Dear Andy Sokolovich,

This is your mission if you choose to accept it.

Now that you are aware of the 34 Talent Themes that make up the Clifton StrengthsFinder, you have been charged with the ability to see the natural talent that lies within others.

This is not something that should be taken lightly!

You are part of an elite group of strengths seekers, a force that grows stronger with each new member. Our common goal is to promote a positive way of life, and work hard to enhance the well-being of others. We strive to create a feeling of purpose and direction within each person that we come in contact with.

Our abilities allow us to wield and unthinkable level of power. The power to help others identify what makes them unique, what they excel at, and what steps they need to take in an effort to grow stronger throughout their journey. By providing our friends, family, and everyday strangers with the insights they often unknowingly seek, we have stepped into a new-age field of battle. A front riddled with the lost hopes and dreams of those blind to their own gifts.

Your main objective is not to convert, but to listen to others speak. Your strengths educated ear needs to be pressed firmly to the ground, ready to acknowledge signs of despair, hopelessness, and a longing for something more. But we do not promise them a magic pill. Our focus should never be on repairing the weak, but rather on enabling the strong. Strong does not mean the unbreakable, overly confident, muscle-bound lover of life. Strong refers to the person who is willing to receive feedback, and who opens themselves up to new ideas and experiences.

A Strong person wants to go further in life than they’ve ever gone before.

As you march forward, know that the actions you take are reciprocated by the feeling you will receive through helping others. In your travels toward a more positive future, there are no impasses, merely roadblocks that can always be scaled or rerouted. You are acting as a person of influence. There are precautions you must take, and you must be vigilant to never overstep your bounds. Your words now hold more weight. You represent a mindset that has been dormant for far too long.

Everyone is waiting to hear what you have to say. Are you prepared?

A Strengths Coach’s Core Values*

Listen before we speak

Focus on helping others succeed

Acknowledge that everyone has talent

Over deliver results never over-exaggerate

Sincerely,

Andy Sokolovich

GALLUP-Certified Strengths Coach

*These four core values represent my own expectations and beliefs acting as a GALLUP-Certified Strengths Coach. They in no way reflect the opinions of other coaches or their certifying organizations including Gallup.