Making people and ideas findable
Are you a Magnet or a Flashlight?
A magnet attracts and a flashlight finds, right? Same with people for the most part.
This is a little different way of thinking about extrovert/introvert or if you are a "quick start" or have "Ideation" or "Woo" as your top strength.
I think knowing if you are primarily a magnet or flashlight helps create clarity personally and professionally.
In my observation, magnets tend to be "idea" people, flashlights tend to be "biz dev" people.
A healthy company has a mix of magnets and flashlights.
A good magnet will attract quality people and opportunities. They aren't really shy about what they are doing but they may not be as comfortable or interested in actively finding talent or opportunities as others. Their energy is best spent developing ideas. Often a magnet attracts flashlights that are seeking to work with the best.
A flashlight isn't comfortable waiting for opportunities or people to find them. They are constantly searching for the next big thing. Often they uncover "gems" which others overlook.
Sometimes being a magnet is frustrating. Why aren't people noticing me? Don't they know I have a great idea? The challenge in business is to pair a magnet with a flashlight that can spread the news.
A flashlight will often suffer from burnout. For every gem they uncover there may be a dozen or hundred false leads along the way. But they can run on little to no fuel for days inbetween conquests. Magnets run a little more evenly. The sense of accomplishment they feel is more like a drip than a rush.
Obviously most of us are a mix of these two things but I have realized personally that being a magnet is more who I am at my core. My challenge is being patient and letting the right people and opportunities come to me.
Becoming more comfortable with how you interact with others creates a great foundation for professional growth. That confidence in knowing who you are will eventually create the success you are seeking.
So am I totally full of it? Is there something to this idea?
Comment
-
Comment by Justin Bryant on July 10, 2009 at 6:03pm - Jeb, I consider myself a magnetic flashlight. However, I can't find my batteries!
-
Comment by Jeb Banner on July 9, 2009 at 9:46am - Thanks for the feedback! I like the inclusion of Vacuum as a type of person you run into. Very true. I think many times these vacuums have no self awareness about their suckiness (pun intended). The problem is you don't want to be rude but you do need to avoid wasting time as much time as possible. The worst is getting stuck in a one on one lunch meeting with one and there is no escape. I try to screen for this after having a few bad experiences.
-
Comment by Genie Goykhberg on July 8, 2009 at 2:15pm -
There are ways to handle Energy Vampires, Henry (you call them vacuums).
Abdominal Breathing will provide you enough of grounding when you deal with them and make sure you are smiling (even if you have to fake it).
They can only drain you when you are irritated and frustrated. Not necessary with them - might very well be with yourself that you got in their trap again.
A good phrase to knock them out with is to ask "Well... Tell me what kind of good things happened to you today?"
While they will be puzzled and thinking you can escape :D
I am both: a magnet and a flashlight.
-
Comment by Henry Kurkowski on July 8, 2009 at 1:58pm -
Great observations! and I agree that you have a magnetic personality!
The only thing I would add is the beware of the vacuums! Vacuums are those who literally just suck the life out of any situation because they are too needy and desire too much personal attention.
The vacuums need to be hand held through the execution of things, have things explained over to them in different ways so that they better comprehend. There can be vacuums as co-workers, but there can also be clients that are vacuums and they make a great argument for ‘firing a client”.
Groups
-
Rainmakers Techmakers
49 members
-
Smoosiers Impact Michiana
10 members
-
Indiana Real Estate Conn…
45 members
-
Indiana Photography
162 members
-
Be Indypendent
53 members
Forum
Whole Beef Tenderloin deals?
Started by Michael J Dukehart, II in Questions and Answers 1 hour ago.
Free Nutcracker Tickets from IBC 3 Replies
Started by Elizabeth Audet in Events for the creative class. Last reply by Elizabeth Audet 12 hours ago.
Boobs-N-Business 106 Replies
Started by Annie Sever-Dimitri in Questions and Answers. Last reply by Ted Myers 13 hours ago.
What to Put in a Portfolio? 1 Reply
Started by Steph Woodward in Questions and Answers. Last reply by PK Koduri 14 hours ago.
Holiday festive fun in Indy 6 Replies
Started by Justin Brady in Non Profit: events, news, ideas. Last reply by Tracey Rollison 14 hours ago.
So Google has real time results. Does this really change everything? 2 Replies
Started by Pat Coyle in Technology. Last reply by Sara Croft 17 hours ago.
WOULD LOVE TO NETWORK
Started by Carl Vigliarolo in Classifieds - Help Wanted 19 hours ago.
Do you have a story about R L Stevens? 5 Replies
Started by Amy Stark in Classifieds - Help Wanted. Last reply by Amy Stark 22 hours ago.
Iranian Governement Shuts Down Internet, but how? Why? 2 Replies
Started by Pat Coyle in Politics. Last reply by Marita Topmiller 1 day ago.
New Client Needs Help With Logo Decision 24 Replies
Started by Will Hardison in Questions and Answers. Last reply by Marita Topmiller 1 day ago.
About
Help
1. Please use your real name (first and last) when you sign up, or we cannot open your account
2. Please do not use logos or commercial images for your profile photo
3. Events should be posted in the events calendar
4. You can post pretty much anything you want on your own personal page (self promotion, etc), and you can change the style of your personal profile page to reflect your corporate identification if you so choose.
5. Please keep all comments civil and polite. It's OK to feel strongly about a subject, and it's OK to be critical of ideas, but please refrain from personal attacks of any kind.
If you witness or experience any issues, please contact admin@smallerindiana.com and we will look into the matter.
6. Smaller Indiana is supported by its members, and by corporate sponsors. If you're interested in learning more about sponsorship, please call Pat Coyle at 317 332 7878.
© 2009 Created by Pat Coyle
You need to be a member of Smaller Indiana to add comments!
Join this Ning Network