Saturday, August 21, 2010

Am I My Resume and other life questions

Resume. Most of us have created one, used it to secure a desired job. A well-constructed resume details education/training, experience, a list of "here's-why-you-should-hire-me" skills.

One of my favorite musical theater lyrics is from A Chorus Line: Who am I anyway/Am I my resume?/ That is a picture of a person I don't know...

Can you identify?

Recently a dear friend (a fabulous marketing entrepreneur) suggested I write a personal resume, a "who am I and what do I like" document.

We had a plan for it...but, as often happens, the plan changed and we both found the process itself was a gift.

Why a gift, you ask? Think about this: when you meet someone new, how often is your job the first descriptor you use to describe yourself? Or where you live, or where you went to college, or how many letters you have after your name?

But none of those things really tell me about YOU!

This week I also started reading The Book of Secrets, by Deepak Chopra. The subtitle is Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of Your Life.

I believe I haven't fully done that. Have you?

So here goes:
I am an excellent writer. Love to write about and hang with people who are passionate about and successful in their work (the two almost always go hand in hand).

I am F-U-U-U-nny, honest, loyal, trustworthy. People tell me I am a skilled listener and very easy to talk to. I believe really paying attention to people is one of the best ways to honor them. If you are willing to listen and pay attention, people will eventually show you who they are and what they want.

I love to cook and bake, and do it rather well. I am willing to try any kind of food but Italian and Mediterranean are my favorite. I make homemade pasta and sauce - doesn't matter what noodle type but my lasagna is really good! Tzatziki, dolmathakia, spanakopita, kourambiedes, kibbeh, tabbouleh are some of my Mediterranean favorites. I have made baklava but it is a PIA. And sometimes I am a good 'ole Western PA girl who likes kielbassi and pierogi.

I find football and hoops to be thoroughly enjoyable...but LOVE softball/baseball and golf. The intricacies, details and strategies of both sports fascinate me. Anyone who thinks baseball/softball is slow and boring doesn't have an appreciation for the beauty of the game. As for golf, I believe there are two kinds of golfers: ones who are just happy to hit the ball around (no matter their skill level) and ones who really love the game, who see it as a mental game as much as physical, who think about their shots long after they leave the course.

If the government banned the sale of potato chips, I would have to quickly find a black market dealer...otherwise the withdrawal would be ugly.

My dog is my favorite being on this earth. I think the feeling is mutual.

I have an incredible family and would not be who I am without them.

I believe excellence is a habit, and its foundation is in the details. When we do the small things with excellence, the big things will take care of themselves - in excellent fashion.

Likes:
Making someone laugh unexpectedly
Shooting stars
Sun on my face
A book that is so good it keeps me awake trying to finish it
Having my feet in a blue ocean/sea
A checkerboard in the outfield grass
The sound of the club hitting the ball...when it's good you don't even have to look, you just feel it
Eyes that smile
Tomatoes from my garden
Organization
A day on a boat
Watching my dog roll in freshly cut grass
Sitting on my porch with coffee and my Bible

Dislikes:
Deception/people who talk from both sides of their mouth
Warm beer
Decisions governed by fear (my own or others)
Gossip
When my food runs together on the plate
Drama
Posers
Closed minds

There it is - the first draft of my resume about ME. Comments are welcome.

So how about you? Who are you behind the titles and the degrees and the address and the church affiliation?

Try it...see what the answer is to this:
Who would you be, if no one told you who you were?

You might be surprised.