Reflected Best Self Paper

Jane Doe
Professor Pri Shah
November 22, 2017
 Ortalo-Magné 1

Introduction

As I walk across the University of Minnesota campus, I notice the crowd around me. I am

one of fifty thousand students and, on the outside, I appear no different from most. I am a white

female, I can often be seen wearing a maroon Minnesota sweater, and I carry a backpack more

often than not. It is easy to feel lost in the crowd, but on the inside, we are all unique individuals

with our own path and purpose in this world. We all have diverse personality traits that define us,

passions that motivate us, and communities that support us. To gain better insight into my own

traits and explore who I am at my best, I participated in the Reflected Best Self ExerciseTM,

which originated from research at the University of Michigan’s Center for Positive

Organizations. The Management 1001 Honors class in the Carlson School of Business

encourages students to embark on this journey to discover who they are at their best. We each

reached out to those who know us well for their observations and experiences in which we were

our best in their eyes. We took from their stories the greater themes and common traits to reflect

on what it is that defines us. Furthermore, we identified enablers and blockers, and created a plan

for our futures. Personally, I accomplished this goal of discovering who I am at best by learning

which traits act as a foundation to my best self and which elements will enable me to improve

my best self. I learned what makes me unique in a crowd of fifty thousand students.

Reflected Best Self Portrait

From the stories I received and my own personal reflections, I unveiled several

overarching themes of who I am at my best. These qualities shape my personality, they express

who I am as a person, and they manifest themselves in my day to day thoughts and actions. In

short, they describe who I am. I am persevering; I am passionate; I am caring.

 Ortalo-Magné 2

Perseverance

The word repeated over and over in the stories I received was persevering. Also

mentioned were descriptors such as committed, hard-working, resilient, and courageous.

Persevering encompasses these traits and accurately reflects how they come together to define

me. I keep going. I don’t give up. A close friend of mine mentioned this attitude in reference to

the experiences and changes that have recently occurred in my life. To name a few, I graduated

from high school, moved from my childhood home, and registered for college in the span of one

week. I spent the remainder of the summer travelling alone. I interned in a place I had never been

before, experiencing living on my own and navigating the challenges of settling in a new place

without friends nearby. I began college in a completely new environment and my parents moved

from Wisconsin to the United Kingdom. My close friend described my “crazy ability to deal with

life” as one of my strongest, best traits. I persevere no matter the changes, challenges, and

circumstances I face.

An essential feature of my perseverance is that of commitment. Commitment can be

described as a choice, and ultimately, a dedication and loyalty that extends to all areas of my life.

I am committed to achieving success, just as I am committed to my family and friends. In my

own experience and self-reflection, I have seen my commitment extend to my passions, and

more specifically, to music. For any skill, whether it be music, sport or other, practice is

essential. As a child, my parents would frequently remind me: “Jane Doe, go practice your

flute.” Practice was essential for improving my skills, preparing pieces for concerts and etudes

for lessons, and most importantly, attaining higher and higher levels of competitions and

recognitions. While I loved playing the flute, practice was the one thing I struggled with. This

summer, I was on my own, without my parents, flute teacher, and their friendly reminders for a
 Ortalo-Magné 3

month before college started. However, in the four weeks prior to the college entrance audition, I

did not go a single day without practicing. I had my mind set on getting into the Symphonic

Band at the University of Minnesota, and I did exactly that. I am determined and committed to

achieving success, and when I commit to something, I persevere and work very hard to attain

my goals.

Hard working is another of my best traits that results from my perseverance. I was

recently described as “a person who spends 85% of her time in the library.” I attempt to do my

best work in everything I do because I believe that it is necessary for true understanding. One of

my best friends offered a story that demonstrates the extent to which I take this seriously. In our

senior year of high school, we both had an AP English Literature class with a teacher that had

more “senioritis” than her students. Within a few weeks, most students discovered that they

could get by without reading any of the assigned books, participating in class, or completing

essays. As my friend described the situation, she noted that I, however, “was set on getting the

most that [I] could out of the class.” I used class time productively. I read every single assigned

book, and spent time editing, revising, and perfecting my essays. Despite the circumstances, I

worked hard in this class to find a positive outcome. In life, I work hard to extract the most out

of my experiences, persevering even when the situation is less than optimal.

