high idea productivity
This week, I revisited my results from the Highland Ability Battery Assessment I took in 2018. This assessment tool objectively measures 14 cognitive abilities, 3 personal style characteristics, and 1 skill. There are 19 timed, performance-based work samples producing "data" about natural abilities [hence the "ability" in the title]. In my case, I am referencing it to make decisions on what type of work I should choose, what role I feel comfortable in, how I problem solve in a work setting.
Before taking the assessment, I was very frustrated. There was no path set out for me. I had parent's who didn't encourage a certain direction [and I wouldn't have listened to them anyway since I am very adamant about making my own mistakes and choices, especially now that I am an existentialist], no mentor to listen to.
I started listening to people online around 23. I didn't even have a smartphone before that. I spent more time consuming religious books then learning about peoples' career and life choices. I simply made choices based on my experience, without anyone telling me there was an easier way.
I was applying to local jobs after high school because that's the only thing I knew. Then I stayed with my uncle in Los Angeles for 4 months, working catering at his restaurant, because of his suggestion.
I started taking initiative by enrolling myself in a casual ballet class and a French class downtown. I did that because I remembered my experience learning French in high school [how good I felt!] and I've always had an interest in ballet.
I took the assessment and became a Highlands client after having gone through college and a few other jobs, after crying about why I felt so different, after feeling so stupid in certain subjects while others appeared to "get it." I remember crying after aristotelean logic and euclidean geometry class because, as I will write about later, logic and math is not something I am strong in. And I am glad about that! But at the time, I absolutely beat myself up.
The results are framed as percentiles [compared with the results of others], resulting in the test being objective. If one has a high score compared with others, then it is considered a strong ability.
One of the elements I score high in is called "high idea productivity." It measures the rate and quantity of ideas, not their quality. Generating a large quantity of ideas helps me in problem-solving and overcoming objections or when I am persuading someone of my point of view. Any role where this is one of the main parts of my job I will be good in.
Roles which encourage the rapid production of new ideas [friendly to more fast-paced, open, and free-flowing work environments] will also be smart to apply to. Possible startup? I don't know. But absolutely one that is more innovative. Any role where the main parts of the job involve brainstorming, writing, persuading, selling, planning, problem-solving, and adjusting to new concepts! I can also generate ideas for others and aid in discussions about them.
By the way, I would love for my network to come to me asking for ideas. And I get excited at the thought of giving ideas to a company.
Also, roles that need imagination. Examples of these are ads, sales, performing, comedy, writing, teaching.
Producing ideas and influencing people with these ideas is the main concept here.
Maybe some of my readers have noticed that I don't communicate in such a structured way. I will communicate different ideas that appear unrelated. Start an open loop and never close it. Or come back to it after a while.
My favorite professors in college actually started a lot of tangents in our class discussions. His class was a lot more free-flowing, more philosophical and abstract!
Routine is also difficult for me, starting a task/project at a specific time. Idea Productivity has to do with how we self-manage multiple tasks and projects. So I schedule it for a phase in the day; morning, afternoon, or evening. I do my tasks in the morning, take a long break in the afternoon, then continue. Most days.
It also impacts my comfort level in maintaining focus. Paying attention to small details for a long period of time? No thank you. This is difficult for me. So I have to pay attention to a task/project in short bursts, unless I'm really interested. Anything longer intimidates me. During that task/study/work session, I'm probably having ideas in the back of my mind anyway which causes fatigue. That's why I need a break.
There's a rapid stream of ideas I experience and choosing which ideas to focus on, which take priority, is very hard. Through journaling, taking audio notes, consulting others, and asking myself what my virtual mentors would do, I can hone down on which ideas are worth executing. It's become easier with time.
To me, this characteristic is more indicative of a person on the extroverted end of the spectrum. As I mentioned before, I scored 95% in introversion, the same percentage as what I scored for high idea productivity. So I do experience an intriguing dynamic. Being more introverted, I favor time to process changes in a work environment [but still wanting those changes], it makes me a more intimate communicator as my attention is more focused [not so much on details, but on concepts and ideas discussed with others].
It also causes me to be bored with repetitive tasks, perhaps something more comfortable for introverts. Being an introvert, I'm naturally more independent and need to take breaks from these areas that are still easy for me; persuading, influencing, and idea generation.
Almost every day, I do an exercise from one of my virtual mentors, James Altucher, who encourages everyone to write ten ideas a day, about anything. This is a very easy task for me.
I'm very grateful.