There are three main parts of humans that can drive us towards success. Those are the personality, our passions, and our specific purpose in life. When one of these three is missing, then what we deem as success is not really so.

As an entrepreneur it is important to remember that God gave us the personality, the passions and the purpose. Now while all of these things can be molded by environment; they can also be re-molded by the power of God.

Take a look at your personality!

Why?

Because God expects you to be YOU from the beginning to the end! To be like anyone else is a slap in the face of God.

Too many times as business owners we try to emulate someone else, forgetting who we are. The fact is that you can never be anyone else but YOU! As much as you try to get around it or fake the reality of who you are, it can only be hidden for so long until you find that it can all come to a screeching halt!

Your personality is a key part of your business because in allowing it shine through your target market can find out what your business is all about. With personality in your business, folks will know more about you as well. Today’s market is not yesterday’s market. People want to know who you are more so than they want to know what you do!

Here is what a few of my Twitter Buddies had to say on personality:

Andrea from femaleswithamission.com

Scott from fatlossquickie.com

Patrysha from coffeetimemarketing.com

Can you see the value of being you when it comes to running your business?

To top that off, if you mix in your passion and your purpose then you have a business that is truly successful. It is not about 6 or 7 figures. Ok well the money is a nice addition. However remember that money should never be the ruling force in the life.

It is about authentic connection and the reality of who you really are. That is what matters in business…

Being authentically YOU and keeping it real while you conduct business.

I read a lot about personality and how it ties in with my life so that I can determine how to use with business. I highly recommend that you read a book on personality and one that I love is Personality Plus: How to Understand Others by Understanding Yourself. I wrote about the book in parts 1 and 2 of the very first Book Club discussion here on Life and Business Integration.

Look for two parts to this series about your personality, your passion, and your purpose and be sure to weigh in on the discussion.

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“I have hid myself for far too long.”

I told myself that about 12 years ago. I had finally decided to work on me and deal with my weaknesses. I knew that I could not be used of God if I did not begin to deal with me. He had so much in store and I was ducking and dodging from what it was.

Growing up I never really felt as if I had much to offer. A turbulent, abusive childhood caused me to create many masks with varying facets to each one. It was like each one was painted with a bunch of colors to hide the pain that resided inside of a tortured mind. The masks helped me to be whoever I needed to be at whatever time I needed to become someone I really wasn’t.

I wasn’t Sybil or anything like that. I was simply scared to share me. I was frightened that revealing myself and exposing the hurt would cause rejection to become to my friend. The masks helped me to integrate into a judgmental society. I thought my weaknesses made me socially undesirable.

My writing became my escape from fiction into reality. When I got tired of the masks I would write, and write; and write some more. Years of pain began to reveal itself through journaling and poetry. Then my journaling began to take on a new look and my poetry changed too. God began to take my weaknesses and use it to His glory. The masks began to peel away, as the years of pain became distant memories.

Where I told God no, He said yes and took my writing to new levels. Writing became my voice and my voice began to reveal who I really was. My personal weaknesses actually became my strengths.

As I began sharing with others what God had given me I became bolder. My voice box actually began to work and these things called words, real words, came out of my mouth. My writing took on new meaning because of how it helped me to open up.

My story became my witness and my life has changed. God took what I thought was unnecessary and created a great necessity.

When I think of life in terms of what God has for me to do, I realize that my personal weaknesses are nothing compared with what happens when you allow God to use you.

We try to hide our true selves from God; yet all along, He knows what lies within each and every single one of us. The good news is that He is willing to help us conquer our weaknesses and be our strength as we break through the yoke that has us bound. He is there to help us remove the masks that have worn us down.

We are covering the book of the month, Personality Plus: How to Understand Others by Understanding Yourself. In part one of the discussion we did a general overview of the personalities, their strengths and weaknesses. Today let’s get a little deeper into the good and bad of each of the personalities.

None of the four personalities can be specifically described as positive or negative, because they each have upsides and downsides. The book makes it clear that the characteristics are for observing and identifying, rather than judging.

In taking a closer look at the four personalities we can get a view of the good and the bad.

• A Choleric is focused on getting things done, but can run rough-shod over others. They are decisive and stubborn.

• A Melancholy is a highly talented person, they have brilliant ideas, although sometimes they can paralyze themselves with over-analysis. Lists and “doing things the right way” are characteristics of this personality type.

• A Sanguine gets on well with people and can get others excited about issues, but cannot always be relied upon to get things done. They love interacting with others and play the role of the entertainer in group interactions. They have a tendency to over-promise and under-deliver.

• A Phlegmatic is neutral – they tend not to actively upset people, but their indifference may frustrate people. They try not to make decisions, and generally go for the status quo. They care about people and harmony.

As you read through each of the personalities did you see yourself. What good parts did you see? What about the bad?

