- livingthedash.tv

As a father, I believe that one of my greatest responsibilities, one of my greatest challenges, and one of my greatest joys is to discover the strengths of my children, to help them develop those strengths, and encourage them to use those strengths to impact the world.

I just started a book by author and educator Jennifer Fox titled Your Child’s Strengths: Discover Them, Develop Them, Use Them.  Great book so far.  Jennifer clearly understands that the world is changing and that the educational landscape must change with it.

In the 1st chapter, she comments on the transformation required in our schools as a result of the impacts from the internet and the ease of access to information………

Children need to learn how to as much as what.  Our schools need to transform into places that constantly give children the tools they will need to design their futures.  The passive memorization of facts will not lead to a future in which students are ready to push beyond their limits.  Today’s children must learn how to work with information, and lots of it, because thanks to the Internet, everything is available to everyone, just about anywhere, twenty-four hours a day, right at the end of our fingertips.  The learner has changed from passive receiver to active agent.  We no longer need the teacher as a vehicle to deliver the information.  Now we need the teacher to help children synthesize and assimilate it.

Do you know the strengths of your children?

Have you recognized that the internet has changed the world and, as a result, learning for our children will need to look very different than it did for us?

I’ve been reading through Marcus Buckingham’s new book titled The Truth About You: Your Secret To Success.

The book is a nice follow up to other Buckingham strengths-based books like…….

- Now, Discover Your Strengths

- Go, Put Your Strengths To Work

The book is actually more of a toolkit.  The toolkit includes…….

1 // Enhanced DVD

From The Back Cover: A high-energy film reveals how and why you must discover and prioritize your strengths.  It includes five bonus Strength Tip videos and access to a wealth of downloadable resources.

My Take: The film is great.  Well made.  The story of a young trombone player plays out while Marcus Buckingham effectively explains the strengths-based approach described in the book.

2 // Interactive Book

From The Back Cover: With insightful exercises and tried-and-true life wisdom no one else will tell you, the book takes you to the location of your most powerful and unchanging talents.

My Take: I was surprised by the shortness of the book.  Not necessarily a bad thing.  I breezed through the book in about 30 minutes.  I would recommend taking the time to work through the exercises that Buckingham teaches in the book.  The exercises will help you identify and document your Strengths and Weaknesses or, more specifically, your I feel strong when…. and I feel weak when…. statements.

3 // ReMemo Pad

From The Back Cover: Designed for a life on-the-go, the ReMemo Pad becomes your companion to complete the task of revealing your strengths using everyday experiences.

My Take: The ReMemo Pad is nothing more than a plain memo pad designed to help you jot down activities that make you feel strong or make you feel weak.  But it is a nice addition to the toolkit because making note of your daily and weekly activities and how they make you feel is the first step to identifying your true strengths and weaknesses.

My key takeaway from the book was the 3 Myths // 3 Truths presented by Buckingham……

Myth #1

As you grow, your personality changes.

Truth #1

As you grow, you become more and more of who you already are.

Myth #2

You grow the most in your areas of greatest weakness.

Truth #2

You grow the most in your areas of greatest strength.

Myth #3

A great team member puts his strengths aside and does whatever it takes to help the team.

Truth #3

A great team member volunteers his strengths to the team most of the time and deliberately partners with people who have different strengths.