Both hard work and commitment are results of my perseverance, but the underlying

support of this perseverance is my resilience and courage. Support from family and

encouragement from adults and friends have helped foster these characteristics. In the midst of

middle school drama and bullying, a former teacher noticed that I stood out as an independent,

courageous voice. She describes some of the most trying times of my early adolescence, but

recognizes my resilience. “At an age when all want to be individuals, but never succeed in
 Ortalo-Magné 4

defining individuality in a pack mentality, Jane Doe stood tall, independent and strong.” When I

self-reflect on this period of my life, I now recognize an underlying resilience and courage in the

face of challenges. My resilience and courage in the face of adversity, as well as my hard-

working attitude and commitment are all part of the persevering individual that I am today.

Passionate

I am passionate and enthusiastic about expressing my interests. Passion was another

overarching theme that appeared in stories, and also one that immediately stood out to me in my

own contemplation. When conversing with peers, family, or acquaintances, my eyes will light up

with the mention of topics that interest me. Whether it be music, the great outdoors, or my travel

adventures, I am excited and enthusiastic about life. One interest that has particularly influenced

me is mountain experiences. While I am undecided in my exact career path, one thing is for

certain: “I want to be in the mountains.” I have crafted my dreams for the future, as well as my

CV around this passion, and plan on pursuing my goals until I reach the mountains. My

passionate eagerness was also recognized by my AP Language and Composition teacher, for

whom I wrote a very inspired essay. She complimented the way I enhanced my essay with

“amazing detail,” as well as the way I described my thoughts and feelings throughout my work.

She remarked that, “It was so clear that you were passionate about nature and hiking. It was

beautiful.” This passion motivates me to be myself, to pursue my dreams, and to share my

inspiration and excitement with others.

My passion is a part of my individuality. Related traits that define me are my

independence, uniqueness, focus, and creativity, but especially, tying these all together, is my

balance. This balance stood out to me in a particularly original, yet powerful story from my dad.

He wrote of how there is something engaging in the process of creating and delivering a tangible
 Ortalo-Magné 5

outcome that seems to appeal to me. He spoke of my appreciation when a close friend or family

member joins me in a process he referred to as “co-creation.” Specifically, he mentioned my

satisfaction in collaborating whether it be creating something in the kitchen with him, performing

a duet with fellow family musician, or exercising with a friend. At other times, he and others

note how I am perfectly content to be on my own, practicing my flute or studying for an exam.

My father wondered “if these are two different experiences for you with their own benefits and

to what extent what you cherish is the balance of such activities - some time alone, some with

someone close.” He concluded that I am at my best when I have a balance, whether it be of

creation and work, stress and relaxation, or company and solitude. Perhaps finding this balance

has been part of my life since birth. I am a twin.

A trait that is closely related to passion is that of focus. I concentrate my attention

towards achieving my goals. I focus my energy on my passion. My mom, for one, perceived this

in my performance of Mozart’s Flute Concerto in G Major. My senior year of high school, I

competed in my school’s Concerto competitions and won. In the months following, I memorized

note-by-note 10 full minutes of repertoire to the point of being able to perform it flawlessly with

a full orchestra in front of a discerning audience. As my mom put it, “The ability to memorize

and perform such a piece is no small feat, and required a great amount of focus on the end goal.”

Any musician or performer knows that memorization requires a great deal of practice, repetition,

and mainly, focus. This focus also pertains to the bigger picture – the way in which I have

tailored my internships and summers toward my career interest, allocating time and energy to

mountain experiences. Fueled by my passion, I have chosen the best possible university major-

minor combination, focusing my academic studies in order to help meet this end goal.
 Ortalo-Magné 6

Caring

I am caring. This final theme presented itself, not only in the stories that also showed me

as hard-working, but also in those reflecting my open-mindedness, inclusive nature, and

selflessness. In one particular story that demonstrates my caring nature, a friend of mine from

preschool described how I always go out of my way to ensure the happiness of those I care

about. He described a time when he was not feeling well and explains how I immediately and

caringly did everything I could to make him feel better. “What particularly marked me,” he said,

“was the sincerity and kindness in your actions.” I cherish those around me and demonstrate this

through my words and actions. I am a caring individual.

