, etc.I do a great job of capture, and so good, that I can sometimes have a hard time with finding the actual things to reference back. It's as though a dashboard, knowledge base, a.k.a system for my system is needed. How incredible, yet how bad if not executed upon better.I could also make sure I am fully present in conversations and note things down after interactions based on recollection and reflection from the interaction itself. I don't want to be super detailed to the point that I'm more focused on the details, than on being present in and of itself. Guidelines for General Improvement I'm pretty solid with it. There is a ton of improvement needed to get to the standards I have and for where God needs me to be, but this virtue is more of not going overboard than anything. I don't need to add things on or do more of this virtue, rather, and what I mean by that, is I need to do it less sometimes.I'm like the person who wants to maximize things. I want to optimize and do more because I'm SUPER driven. But sticking to the systems I have and being detail oriented as I am is enough. There is no need to force others to live the life I am. There is also no need to become unpresent because I'm more focused on making the details, details.... than actually consuming and absorbing things through present interactions, especially with others.I'm not saying I must change who I am. Never. Not for the sake of others and only if it's to better position myself for my pursuit and aim of a Christ-like life and best relationship with God possible. Yet, I am saying it's necessary to be cognizant of these things. Can listen well An Experience Due to the Positive Trait I'm going to combine all different examples of "can listen well" of my life into one.Imagine a friend of yours asks for help. That friend ask for you to hear them out so they can not only articulate what's happening in their life in a ventful way, but also so that they can have someone listen to them just to do so. Just to feel heard. I believe that is the case with many problems in life sometimes, especially relationships, the other person just wants to be heard, the other person just wants to feel respected.In going back to it, that same friend sets aside time to talk to you, uninterrupted for multiple hours. When it happens, you listen attentively, carefully, and thoughtfully. You retain what is necessary and hear them out. If they are your good friend who wants feedback or critique, you will watch out for blindspots or places in which they may have gone wrong, which would help decipher why the problem came to be.You ask questions. You direct questions to them. You provide answers from personal experience. You listen.All in all, the person is appreciative of you. Words cannot do it justice. You were there. That's what they needed most.That story is a boiled down version of what I've done for so many. I love hearing people talk. I love asking them questions upon listening in helping them truly get out of their own way or just feel better through articulation, writing, speaking, praying, etc. A Possible Alternative Outcome I must drill into my mind that I can not seek to solve problems in one swoop when listening to others. Neither am I meant to solve others problems for them. If I'm a teacher, I can coach, practice with them, and give them lessons, but solving the answer on the test for them is useless, pointless, and backwards. It defeats the purpose of helping others get out of their way.I must always remember that God's intervention is the way and only he can fix things accordingly. I'll just be the tool for him to do so.I can ask questions, I can ask better questions, and like I said stop striving to always "fix". As I mentioned, people just want to feel heard. People just want to be respected. I can do that. I do it well. As I said with "paying attention to details" in the previous virtue, it's the same thing here. It's not about doing MORE. It's about doing less. It's about performing more targeted actions too.That's it. Yes. That's it! Guidelines for General Improvement Every interaction going forward, especially those that are having me be in the chair of helper of listener of someone's problems, I can ask better questions and just listen. People will reveal the answers with time. They will trip over themselves or it will come to realization that the answer they are seeking was within. My question- asking was just a way to frack deeper.I must instill patience and patient endurance. It is not always needed to insert myself to a high degree - only when I see it is needed. Spend time reflecting on things An Experience Due to the Positive Trait Pain + reflection = progress.I reflect on things to a HIGH, HIGH degree. It's insane, even from my own understanding of my own doing of it, sometimes.I reflect daily upon my day, weekly upon my week, monthly upon my month, yearly and bi-yearly upon my year..... so on and so forth.One story can truly point the picture of my deep reflection though.I believe that the feminine exposes the masculine male to what he has a blindspot with. It reveals parts in himself he never knew because he has not been able to discover yet. His masculine is prevalent, feminine moreso vacant. Not a good or bad thing, just a thing of absence.WIth that said, I was once in a relationship while at university. I deeply loved spending time with this girl Bella. We were friends for a while. But I wanted a deeper, more intimate relationship with her. 4 months go by and things are going great. I know her so well and she is doing her thing.Yet, out of the blue, due to a realization of hers or not communicating something for a long-time, she said she no longer wanted to be together. She no longer wanted a relationship to what we had anymore. I took it on the chin, cried in front of her before a final goodbye to show emotion, then left. I thought I would get over it soon but I didn't.To touch on this virtue, I spent 6+ months going deep internally to understand what was missing. I reflected on every part of the relationship, sometimes too