Now, Discover Your Strengths

I am wrapping up Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton’s Now, Discover Your Strengths. I am aware there is 2.0 version, but I believe there both built on the same StrengthFinders test. This is a fantastic book. It has helped me appreciate things I do, think and say. It’s helping me to look at myself in a positive way, rather than a negative way. There are some really great illustrations that show you the importance of working in your strenghts rather than focusing on your weaknesses all of the time.
Here are my top 5 strength paths according to StrengthFinders.

1. Competition: People strong in the Competition theme measure their progress against the performance of others. They strive to win first place and revel in contests.
2. Maximizer: People strong in the Maximizer theme focus on strengths as a way to stimulate personal and group excellence. They seek to transform something strong into something superb.
3. Individualization: People strong in the Individualization theme are intrigued with the unique qualities of each person. They have a gift for figuring out how people who are different can work together productively.
4. Significance: People strong in the Significance theme want to be very important in the eyes of others. They are independent and want to be recognized.
5. Analytical: People strong in the Analytical theme search for reasons and causes. They have the ability to think about all the factors that might affect a situation.

Breakfast at Puckett's

A few Saturdays ago me and my wife were awakened by our 17 month old boy about 6 am. We were just excited that it wasn’t like his weekday routine of waking up at 5:30 am. Anyway, we all got up, got dressed, and decided we may as well get the day started on a good note with a good breakfast. So, we headed to downtown Franklin (TN), and enjoyed the weekend breakfast buffet at Puckett’s Grocery. (I hear their lunch is good too!)

It was our first trip to Puckett’s as a family and we enjoyed every minute of our stay. The food was delicious and the service was INCREDIBLE! It’s a nice cozy atmosphere that reminds me of growing up in the country. It’s no psuedo-country atmosphere like Cracker Barrell. This is the real deal.

The waitress took a liking to our boy and flirted with him and went to refill his sippy cup with milk right away. We enjoyed our breakfast so much that we went back the following Saturday. As soon as we walked in the door, she remembered us and called out my son’s name. She was excited to see him, along with every other kid that came in. Talk about a good impression, that was it. We sat down at her table again and she even remembered what we had to drink. Now, I was really impressed. We’ve now been 3 straight weeks and it is a new family tradition.

So, if you ever want to meet us for breakfast on Saturday morning around 8:00 am, odds are we will be at Puckett’s, sitting at Sally’s table in the back, next to the pole. It’s an open invitation so come join us.

Scooter Sidecar

How about this for one of our scooters?

Drum Solo

New to Astronomy

A coworker of mine has discovered a new interest outside of the US Civil War. I like the US Civil War and I don’t mind talking about it with him, although he does most of the talking, but sometimes I could use a new topic. So, now his new topic is “Space,” and I want to encourage it. It’s a subject that does interest me a little, but to be honest, I know very little.

From NASA to Astronomy, I have never really done much beyond sitting outside at night and looking at the stars wondering how people find lions, rabbits, dippers, bears, etc… So, I picked up my first book on astronomy by Jay M. Pasachoff. It’s very simple, with a few maps of the stars. It’s enough to allow me to have an elementary conversation with someone on the subject.

I do feel smarter and do appreciate just a little more about the “infinity and beyond”.