If you scored high here, then you described yourself as well-balanced and a good concentrator. You feel good about yourself; you think you can do whatever you set your mind to. Optimists see the bright side and donΓÇÖt let a mistake get them down for long. The optimistΓÇÖs glass is always half-full, not half-empty.
Optimists like jobs or classes that give them a feeling of accomplishment. High scorers in this area often get advanced degrees in business, or go for careers like lawyer, doctor, or university professor. They love their work; itΓÇÖs not just a job, but a pursuit. World-class athletes and their coaches also tend to score high here.
Since optimists ignore limitations, their biggest problems come from trying to do too much, or spotting their limits too late. Optimists need classes and jobs that challenge them and give them new information and new problems to solve. Routine bores them. If things become too predictable they will move on or begin to ΓÇ£tune out.ΓÇ¥
Children who score high on this dimension need to be challenged, and need strong guidance and direction. Without those three things their creative mind, high energy level and feelings of invincibility can get them into trouble.
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THE PESSIMIST
If you scored in the pessimistic direction, youΓÇÖve indicated that you arenΓÇÖt feeling very effective and probably doubt that you can change things.
Pessimists see the negative side of nearly everything and canΓÇÖt seem to hold onto positive thoughts. Very often, other people have more confidence in the pessimist than the pessimist himself. Even this can be a negative to the pessimist; he tends to feel as if others are pressuring him to do and be more than he feels capable of.
Whether you are the pessimist, or trying to help someone who is, your challenge is the same: to walk a very fine line between babying yourself (or the other person) and expecting too much, too soon.
Educationally, it would probably be a mistake to send a pessimist off to a large college without ensuring that he or she has some source of emotional support and direction.
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THE RISK TAKER
A high score in this area means you think youΓÇÖre someone who performs well under pressure, and even enjoys it. You decide quickly and like to think on your feet. Risk Takers make mistakes, like everyone, but they are confident they can recover and move on.
Risk Takers need a job where they are free to make decisions and move quickly when they spot an opportunity. ThatΓÇÖs why Risk Takers make good entrepreneurs, or will take jobs which give them freedom and power.
In school, Risk Takers do well in classes where they can move at their own pace, and in those that challenge them to solve problems quickly. They like the challenge of a ten-minute test; they do especially well when the speed of response becomes more important than pinpoint accuracy.
In sports, Risk Takers excel in ΓÇ£open skill sportsΓÇ¥ like tennis, boxing hockey, and basketball -- sports where quick decisions and rapid adjustments give the player an edge.
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THE WORRIER
ΓÇ£WorrierΓÇ¥ is not necessarily a negative term. If youΓÇÖre a Worrier more than a Risk Taker, you try very hard to avoid mistakes. You tend to think things through more than other people do. As a result, you probably perform better in spots where time pressures are low, and where you can focus on one thing at a time.
Studies and jobs that emphasize accuracy more than speed fit the Worrier personality well. Worriers often take highly technical jobs, where their careful thinking is an asset, and jobs that focus on quality control and safety.
In college, Worriers may do better in a trimester system, with three courses per term rather than the five courses they might face in a semester system. They also prefer study schedules with tests spaced out over the course of a year -- where the Risk Taker may prefer to have them all at once.
In sports, Worriers often excel at ΓÇ£closed skillΓÇ¥ sports like golf, diving, and shooting. These are sports where athletes compete against themselves, and at their own pace, rather than against someone else or the pressures of the clock.
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THE OVER-ACHIEVER
The Over-achiever holds tight to his or her emotions and behavior. If you are close to this end of the graph, you might stay focused on a card game in a hurricane. Most Over-achievers donΓÇÖt allow anger or frustration to distract them. Indeed, they can often spin around their anger and use it in a positive way.
In the face of pressure at home, work or school, the Over-achiever has tolerance and patience. Over-achievers can do jobs others might find frustrating, like working with handicapped children or negotiating a labor agreement. Over-achievers also do well in jobs that demand accuracy and close detail (like bank tellers). People who must earn the public trust (like a priest or pharmacist) also often score high in this area.
Athletes at the very top of their sports usually score highly here. You often hear TV commentators mention an athleteΓÇÖs ΓÇ£focus.ΓÇ¥ ThatΓÇÖs the hallmark of an Over-achiever.
Focus separates the Over-achiever from the Optimist (although some fit both categories). While Optimists may be flighty, Over-achievers are determined to reach their goals. Whatever the Over-achiever focuses on takes precedence over everything else in his or her life.
THE UNDER-ACHIEVER
The closer you are to the Under-achiever end of the graph, the more strongly you have noted that you have a hard time staying focused on a task. Outside distractions and your own feelings seem to team up to keep you from doing the kind of job you know you can. Some Under-achievers grow so frustrated that they lose control and lash out in an angry or impulsive way.
If youΓÇÖre an Under-achiever, you have to find ways to minimize your distractions. We call this ΓÇ£engineering your environment.ΓÇ¥ Others may read in a coffee shop; youΓÇÖll need to find a quiet corner of the library. At home you must take extra steps to deal well with active, noisy children. At school, you may do poorly in a 200-person lecture; seek out smaller classes or tutorials where you can work one-on-one. And at work, youΓÇÖll do best with a supervisor who gives you support, direction and structure.