An aspect of caring which also defines my best self is open-mindedness. I am open-

minded in regard to cultural differences and diversity, to experiences, and to people. As a child, I

was fortunate to travel extensively with my parents. I attribute most of my observant and

accepting nature to these experiences. Travelling throughout China, Japan, India, and many other

foreign countries, my parents always insisted that I to “try everything once.” Along with my

disliking of shrimp and oysters, it is this attitude that stuck with me throughout the years. My

travels shaped my open-minded view of not only food, culture and diversity, but also my

appreciation for new experiences. This trait was also highlighted by a friend of mine’s mother.

She describes her daughter’s transition to a new school. She writes that “Jane Doe was the one

who reached out to her and made her feel welcome. It was Jane who had the empathy and

compassion to befriend the new girl and make sure she wasn’t left out.” From welcoming new

friends into my social circle to allowing new ideas into my mind, my open-mindedness moves

my heart to care.
 Ortalo-Magné 7

Similarly, my caring nature encourages me to selflessly help others. I believe in giving of

my time and sharing my talents to benefit those surrounding me. This trait builds on the

descriptors of selfless and altruistic to be seen among the stories I received. My flute teacher, for

one, describes when I took the initiative to apply for a grant that would compensate her for her

time. She mentions that “your selfless action to secure the grant made me feel appreciated and

recognized.” Personally, I feel at my best when I selflessly give of my time, talent, or energy. I

care about the wellbeing and happiness of others.

I am persevering, committed, hard-working, resilient, and courageous. I am passionate,

balanced, and focused. I am caring, inclusive, selfless, and open-minded. These traits reflect

who I am at my best.

Enablers and Blockers

As is conveyed in my reflected best self portrait, I have many strengths which enable me

as a person. Closely related to my strength of perseverance, my determination is a strong

personal enabler. My drive to succeed and achieve my goals motivates me. Also conducive to

my personal success is my organized nature. I consistently keep track of assignments, due dates,

and appointments and carefully plan my time around them. A final personal enabler is my

candor. I tell things as they are, I am honest about my thoughts, feelings, and in how I approach

others and express my ideas. While most of my strengths benefit me, an overreliance on these

may lead to weakness. For example, my tendency to always work hard can lend itself to an

inefficient use of time if I do not allow myself to relax and recharge. Similarly, my aim for

perfection may lead me to do more work than is necessary. A further example of this over-

reliance is seen in my independence, which normally benefits me, but occasionally leads to a
 Ortalo-Magné 8

lack of openness when seeking and welcoming help. My best self strengths enable me. However,

if not employed in productive ways, they can also become personal blockers.

The relationships and interactions in my everyday life may also be viewed as both

enablers and blockers. My sympathetic nature enables me to form strong relationships. I prefer a

small number of close friendships and it is my tendency to devote a lot of time to and energy to

those friends. However, my small friend group can cause me to isolate myself and miss

opportunities to interact with new people. My smaller, less diverse network is a relational

blocker.

Playing off the aspect of “co-creation” highlighted by my father, I work best when I am

either by myself or with one other. I appreciate direct communication and honesty, which I have

found to occur more frequently in small groups. I am also my best in challenging and interesting

environments. Consistent with my passionate tendency, I work extremely well and do some of

my best thinking in the outdoors. Unfortunately, larger groups present a challenge for me. In

teams, I prefer to lead, which can create animosity and unnecessary stress. Deadlines that only

allow time for quick, shallow work without affording time to fully understand concepts hinder

my ability to be at my best. While I must face these blockers in my current role as a student, I

can use different tactics to mitigate them or simply approach the task differently.

