Anybody can say they have drive. Many people claim the skill of communication. Anyone can talk about how great it is to build relationships. But these ideas only come alive when they are molded and grown in the life of an individual. I believe no one has the same combination of innate skills that I do, and I intend to develop as a person in order to change the world using the skills I have been given. Here are my top three skills, showcased in their uniqueness to me.
Drive
“Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.” -Mark Twain
There is a word, chutzpah, that originates from Hebrew. Its meaning today has a negative context, implying audacity or impudence. But the original word had a much deeper meaning. It referred to a fire within your chest that would not be quenched, a passion that would consume your soul if you kept it in. Chutzpah is the determination that makes you stick out your dreams even when they seem to be failing.
It is this kind of zeal that makes me who I am. To me, living without enthusiasm is not living at all. I have never done anything with less than 100% of my energy. Hard work? No problem. Question? I will pursue the answer until I have solved the issue.
When I was placed in an advanced band camp after less than a year of violin, it was 100% of me that pushed to compete with the 10- 12 year students there. Sure, I was at the bottom of the class, but nothing kept me from learning the music just like everyone else and giving the whole concert my greatest shot. Likewise, when I began my own business raising dogs, I lived in the dog barn. Did it mean waking up every two hours some nights with a female that was birthing her first litter? Yes. Did it mean carrying buckets of water 100 yards some days because the pipes were frozen? Absolutely. But was I willing to do everything it took to succeed with my dogs? Unquestionably, yes.
Communication
“Teach someone something every day” is one of my life mottoes. That’s why I throw myself into each job, no matter how small. Regardless of what the job is, there is always an opportunity to teach another individual. Some days that opportunity is simply watching a baby learn how to clap. Other days it may be discussing theories of the universe with a. Any new idea I can introduce to another individual is worth the breath it takes to explain it, because teaching is the crux of communication. I aspire to be the kind of communicator whose very presence emits wisdom to those around her.
Very soon after I started a job working for a photographer in my junior year of high school, I was put beside the phone every time I was in the office. Not that everyone else couldn’t do it, I simply enjoyed the challenge of crossing barriers and bridging misunderstandings between business and customers. And I realized I found great fulfillment in solving issues; I loved creating an atmosphere of understanding; I gained energy from bringing people the answers they needed.
Communication is a skill I will never stop growing. In addition to speaking both Spanish and English, I have increased my understanding of language through studying Hebrew and Latin. I write constantly, on sources like Quora and Yours.org in addition to my personal blog. And I love to read. Some of the greatest conversations happen between an author and a reader within the pages of a book.
Relationship building
Relationships are the key to building anything else in life. Without the connection to other human beings, most ventures lose their glamour. Minus the healthy competition between individuals, sports would be pointless. Without people to buy a product, businesses would fail. Delete relationships with other individuals and you remove the core of humanity. With this perspective in mind, relationships have become a core focus of my outlook on life.
When selling dogs, I sought to establish relationships between families and furry friends. When working in photography, I focused on reaching the heart of each child behind the hundreds of portraits we shot. Through all of my life, I have put all of my soul into creating relationships that build.
Relationships are also the reason I have thrown myself into volunteer work. Whether it involves cooking and decorating for a wedding, running the puppet theater at our tiny library for Preschool storytime, or spending hours doing science with kids at a homeschool practicum, to me, it’s all about connecting to the heart of anyone I relate to.
One of the greatest connections I made was through my local librarian. She recognized my love for books and children, as I worked beside her during the summer rush of library activities. One day when I mentioned wishing to be on the radio, she replied that she was good friends with the volunteer coordinator for Sightline, a service for the vision impaired through the University of West Florida. Because of building relationships with everyone I met at the library, I have had the opportunity to spend countless hours reading for Sightline Children’s hour, beside some of the people who watched the University be built from the ground up.
Where will these skills take me? That’s the fun of the journey! Let’s connect to find out how we can work together.
lolitaallgyer@gmail.com