For female solopreneurs who try too hard. Are you leaving your assessment results buried in the back of a drawer? Ep. 8

I am Yoko Ito, an 'exclusive manager for female solopreneurs' who leverages 38 years of administrative experience to lighten the practical and emotional burdens of female entrepreneurs.

By combining strength discovery with IT tools, I provide support to help you confidently shift from a hobby-like approach to a professional one.

As usual, my cat is curled up on my lap.

While listening to its gentle breathing, I suddenly remembered something a client said during a recent individual session.

"I took the StrengthsFinder assessment and I know my strengths now. But I don't know how to apply them to my work or life, and I'm stuck at that point."

Are you also leaving the assessment results you worked so hard to get buried in the back of a drawer?

An assessment is a 'starting point,' not a 'goal.'

Right after taking the assessment test, you must have been moved, thinking, 'This is so accurate!' or 'This is who I am.'

Of course, there is great value in knowing yourself.

However, that is actually not the goal, but the true starting point.

I was the same way back when I was a corporate employee.

I knew I had good qualities, but I couldn't use them effectively.

I was caught in that most wasteful trap.

But looking back now, I feel that frustration was a necessary process for me.

Strengths only begin to color your life when you use them.

At the root of StrengthsFinder is positive psychology.

By shifting from a state of knowing your strengths to actually using them, life becomes richer and lighter.

Even when I say 'utilize,' you don't need to do anything difficult.

Let me share one small step you can take starting today.

Your strengths lie dormant within your sense of comfort

It is simply to spend your time being conscious of just one of your natural talents.

For example, if 'Empathy' is one of your top traits, try imagining for just a moment, 'How might the other person be feeling right now?' before sending an email.

If 'Strategic Thinking' is one of your top traits, try thinking about the most efficient order for your household chores.

Such trivial things are perfectly fine.

And please cherish the sense of comfort or excitement you feel in those moments.

That feeling is proof that your natural talent is beginning to function as a strength.

Self-analysis is not just about understanding yourself; it only takes shape when you take action.

It is okay if there are days when you cannot seem to move forward.

Why not start by being conscious of just one thing?

That small step will surely change your tomorrow, little by little.

Thank you for reading this far.

If something resonated with you, please let me know with a like or a comment.

Follows are also very welcome.

May gentle light shine upon your every day.

📌I also talk about this on Stand.fm