Action Plan

After analyzing the 57 stories I received and reflecting on my best self portrait, enablers,

and blockers, I have formulated several goals. With these in mind, I have created an action plan

for ways in which I anticipate improving my best self. As the end of the semester draws near, I

intend to complete several outstanding projects early. I will use the theme of perseverance to
 Ortalo-Magné 9

study effectively, work hard, and complete this work. My determination to finish so that I may

enjoy a relaxing break will motivate and enable me. In this process, I will improve my best self’s

abilities by not working myself too hard or becoming overwhelmed by stress. I will plan time to

relax in order to work more efficiently and enjoy the process instead of merely persevering

through it. In the interval of weeks, my main focus will be on preparing for finals. However, I

aim to embrace this time as an opportunity to find a supportive community at the U. While I am

certain that I will be able to persevere through my studies, I would like to improve this

experience by expanding my network and reaching out to others. I already attend weekly

meetings with the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship group on campus, but additionally, I intend

to find a church, form a study group, and participate in other social activities that will both

support my studies and well-being.

As weeks turn into months, I plan on creating a balance between relaxation and hard

work, or socializing and studying. To attain this goal, I will create a weekly schedule and

incorporate exercise and relaxation into the time I intend to delegate to studies. I will join

another club and keep an open mind towards opportunities and events that may present

themselves. Furthermore, in the spring, I will participate in intramural ultimate frisbee. Over the

next several years, my primary goal is to pursue an education that differentiates me from my

peers. After completing my BBA at the University of Minnesota, I intend to join the Masters in

Management program at ESCP Paris. During this experience, I will embrace the challenges I

face as opportunities to demonstrate my resilience and make new connections and memories in

this new environment. My passion for adventure, travelling, and new experiences will be the

driving force to the accomplishment of this goal. This action plan extends from days to years,

and encompasses a variety of goals, enablers, and blockers. These all have one thing in common,
 Ortalo-Magné 10

that is, by being my best self and beginning on the journey of making my best self better today, I

can and will reach those goals.

Learning and Application

In the process of completing the Reflected Best Self ExerciseTM, I gained a greater

appreciation for the traits that make me unique and a deeper understanding of how they interact

with and support my current opportunities and responsibilities as a student. These traits have

empowered me to work hard, overcome challenges, and be true to myself. When I am challenged

and required to adapt, my traits of persistence, resilience, and courage appear. In trying times,

stress will occasionally keep me from my best self. However, with my more profound awareness

of who I am and which traits I possess, I know that I can achieve my goals. This insight will

enable me to be a more productive and efficient student, a more caring person, and a better

version of myself overall. Recognizing my strengths has also shed light on areas that need

improvement. When working in groups, I will concentrate my energy towards encouraging my

teammates to be as committed as I am and promote a culture of open-mindedness. I chose the

University of Minnesota for the reason of maximizing my potential. A combination of the unique

minor of Outdoor Recreation and Education, which allows me to follow my passion, and the

Honors Program, which ensures challenging classes and a supportive environment, led to my

decision to come to the Twin Cities, and ultimately, embrace my best self. On these foundations

I will build the person I will become. I realize that although there are so many of us students on

the University of Minnesota campus who look alike, I am unique and I have a place and purpose

in this maroon and gold colored world.

 Ortalo-Magné 11

APPENDIX

Email list*:

Family Email

Friends

Teachers

Other

*3 stories received from each person unless otherwise noted

 Ortalo-Magné 12

Personal stories (OWN):

You have the ability to do really hard work when you put your mind to it. For example, I

think of the time that you had to face an audition for symphonic band, and for the first time, you

were without a teacher. There was no one to tell you how to practice, what to work on, or give

you feedback on what needed improving. You thought about giving up on multiple occasions,

because the band was a bit of a reach and you were unsure of your chance at getting in.

However, once you set your mind to it, you practiced every day, and did not stop until you were

satisfied with the results. This shows your determination to real the goals you set for yourself,

and how you strive for perfection in much of what you do.

When you were younger, you travelled all over the world with your family. You visited

17 countries spread across 4 different continents. This opened your eyes and confronted you to

the great diversity of humanity. For this reason, you see and understand the world around you

differently than others. You are more open-minded towards different cultures and ways of life.

