So for this exercise, I'll be tackling the topic of human capital. Specifically, my human capital. Thus the title "what's [my] secret sauce?" For the first part of this exercise, I'm going to list 5 ways in which I have human capital that is truly unique. My efforts are recorded below:
What makes me different?
- I doubt my interactions with people and constantly (for the most part) try to make them better so that the people around me feel loved and welcomed.
- I strive to listen more than to be heard so that I can understand how the people around me think and feel.
- Even though I'm afraid to stand up to people and to speak my opinion sometimes, I always try to step in when conversation is becoming uncomfortable and my friends or someone I've just met is being sexually harassed.
- Even though I don't always follow my own advice, I have a developed, internalized sense of right and wrong that I try to hold myself to as much as possible.
- I'm an incredibly stubborn person. Which is good for getting jobs done when people tell you that you can't succeed but bad for when I can know I'm wrong but my pride and stubbornness stop me from admitting that.
Part two of this exercise involves me filming my closest friends and asking them what makes me different. The results are below:
Key take away: My boyfriend is cute and thinks I'm smart. He also knows firsthand what it's like to get in an "argument" aka a discussion with me about politics. So a takeaway from that is that I am very determined in getting my point across and when I know I'm right, I'm belligerent about how right I am.
Takeaway: Marvis' comments made me feel really good about myself because I haven't really applied the skills that I've though of to a job or career that I could pursue. Nonprofit work is actually really appealing and it was very interesting to hear her say that.
Takeaway: After the other interviews, Preston made me really realized how nice I come off to people. Most of the time I feel like I come off really awkward for some reason but this was really empowering to hear.
Takeaway: Since Cora is my best friend, this is all stuff I've heard before but hearing it from her is always more impactful than thinking about it by myself. Cora makes me realize that I do want to save the world, in any way I can.
Takeaway: Bre and I need to hang out more. I could only record an audio call we did but at least there are some funny cat photos to pass the time. Almost all of my interviewees have mentioned my passion for politics and social issues and hearing that from Bre really drove that point home because I don't really think of myself as super educated on these issues.
Reflection: There are definitely some big differences on how I see myself and how others see me. I really don't think I am as educated as I claim to be or act like. That might be because I surround myself with smart people who challenge my own intelligence. Either way, these interviews made me feel proud of my smarts and like I somewhat know what I'm talking about when it comes to politics and social issues. These interviews make me feel like my lack of self-confidence due to low self-esteem is unfounded. Which is a really nice feeling.
Most of my friends thought of me as a people's person who was really friendly and can talk to anyone. That's so surprising because I always feel like my interactions don't come off as I want them to. So do I think my interviewees are right? Yeah, I do. I also think that the discrepancy in how they view me and how I view myself comes from my lack of self-confidence which I've been trying to work on.
If I were to go back and change anything from the first part of that post, it would be the unconfident, self-deprecating language that preceded my statements. The "trying" rather than doing. I do listen to people more than I talk. I do make people feel welcomed and heard. Damn. This is a good assignment. This has made me feel really good.
Hi Cassandra,
ReplyDeleteYou're friends seem amazing by the way they described you as a person! Im glad that hearing what they had to say as well as what you got from this assignment made you feel good. We always have this idea of what kind of person we are but it isn't until we here it from other people that we have more of a better idea of the kind of person we are because they are constantly around us. If you want to check out my bog, just click the link http://jalekatircioglu.blogspot.com/2016/03/my-secret-sauce.html
Hello Cassandra,
ReplyDeleteYour friends love you very much. I guess this is expected if they are your friends, haha. The smiles on their faces as they describe you shows what kind of person you are to them and that is very important when considering your potential customers and how they will feel about you!
Unfortunately, I did not complete this assignment.
Good Job!
Hey Cassandra,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post and definitely found I could relate to some of the things you discussed about yourself. I am someone who is also stubborn. I usually never will admit when I'm wrong and will do everything I can to prove my point. In entrepreneurship, this will be an important characteristic to succeeding and completing tasks efficiently. You seem to be a very motivated and competitive individual which are both important entrepreneurial characteristics!
Hi Cassandra,
ReplyDeleteWow I really enjoyed reading through your post! You seem like a very confident and great person! All of your interviewers all seemed to have thought the same of you! It really seems like you are a very kind person! If you have some free time you should check out mine here! http://jhoreckyblog.blogspot.com/2016/03/my-secret-sauce_13.html
Dear Cassandra,
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see that your friends really like you and consider you to be a passionate person. They also see you as someone who has strong beliefs and fights for them. There is no need for you to have low self esteem as you rightfully pointed out in your summary. I do feel obligated to say that the term human capital did not come up in the interviews. I wonder if that would have made the people close to you offer some other characteristics. You may have pointed out the concept of human capital to them off camera but it just didn't come across during the interviews. Overall, though great job with this exercise. Take a look at my secret sauce at http://taleemreflections.blogspot.com/2016/03/my-secret-sauce.html. Thanks.
Farrukh