much and not letting go enough, to understand what happened. If things were great on my end during the relationship, why weren't they for her? I pondered, reflected, wrote so much, and wrote even more. I connected this relationship to previous one's. Thought about my virtues and flaws.... and eventually got my answer that I needed.In short, God was not the #1 priority in that relationship. He was 2nd. And that's never good. So, I learned through deep reflection and still have the entry to this day.Reflection is important for my growth in this life. A Possible Alternative Outcome I could have let go. And sooner.Whether it have been during the relationship and realizing that my priorities were out of order in the relationship, whereas I then could have stopped seeing Bella or fixed the relationships through tough conversations.... or post-separation realizing that I can let go of this faster than my feelings wanted me to be.I am so focused and present and caring with things that I can appreciate and clinge to it so much, whereas when it is gone it will be hard to replace such a thing. In reflection upon this virtue of reflection, I could have focused on God always. God is my Creator. There will never be a void in my life with Him. He is eternal and makes my life everlasting.When doing that, all I have to let go of is worldly things. It's better to do that and gain more of intimacy with God and understanding of Jesus than it is to do the opposite.This ain't no fairytale. No one is coming to save you. Jesus did. Now do what is needed on your end and learn to let go when needed. Spend time appreciating and reflecting, but don't clinge to something that is not everlasting.All in all, I must say I am happy for what happened and how I reflected with that relationship with Bella because it brought me something else back into my life. Something more important than anything. A focus on God and relationship to my Savior Jesus. Things haven't been the same since, in a good way. God corrected me through Bella!Yes! That's it! Guidelines for General Improvement Reflect, consume, systemize, actionize and move on. To over reflect is to procrastinate and use as an excuse to not take action.I must rely on God's Grace, so I can have hope in my heart and live in peace and joy through the Holy Spirit. In doing that, I will not clinge, attach, or try to appease anyone or anything.That will ground me and allow me to flow into proper timing of reflection, action, planning, preparing, and so on. Trust in God and clinge to nothing but Him.Reflect when planned to and hear God for when I should reflect and when I should act when I'm supposed to. This takes silence, this takes isolation, this takes meditating on and studying Scripture. This is challenging. This takes care.Do it right. Because when I do it right others around me will be better off with me being better off myself. I want make the same, ignorant, blindspot-caused mistakes I did in the past. And if I did, I would be performing an even worse act: failing at something I knew I could avoid.Yes. Am full of ideas An Experience Due to the Positive Trait I am always thinking. Well, as humans our brains are always going. It is the foundation to let the nervous system function how it should. Yes. What I meant by "I am always thinking" is I am calm and at peace but always thinking ahead in order to plan righteously and rightly. I don't want to trip up, especially upon things I know I can avoid. So, having a thinking and independent mind is important.A story of me being full of ideas would be my own ritual I used to perform. I would have a portion of my morning (this explanation is taking place in the past) be allotted to writing down 5-10 ideas for my life, random things, or my business. It was super helpful to get my mind operating in that way early everyday. I am innately a visionary and idea person, so contributing more to it for an allotted time everyday (in the past) was helpful. It allowed to do it then as well, so I didn't do it throughout the day. I would still note the ideas during the day too haha. A Possible Alternative Outcome I could've made sure I did my portion of the morning ritual, then went about my day better. I have so many ideas, one-off thoughts, and such. Keeping track of them is great, but ideating and entertaining upon them during my operational and work-focused hours of the day is useless. And also inefficient. I can instead record them by writing them down, whereas my subconscious can marinate on things while I go about my day using my conscious for effortful acts.Revisiting such ideas is important too. But I want to make sure I don't suffocate ideas. Sometimes I want to force an idea coming into fruition, yet, instead, I should use my self-awareness, alignment with my will to God's Will, and focus to know whether something can be planned now, enacted upon now, or brushed off for a long time.That's it. Yes. Guidelines for General Improvement It literally just happened now! As I was going from "a possible alternative outcome" to "guidelines for general improvement", I had an idea and I was going to hop in that task right away. I stopped myself and instead wrote it down on my whiteboard next to me. I noted to complete that task later, whereas I then proceeded back to the authoring program.This is the exact thing. Something I can do to improve myself which will benefit others as much as possible is not getting distracted by my ideas - even if they seem "quick" or "easy to do". That's a terrible excuse. It will throw me out of rhythm from my current focus.There is a reason I turned off all major notifications on my phone (besides phone call and FaceTime). I shouldn't be seeking out distraction or going towards. I should do that when I have my priorities done with. The important one's and the urgent one's. I am as much to blame as others are as well. Absolutely. Am always learning new things An Experience Due to the Positive Trait It's already within me. It is second nature. I am a sponge of information, or note-taking, of documenting. I love the