You are a very passionate individual. I think of all of the times when your eyes light up

and you become engrossed with what it is you are experiencing or discussing. Whether it be the

mountains or music, it is clear that you have a dream. “I want to end up in the mountains.” You

have repeated this over and over since the beginning of the school year, and it keeps you going

when you face obstacles or challenges. Your passion is the reason for your motivation and hard

work, but most of all, it makes you who you are.


Individual Analysis:
Author My behaviors/contributions
friends
perseverance/persistence, resilience, adaptablity,
courage
tenacious, determined, caring
loyal, reliable, caring
analytic, confident, focused
passionate, persistent
passionate, driven, enthusiastic
good at communicating
welcoming, caring
level-headed, dependable, composed
supportive, sympathetic, considerate
organized, trustworthy, efficient
caring, sincere, selfless/altruistic
cooperative, organized, motivational, productive
motivationed, sympathetic/considerate, organized I am able to share my motivation with others and enable them to work better.
I am dedicated to doing a high level of work and do it right no matter what the
diligent, conscientious, honest, responsible
open to experiences, determined, focused, creative
good listener, caring, altruistic
I am willing to laugh in tough situations because I am realistic about outcomes
humor, realstic, able to see the big picture
determined, driven, hard working
caring, sympathetic
creative, organized, cooperative
supportive, encouraging, positive, passionate
honest, reliable, focused, hard working
family
determined/dedicatied, focused, conscientious,
attentive to detail
determined, persevering
In the face of adversity, I am able to support my peers and remain positive and
enthusiastic, encouraging, positive, supportive
altruistic, efficient, able to prioritize
responsible/reliable, courageous, cooperative
determined, committed, goal-focused
reliable, persistent
independent, balanced, creative, caring
generous, persistent, determined, inspirational,
passionate
reliable, hard working
courageous, independent, confident, calm
focused
creative, caring
independent
professional/composed, adaptive, persevering
Ortalo-Magné 13
Story theme and personal declaration
I am able to keep going throughout the changes and challenges that I face,
whether it be moving to a different country, intern-ing in a place I had never
been before, or going to college in a completely new environment.
I do not give up on friends, no matter the circumstances or distance.
I am loyal to and always there for my friends when they need me.
I am analytic and focused in the way I approach life, whether it be in math
class or music, and this leads to my confidence.
I am passionate about mountains and persistent in climbing them.
I am enthusiastic about sharing my passions with others.
I am able to translate.
I am able to integrate people into my group of friends.
I am able to remain calm and act appropriately in difficult or stressful times.
I am always willing to help and share what knowledge I have with others.
I am organized in the work I do and I can be trusted to do a good, efficient job
of it.
I go out of my way to ensure that those I care about are happy.
I am able to work with teammates and motivate them to do productive work
while creating a positive morale in the group.
standard is.
I am open to new experiences, enjoy creating new things, and don’t give up
easily on such projects.
I am always there to listen to and care for my friends.
and able to comprehend the big picture.
I can do anything that I set my mind to and I am willing to work very hard in
the process.
I can relate to people and show them that I care.
I am organized and able to demonstrate my creativity in the hard work I do.
I share my passions with others and support and motivate them in theirs.
I am honest in all that I do and focused on the task at hand.
I am able to master anything I set my mind to because of my diligence, focus,
and motivation to succeed.
I accept challenges that I am faces with and persevere with unwavering
determination
encouraging
I am able to recognize a job that needs done and do it, even if it is not to
benefit myself.
I demonstrate my courage and responsibilty in the way in which I adapted to
the situations I encountered at my internship.
I have demonstrated commitment and hard work throughout my music career.
I rise to the occaision and deliver, even in situations where pressure is high,
and remain reliable throughout.
I work best when I balance the time I spend alone and time with others, and I
enjoy both.
I am generous with my time and was able to inspire a flute student of mine
through my perseverance and determination to share my passion.
I work hard and get things done.
I remain courageous and confident in stressful times.
I performed my concerto perfectly because of my focus and concentration
towards mastering the piece.
I bring joy to others though my creativity.
I do things my own way.
I adapt and persevere through situations that do not go my way, and remain
composed throughout.
 Ortalo-Magné 14

