Personal Narrative: Managing Oneself

When someone asks you, what do you think your strengths are, it is natural for us to try to make ourselves look good, especially if were applying for a job. I have learned while reading the article written by Peter Drucker, “Managing Oneself” that we are often wrong when it comes to what we think our strengths are (1999). For example, I use to believe I had good time management skills, but once I evaluated everything I did and how I used my time I learned that my time management skills were the complete opposite of what I originally thought. I used to say there is just not enough time in the day for me to do everything I wanted to do, yet the fact of the matter was, I was not using the time I did have wisely. While evaluating what I thought …show more content…
I have talked to my mother, my sisters and my closest friends to figure out what strengths they see in me, and surprisingly they all said the same things. They said I was creative, energetic, dependable, strong minded, focused, and a great listener. On the bright side they saw the same characteristics I saw in myself but they also saw more. I could see why friends would think I am a good listener because I can see that in myself. In Managing Oneself, Drucker said you are either a reader or a listener, and very few people are both. I myself consider myself a listener because I always lend an ear to my friends whenever they need it. My friends have called me at 3 o’clock in the morning crying or just needing someone to listen to the things they have going on, and I always find time or make time to listen. Luckily I heard the phone because she was very hurt that night, and I could tell she needed someone to talk to. I was able to listen to the situation, and give her feedback on what I thought. These late night conversations built our relationships and lets them know that I am always here for them when they need it. A strength my mom said I had was that I am energetic. I did not find this surprising considering that I am a very outgoing person. I have also been told that at my job, Cracker Barrel. For example, almost every time I go into work I try to have a …show more content…
I would personally like to turn my weaknesses into strengths. I have had an up and down relationship when it comes to time management, but I would like to improve that. I feel as though I would be much more efficient in the tasks I need to get done, and I would also feel a lot better when it comes to completing those tasks in a timely manner. When I was younger I had the mindset to get all the tasks I needed to get done whether it be homework or projects as soon as it was given to me. I have noticed that as I have gotten older I tend to procrastinate a lot on tasks and in the end get the grade I so desired or not finishing them. I intend to stop procrastinating so often and begin to use my time more wisely. By doing so I would like to make a to do list of all the task I need to get done for each day and check them off as they are completed. I feel as though this would help me complete my tasks in a timely manner. Another weakness I would like to turn into a strength is my organizational skills. At different times is my life I get very disorganized and it seems as though everything around me is disorganized as well. When this happens I find myself on a cleaning spree to try to get everything in one place and get my life together. I want to be able to stay organized so that I don’t ever have to feel disorganized so often. I have begun to organize my school work for each class into a color coded binder. I have also