process and I am a damn curious individual. I say that because I know myself and I can back with such evidence because people tell me that constantly. All the damn time!As Walter Payton says, "When you're good people tell you, when you're great others tell you."I can say the story of my life is a story to share about this virtue in and of itself. I read so much. I have read so much since I was a teenager. I write notes, write in general, and watch videos on topics I'm learning about all the time. I have since I was young. It used to be on paper but now I have a virtual database with everything now.Yes, I do. And it's for those reasons that show I am a feverish learner. There are new things I always want to discover. I will never lit the wick of curiosity die because then my light will forever be gone. A Possible Alternative Outcome When I learn things, I could do a better job so that things turn out better by analyzing in real-time or reflecting on notes deeper.It's great to learn and to record (through any form), but what about application. Learning without implementation is pointless learning. We learn to grow. I must not get ahead of myself and do things unneeded. My process is good for learning but it must be targeted. It must be focused. It must be bringing benefits beyond the initial page. Guidelines for General Improvement This past year in 2020, with the help of Gabrielle Williams and her UV program (using me as a case study), I was able to understand myself deeper than ever before.I learned about myself, my traits, my faults, and more. I learned about the three things I want to do in the 3 P areas of my life.Personal: put myself out there moreProfessional: be more agile and adjustablePeople: trust more in othersI say what I say above because personal applies to this virtue. In order to benefit others as much as possible, I should put out everything that is inside my head. I am through my company, my company's media, my own podcast, and more. Yet, I want to do more from a person way. With that said, I want to publish on my own website and accounts on the internet/through social media to share with others more. I have done so much sponging, but when is it going to be enough. When?Time to act. Am entrepreneurial An Experience Due to the Positive Trait I have had the bug in me since I was young. I played sports all my young life (up until I was 18), so I didn't flex that entrepreneurial muscle as much, however, I did build the traits for it through sports itself. Leadership, communication, diligence, planning, preparation, focus, patience, belief, team, and more.I have my own business, am part of another, and have family members around me with their own. My ancestors even!It's interesting.The one story to share is the fictional cards, sports cards, video games, and movies one. In 2020, my brother Zach and I were living home with my family. So, it was my parents, brother Nick, Pop-Pop, Zach and I. Zach and I decided to look through these old video games we had at one point and to sell them on eBay. We did it all. Sorted, analyzed the games, made a spreadsheet for costing, took pictures of all the games, listed them on eBay, came up with the copy for that, and waited for orders to come in. I then fulfilled them myself. Yes.It was a nice little practice with being entrepreneurial. Yet, it taught me a lot. It will have as much as when I'm a part of a company that is ringing the stock market bell for an IPO. What you do when you're small is DAMN amplified when you're big. 100%! A Possible Alternative Outcome To have it turn out better, I could have asked for more help and been better at flipping up from what was sold at the time.I was having to short a mindset with using the money for immediate expenses, but considering I'm in debt and focusing on getting rid of the only debt I have with student loans, I would say that's all right.But a long-term mindset is always the way. It always will be. To think long-term and plan long-term makes everything better. Short-term and shortcuts bring long-lasting pain, mistakes, and more. That' why I love the authoring program. It is exposing me to myself and forcing me to think decades out. That's what I needed. To see the whole horizon as far and high as I can and shoot for the best possible aim. Guidelines for General Improvement I could make sure that when I'm doing entrepreneurial things, that I am using a team to balance out my strengths and weakness and that I can delegate things to. A team must rely on each other and ask for help when needed.It's not a great team if that doesn't happen. So, with all I build, making sure I have the right people in place, doing the right things, will be key. Absolutely.Along with that, I can plan out and prepare as though I need something to consistently last for a while. I already do that with my current businesses and I am building as though this thing is going to last forever damnit! From the foundation, to the core, to the systems and processes. It's all there.To benefit others as much as possible it would just be a ton of strategy and systems building from there. Then, over-communicating on how things operate and work is next. Then, being on the same page as a team for the mission is next. I know myself and what I am good at during this point in time (i.e. right now, I'm a good add-on or partner to young startups or companies. An intrapreneur, yet entrepreneur too. I love being around a team too, which is great and that is why :)). I know where to be and what to do. It's just a matter of others having the same way and being on the same mission page as I am. They, we, have to know what we're aiming for. Can take charge and lead An Experience Due to the Positive Trait This is the least of my strengths. Out of all of them. Yet, it comes roaring when I let it. When I want something done, I make sure it gets done. I'm not afraid of people (Proverbs 29:25) and most certainly because I have God instead. When I know something should be enacted upon, it will be upon my command and courage and leadership. I was always a leader