Individual Analysis (continued):

self
determination, strive for perfections, goal-
I do not give up and stay focused on the high goals I have set for myself.
orientation
I am open minded towards new experience thanks to my opportunity to travel
open-minded
during my childhood.
unique/individuality, passionate, motivated I have a unique passion and it motivates me to be true to who I am.
teachers

independent, strong, resilient, confident
level-headed, confident, moral
thoughtful, caring, creative
focused, hold self to high standards, determined
passionate, detail-oriented
honest, diligent, hard working
enthusiasm, openness, desire to learn
other
compassionate, caring, welcoming, open-minded,
empathetic
I was and still am unapologetic about who I am, even though it may not always
strong, independent, proud
mature, effective
selfless, appreciative
I am patient with tasks that frustrate me and will see them through to they are
patient, persevering
aware, attentive, selfless
professional, unintimidated, patient, kind
inspiring/motivational, giving
I am confident in myself and my abilities and I do allow anyone to change that.
I have a strong sense of right and wrong, and will stand up for those beliefs
without causing conflict.
I care for others and show this by being thoughtful in my interactions with
them.
I am determined to achieve the goals I set for myself and am willing to put in
the work it takes to do this.
I convey my passion clearly and express myself in a detailed manner.
I work hard even when I do not like the work I must do and I do not cheat in
the process.
I am an enthusiastic learner and am open to all sorts of experiences that will
help me grow as a person.
I welcome new friends with an open mind and relate to them and care for
them well.
be cool or attractive in others' eyes.
I tackle issues head on in a professional manner and
I make an effort and sometimes even go out of my way to show others that I
appreciate them.
done.
I do work willingly and don’t expect anything in return
I am unintimidated by new experiences and deal with them in a professional
manner.
I give of my time and talents to inspire others.
 Ortalo-Magné 15

Aggregate Analysis*:
Analyzing in aggregate
Pattern/themes Traits (conducive to themes) Declarations Examples
I am able to keep going throughout the changes and challenges that I
I believe in working hard to achieve excellence
face, whether it be moving to a different country, intern-ing in a place I
Persistant and will adapt to or work through any situation
had never been before, or going to college in a completely new
to produce the outcomes I seek.
environment.
OWN: Although my goal seemed unrealistic at times, I was determined
to succeed and did not give up, which allowed me to audition into the
I am determined and committed to achieving
Committed symphonic band
success.
I am able to master anything I set my mind to because of my diligence,
focus, and motivation to succeed
I do my best work in everything I do because I I work hard to get the most out of my experiences, even though I may
Hard Working believe that it is necessary to achieve my goal of not like the work I have to do or even when the tasks may not seem
learning. conducive to learning.
I remain courageous and confident in stressful times.
My courage allows me to confront and
In my summer travels, I demonstrated courage by how I lived and
withstand stressful situations.
travelled alone.
Resillient and Courageous I was able to adapt to many changes in my life in a short period of time.
I demonstrate resilience in unfamiliar or unfair
situations and adapt in order to make the most I am confident in myself and my abilities and I do allow anyone to
of the experience. change that. I resist and bounce back situations in which these are
challenged.
OWN: I have my own unique interests which motivate me to be true to
I believe in expressing my interests and sharing
Passionate myself.
my entusiasm on the subject with others.
I convey my passion clearly and express myself in a detailed manner.
I believe that my passions, interests, and
I work best when I balance the time I spend alone and time with others,
personality traits make me a unique person and
Balance: Independent, and I enjoy both.
I embrace the freedom in being true to myself.
Unique, Creative
I demonstrate my uniqueness and open- I enjoy experimeting and creating new things. I enjoy sharing and
mindedness by generating new ideas and engaging in this creativity with others.
putting them into action. I bring joy to others though my creativity.
I performed my concerto perfectly because of my focus and
I concentrate my attention towards achieving concentration towards mastering the piece.
Focused
my goals. I am open to new experiences, enjoy creating new things, and don’t give
up easily on such projects.
I cherish those around me and demonstrate I go out of my way to ensure that those I care about are happy.
Caring
that through my words and actions.
OWN: My travels as a child influenced my perception of new
I believe in welcoming individuals into my life
experiences.
Welcoming, Open-Minded with an open mind and with the absense of
I welcome new friends with an open mind and relate to them and care
judgement.
for them well.
I am generous with my time and was able to inspire a flute student of
I believe in giving of my time and sharing my mine through my perseverance and determination to share my passion.
Altruistic
talents to benefit others.
I make an effort and sometimes even go out of my way to show others
that I appreciate them.