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THE LEADER
Leaders want to be in control. TheyΓÇÖre willing to take responsibility for themselves and for others. TheyΓÇÖre confident; they like competitive games and want to test their skills against others. They like competing for grades, salaries, or sales awards, and may even create competition if they donΓÇÖt feel challenged.
Because Leaders are so competitive, they tend to be happy in businesses and sports that emphasize winning and the ΓÇ£bottom line.ΓÇ¥ They despise mediocrity and doing just ΓÇ£enough to get by.ΓÇ¥
Boxers, wrestlers and tennis stars tend to score higher here than people who play team sports like soccer. Similarly, salespeople who fight for a share in a highly competitive market also score high.
Leaders find it hard to retire or to rest on their laurels. Children who score highly here are sometimes frustrated in classrooms or youth sports which restrict their competitiveness. At times itΓÇÖs necessary to find a special environment or extra outlets for highly competitive childen, because they may be too hard on children who are less competitive than they are.
In business, competitive leaders like to have impact. They may grow unsatisfied if their companyΓÇÖs growth levels off, or if the business grows to a size where they feel they donΓÇÖt have the impact they once did.
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THE FOLLOWER
Followers prefer supporting roles and non-competitive settings. TheyΓÇÖre happy to let others lead.
In sports, most Followers prefer team sports, especially those that value participation and fun over winning. In school, the Follower may do better when grades depend on participation -- say, on the number of reports turned in -- than when students are graded on a curve where some pass and others must fail. Followers are at their best in classes that emphasize cooperation and teamwork.
At work, Followers do well in jobs where they can leave the big decisions and schedules to others. Followers want the work rules to be clear, fair, and stable; their happiness often depends on the behavior of their boss, or the stability of the corporation itself.
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THE CONFRONTER
If youΓÇÖre a confronter, youΓÇÖre willing to use your brainpower to challenge others in discussion or debate. High scorers prefer brainy competition and open debate; in school, for instance, they like classes where grades are based on participation in class discussions.
The higher you score here, the more youΓÇÖll want a job that stimulates your mind. On the other hand, you may hate a job where you canΓÇÖt express yourself, or one that doesnΓÇÖt value your own thoughts and ideas.
Trial attorneys are often confronters; so are politicians. For many sales and marketing jobs, along with high-level management spots, you must be willing to challenge the ideas of others and argue for your own position when attacked.
In personal life, being a ΓÇ£witnessΓÇ¥ for your faith and converting others to it may require you to be a confronter. Parents of children who are highly analytical or stubbornly independent, must be able to set limits and to argue both persuasively and logically.
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THE AVOIDER
Avoiders have a hard time saying anything critical to anyone. This may be because they have been hurt by criticism themselves; they know how it feels to be on the receiving end. Or, they may be afraid to look foolish, or to make someone else angry. Avoiders may especially dislike arguing in front of large groups. They work well in settings, like family disputes, where they can ΓÇ£pour oil on troubled waters.ΓÇ¥
If you are an Avoider, youΓÇÖll be happiest in a job where you can make positive and supportive comments almost exclusively. This might mean teaching young children, or managing eager but inexperienced employees. Avoiders, especially if they are also Loners, are sometimes happiest in jobs which allow them to quietly do their own thing.
Students who score near the avoidance end of this scale will do best where they can respond to the teacher one-on-one. Like the Follower, theyΓÇÖll prefer classes where competition is de-emphasized in favor of teamwork and cooperation.
Since speaking to others is such an important part of social life, it is important for Avoiders to develop this skill. It will be easier if parents, teachers, and others offer support instead of criticism. Once in high school or college, quiet Avoiders need to make a special effort to visit their teacher during office hours to ask questions, share opinions, and make sure the teacher knows theyΓÇÖre taking an active interest in the class.
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SOCIALIZERS
If youΓÇÖre close to the Socializer end of the graph, you simply like to be with others. Moreover, you like to give and receive encouragement; you can reach out to others and make them feel comfortable. As you might guess, these types work well in jobs where they can meet and greet the public, or where they can make a customer feel good.
Socializers are extroverts. They run for class president or join the drama club. They may work in sales or marketing, be a host or hostess in a restaurant, or make a career in politics. The closer you are to the socializer end of the graph, the more you should avoid situations that keep you from others for long periods of time.
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LONERS
Loners, not surprisingly, like their privacy. If youΓÇÖre close to the Loner end of the graph, youΓÇÖd probably rather not take a leadership role in unstructured situations -- even if that just means making small talk. Loners would rather work with ideas and materials than with people. They find it especially frustrating when they have to play personal or political games to get ahead on the job or in school.
Loners can work well by themselves, and youΓÇÖll find many of them in highly skilled technical jobs like engineering. The classic ΓÇ£computer nerdΓÇ¥ probably is a strong Loner. Many traditional jobs like farming, accounting, and forestry also need people who can work long stretches in relative isolation.
If youΓÇÖre a Loner and yet find yourself in a job where socializing is required, you can still be comfortable. Make sure your role is well-structured (for instance, you have a firm agenda or specific issue to tackle when you deal with others). YouΓÇÖll also be happier if you know there is an end point to the social situation -- that you arenΓÇÖt expected, for instance, to continue socializing after work.