in sports when young and I always led by example. I get my hands dirty, as I got inherited from my family members and learned from some close friends. It's second nature to me. Leading by example is the best way of leadership too because then you can't every make excuses for falling short on something. You gave it all you could.Whether my confidence and courage showed through meta events in life with going to a different high school, where I knew not one single person at first. Or when I moved to Texas to join TruckBux. I'm faithful and my risk tolerance is higher than most. I trust in God's hand over my life too and follow His way. I strive to do so.Continuing forth, or whether my confidence and courage showed through smaller events in life, like leading groups showing people the way to betterment when talking to them one on one.Overall, you can't lead others if you can't lead yourself. That's all. A Possible Alternative Outcome The improvement of this trait all stems down to developing my faith life. To be a steward of the Most High, I must have no fear in my heart when acting or when setting intention upon something. Yes, fear is always near, but I should say always letting courage triumph over any fear. It's love and courage and trusting in God that enables me to lead well.In the same way, I can still consider people's opinions and hear them, but I will never let it influence me in a negative way with my decision making. I should not do something for the sake of man's approval or judgement, I should do it because it's meant to be done.With taking charge in leading in a more narrow explanation too, it is good to get on people sometimes when they need it. Sometimes people feel sorry for themselves and that victim mindset is the worst thing that could ever happen to one. It metaphorically paralyzes one, so non-action occurs. No good will ever come of that.Demand from God what you want to take on. Demand from others what is needed. Call of them. Call of you. If holding back, you are not afraid of failure but success first because failure is always a part of success. You are essentially afraid of your light and the good. Now who wants that on their grave stone. Guidelines for General Improvement I can continue to improve myself because upon leading myself, I will innately lead others. It's a given. It's my philosophy. It's what the Bible teaches. It's full circle.As I said before with being demanding, I mean that in a good way too. It's bringing out the best in people, which sometimes requires one to tell that victim-mentality person what they don't "want" to hear but they "need" to hear. It's like God with me upon my separation with Bella while at university when Dennis told me, "God gives us what we need, not what we want." That hit at the time and hits to this day.Along with being demanding, to take charge and lead strategically, effectively, and in the right direction, the person leading must hear others out and get their "morale on a scale" per say. That can best direct the leader overall knowing of who he is leading. So, in saying that, the point I am getting to is being a good listener. That's it.Listen, digest, ask, go deeper, lead better. Love children An Experience Due to the Positive Trait When I was in middle school, I was asked if I wanted to volunteer some of my time during the school day to a program in the school called EPIC. What EPIC consisted of was a group of individuals who had some physical or mental ailment to them. They were limited in what they could do, but with that they held a special part to them like no other person - whether it be a unique perspective, a funny take on things, a blunt, honest truth to them at all times, or some craziness at times.So, I volunteered with EPIC for a couple years in middle school. I spent one day or more out of the week talking with them and spending time with them in their free time or activities. I had this one individual Patrick, who I got to know well. He was a funny little, chunky guy. We usually went on the computer or drew or played with some toys he wanted to play with.I just enjoyed being around him. I enjoyed being around that group everyday. I give my thanks and love to those that spent time with the EPIC kids all day and all school year around too. It probably wasn't easy at times. But the being there with the EPIC kids and learning from them far outweighed the difficulty of what came with the EPIC kids once in a while. A Possible Alternative Outcome I remember that I was timid at times with the EPIC kids. I didn't want to overstep boundaries or do something that would caused a freakout from my partnering EPIC kid. So, I would have a relationship on the edge of shallow and depth. But when working with special needs kids, it takes time to build trust with them and to get to know them to the point where they are comfortable around you.So, as I got to know them all, they got to know me and love me and appreciate me. They never want to do any bad. No kid every wants to do any bad. Ever. They are taught things from the world that ingrain within them that such things are normal.So, I think something to improve upon in that situation, is putting my foot down sometimes. When I have kids, it will be important to embody what the Bible talks about all throughout its text in disciplining one's children.As my dad disciplined his sons, he did it because he knew the world would be tougher on us. So, we needed to be made strong warriors in mind, body, and soul. Guidelines for General Improvement I can find ways to benefit younger individuals as I grow in wealth. How can I give back to these kids to set up an environment for them to grow and flourish? How can I give and remain present in conversations with them at all times.Getting first hand experience in even having a little brother, I learned the importance of patience. It's so important. Same with EPIC. All kids grow at their own pace. So, an older individual who is loving to the child must know when to push them to discomfort to challenge them and grow and when to be soft, listen, and