*not all stories were mentioned in the Reflected Best Self Portrait
 Ortalo-Magné 16

Enablers and blockers:

Personal Theme Explanation

My drive to succeed and achieve my goals motivates me and allows me to
Enabler Determination persevere.
My ability to plan, make to do lists, and schedule my time iproves the efficiency
Organized of my work.
I tell things as they are and I am honest in the way in which I approach others
Candor and express my ideas.
My tendency to do my best work in all that I do can lead to an inefficient use of
Blocker Hard Work my time.
Similary to my hard working nature, perfectionism may lead me to do much
Perfectionism more work than is necessary.
Independence In some situations, my independence causes me to not want or accept help.

Relational Theme Explanation

Enabler Close friendships The friends that I care about are also there for me when I need support.
I am able to relate to those around me and understand where they are coming
Sympathy from.
I tend to prefer a small number of friends. However, this can cause me to isolate
myself or not branch out to new people as much as I should. (Smaller, not
Blocker Small social circle diverse network)
I am not tolerant of those who are insincere and dishonest, and do not try hard
Impatience to hide these emotions.

Situational Theme Explanation

Enabler Independence I work best when I am by myself or with one other or two others.
Challenging and I do not work well with boredom or going through the motions of work. I am at
Interesting Environment my best in situations which require the use of my brain.
Outdoors Consistent with my passion, I do some of my best thinking while being outside.
In teams, I tend to try and lead, and this usually creates more stress than is
necessary. I also get lost if the process is not organized and I am annoyed by
Blocker Large groups superficial or by "good enough" work.
I do not like being asked to do shallow work without time to understand it in
Deadlines depth.

Action Plan:
Days
Finish long term assignments
Goal:
(due Dec 1) before Thanksgiving
Work hard at the homework and
Being my Best Self studying that I need to
accomplish
Perseverance (theme), Hard
Traits/Enablers/Blockers Working (trait), Determination
(enabler)
I will not give in to stress or
Making my Best Self work myself too hard, but
better instead, plan for time to relax in
order to work more efficiently.
Hard work (blocker),
Traits/Enablers/Blockers
organization (enabler)
Weeks
Find a church and supportive
community while remaining
focused on studies
Persevere through the studying
and finals that are approaching
while remaining focused on
what is important to me
Perseverance (theme), Focus
(trait),
Reach out to others for support
and form a study group.
Embrace finals as an
opportunity to expand your
network.
Small network (blocker),
Sympathy (enabler), Challenging Perfectionism (blocker), Hard
Environment (enabler)
Ortalo-Magné 17
Months Years
Pursue an education that
Create a balance between
differentiates me from other
relaxation and school
job candidates
Plan the time I will dedicate to Participate in the ESCP Paris
working hard and incorporate Masters in Management
exercise and ultimate into my Program, and work hard to
schediule. get into it.
Planning (enabler), Open-
Focus (trait), Hard Working
Minded (trait), Hard Working
(trait), Planning (enabler),
(trait)
Remain focused on school and
Demonstrate resilience and
on my goals throughout the
courage in the face of
breaks that are approaching and
challenges such as living in a
use this as a time to explore
new country and make new
activities with no deadlines or
connections.
tangible outcomes (knitting!)
Resilience and Courage
Deadlines (blocker),
(trait), Challenging
Environment (enabler), Small
Working (trait & blocker)
Social Circle (blocker)