Posted 8:19 PM by Blah blah

I've been skimming through this book: Eight Keys to Greatness by Gene Landrum. Some of these qualities describe me to a T, while others I seriously lack. Nevertheless, in all of them I can and must keep striving to be better.

Traits of greatness that Landrum observed from his research on eminent entrepreneurs, artists, politicians, and scientists:

Communications

1. Rich and fluent vocabulary
2. Excellent self-expression
3. Inspires others to follow your lead
4. A philosophic communication style
5. Voracious reader of nonfiction books

Views the World

1. Always sees the big picture or essence of situation
2. More interested in the qualitative than quantitative
3. Inquisitive
4. Seeks opportunities and possibilities---never the safe and secure
5. Has a long-term perspective on most things

Creativity

1. Has a vivid imagination
2. Short attention span when listening to proposals by others
3. Inveterate need to know---in constant search for new knowledge
4. Prefers math to accounting---the abstract to the routine
5. Intolerant of useless conformity

Lifestyle

1. Is a high risk-taker
2. Spontaneous adventurer
3. High in intellectual playfulness
4. Often called a renegade
5. Eats, talks, walks, and thinks fast---(for example, often receives speeding tickets) [I like to drive fast. Always managed to avoid speeding tickets till this year.]

Self-Image

1. Easily bored with routine tasks
2. Prefers to work independently
3. Comfortable with ambiguity
4. Enjoys juggling many tasks simultaneously
5. Belief in own ability to succeed at new tasks
6. Strong sense of self---uses "I" often
7. Optimism pervades thinking---very positive
8. Needs little confirmation to proceed on new adventures
9. Flexible in dynamic environments
10. Candid responses to controversial inquiries

Critical Thinking Style

1. Prefers being different to being perfect
2. Asks many questions
3. Compulsion to reduce the complex to the simple
4. Searches for similarities and differences in people
5. Impatient in lines and with incompetence

Self-Sufficiency

1. Needs little support in proceeding on novel ideas
2. Very achievement oriented
3. Has variety of interests
4. Grasps new concepts quickly
5. Gets things done without being told