teach with the droplet of little words.That's important. That's it.It's funny too because many would think the older individuals teach the younger one but it is most certainly equal, and sometimes more, in the other direction. Am often happy An Experience Due to the Positive Trait When growing up, especially in middle school, people would always say I smile so much. When it comes to this virtue, I truly don't know what it is. I just naturally love life. I am positive. I am optimistic. I am grateful and smiling. My dad passed it down for sure. He is a vibrant person. My mom added spice too because she gives off love and is the most sincere individual.My smiles and happiness spreads to other people often. They say I'm an inspirational person or inspiring. What I do just exudes how I feel. That is truly it.For example, I was running the other day and met this one individual under the bridge of a Texas interstate highway. This trail I was on was right on the lady bird lake (a main lake in Austin, TX). But like I said, I was getting off the trail, and stopped to talk to this guy Joe. He was playing the sax. He stopped to come over and talk to me and we ended up having a 30 minute conversation. I had this urge to post about him on my story on social media. So, I did. It was a great moment and so many people loved Joe and the video of him playing and talking about life advice.My happiness and presence on that day spread to all and I made a friend. A Possible Alternative Outcome I truly can't think of anything I could have done better in that situation. I was with him. I gave him my attention. I loved it so much and spread it to others. I even gave Joe money out of thanks for playing and spending time with me, along with support for what he is doing.Next time, I should have gotten his #. But I have his email! I wrote it down and sent him the video I took of him. Guidelines for General Improvement I could make sure to capture moments of happiness as I exchange with others. I could also make sure to do it all the damn time! What if one person just so needed to see my smile today? What if they needed that love and hope because they weren't looking to God, which is what they should do, but you know what I mean?At all times, I can think for benefitting others, as much as I think for improving myself to improve the world and impact lives. Everything great happens when we go outside ourselves. I believe that. But it's not to be neglected to spend time with oneself and get to know oneself. The more you do, the better you can give - that's excluding desires of flesh and such, rather I'm alluding to spirit and mind and one's body as a temple of God's. Can see when people are playing games An Experience Due to the Positive Trait I have no more time for such things. Believe it or not, as much as angel as I am and as people think, I have bad in me. We all do. There have been times when I stole a train from a store when I was younger (but then returned it later after I told my parents I stole it and felt bad) or when I cheated on my "girlfriend" (we weren't really dating) by kissing her friend. One of the biggest regrets of my life, no matter how much others around me tell me I wasn't in the wrong.I've played games, so I know the tricks sometimes. Those who think short-term or take shortcuts or use ego to manipulate others, have an energy to them. I can sense it like a shark senses blood in the water.For example, and most recently, I sent this email to the management office of my apartment complex after I sensed a kid has been sleeping in the apartment gym (in a separate, solo building) for a while. Shortened for purposes of the minimum words of this entry:Hi,I stopped in earlier today to tell you about this "incident", if it is even right to call it that, yet I was told to email you all instead.Last time this happened, Nicole mentioned that I should let you know immediately if it happens again.So, here I am. This is what happened in short.....This morning I went to the gym to workout and after trying the key code to the door a couple times, I was a little skeptical of why because it's never locked. Ever.But after hearing some noise inside the gym, I decided to knock.After a minute, the door opened and this individual said "hi" and then walked out.Now, to someone else, that wouldn't matter in the slightest. But for me it did because this person was the same person who was sleeping in the gym a couple weeks ago when I walked in. I shocked him by my entrance. Stunned him even. He was flustered and it took him a while to organize and orient himself. I questioned him at the time, but I could tell something was off.... (and there was more, but the words minimum is limited me :)) A Possible Alternative Outcome As I'm getting better with knowing myself, the world, social groups, and God, I can act decisively and more quickly when I know someone is playing games or something is off.See there is a difference from assuming and trusting your energy of when you know something is off. I believe making assumptions can lead to a ton of bad - no wonder people jump to conclusions in this life. People rather assume than listen sometimes. Like I said in a previous virtue entry, people just want to be heard and respected most of the time.With all said, it's important to balance using self-awareness, when you are utilizing assumption or intuition and trusting your energy. If assumption, discard and avoid at all costs. If knowing, acts decisively. It's a trait I've fostered and learned from others on (i.e. Nick at TruckBux and Nick in general).When people care, you'll know they are long-term. When people don't, you'll know they are short-term and taking more than giving. Avoid the devilish acts of such fools. As it says in Proverbs 1:7, "Fearing the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Only fools despise wisdom and discipline." Guidelines for General Improvement I can be more decisive. Even more than I already am. Act. Don't like back because if you know, you know. Period.
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