In business we have to be very careful how we behave and I guess you could say the same about life as well. This is why tapping into your personality is so very important. When you don’t get YOU, no one else will. You may risk being taken the wrong way, causing harm to your reputation or worse.

Knowing how you tick is important. Wouldn’t you agree?

Here are today’s questions:

1. Can you see your personality in your business?  Why or why not?
2. How do you think God wants us to use our personality in the business setting?

Today I want to encourage those of you reading this who have not picked up Personality Plus: How to Understand Others by Understanding Yourself to get a copy today. It is a great reference tool and a good way your personality as is pertains to business and your life overall.

Looking forward to reading your comments.

This month’s Integration Book Club Pick is one that will help you discover your personality, how it relates to others and how it can help you in your quest for integration.

While Personality Plus: How to Understand Others by Understanding Yourself is not a business book, it can help you find a way to connect with your market in a more unique way. Knowing your personality is also to valuable in life. Your personality is who you are. If you get that then you can design a lifestyle that fits who you are.

Over the next couple of weeks, we will talk more in depth about Personality Plus, our personalities and integrated balance.

If you are on the Integration Weekly subscriber list then you received this month’s discussion material. If not then I suggest you sign up for the ezine because that is how you get a hold the discussion material for the book of the month.

Today I think the best way to start is to actually talk about the assessment you took.

What did you think of what personality assessment revealed about you? Was it you? Were you surprised? How did it help you?

For those who did not get the discussion guide or the profile descriptions, here are the type of personality discussed in Florence’s book:

The ‘Personality Plus’ personality profiles

• Choleric: This is the commander-type. Cholerics are dominant, strong, decisive, stubborn and even arrogant.

• Melancholy: This is the mental-type. Their typical behavior involves thinking, assessing, making lists, evaluating the positives and negatives, and general analysis of facts.

• Sanguine: This is the social-type. They enjoy fun, socializing, chatting, telling stories – and are fond of promising the world, because that’s the friendly thing to do.

• Phlegmatic: This is the flat-type. They are easy going, laid back, nonchalant, unexcitable and relaxed. Desiring a peaceful environment above all else

Each personality has its strengths and weaknesses and Personality Plus covers each of these points very well. I know some people who relish in their weaknesses, seeing it as more of a way to be a bully, or lazy, or depressed based on their personality type. However, this should not be.

For the Faith-filled business owner, the goal should be to work out those weaknesses and to draw on the strengths of your personality. There is never an excuse for mediocrity in the life of a Child of God. To enjoy using the weak parts of your personality to manipulate, or find reason not to do something, is simply unacceptable.

Let’s explore this a little further.

Do you think that the weak parts of you should shine through in your business? Why or why not?

What are the dangers of using those weaknesses in the wrong way in business?

How do you use your strengths?

I cannot wait to see what you have to say about today’s book club discussion!

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Communication is a Key Factor in Influencing

In part one of the series on influencing like Christ we talked about leading by example. Were you encouraged to be more like Christ when it comes to influencing other in your business?

Now comes on of my favorite strategies: Communication. What you say and how you say it is of utmost importance when influencing others.

If you’re condescending or condemning in your speech, others will see you as haughty, arrogant and egotistical. Most likely, they’ll steer away from you. However, when you’re uplifting, encouraging and genuine, others tend to listen and heed what you say.

Christ was a natural encourager and His agenda was well known. He was tactful and honest in His approach. While He said what needed to be said, He was sure to use the right words at the appropriate time to get the point across.

One way to speak in an encouraging tone is to use your voice as if you’re at dinner with your parents. You most likely wouldn’t be harsh or rude when speaking to them; nor would you speak down to them with a condescending tone. You’d use a calm tone of voice and speak pleasantly.

Think of it as using your “salt and pepper” voice. When you ask someone to pass the salt and pepper, are you rude, demanding or harsh? Not likely. You’re probably soft spoken, with a lilt in your voice, which influences the person to immediately pass the salt and pepper to you.

Jesus said that we are the salt of the world. That means that our speech must be such that is respectable, loving, and with a great deal of tact. Salt makes things taste better but a lock or over abundance of it leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

Keep it balanced and tactful when you communicate with others in business. Just because you may be the boss or have your own business does not give you the right to speak in any manner you feel necessary. Be prayerful in your approach and speak as led.

A good example of Christ’s tactful communication skills can be found in John 4. He spoke to the woman at the well with that witnessed to the core of who she was without judging or putting her down. She left feeling overjoyed with the encounter and brought more people to Jesus to hear the Good News He had to share.

Can you imagine the growth of your business if you spoke in the same manner to those you are trying to influence?

The final part of this series will be about being authoritative and not tyrant in your efforts to influence others. I look forward to hearing from you about this subject?

How do you feel about the power of influence as Christ demonstrated?

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In trying to adjust your life to find more balance you will discover that knowing your designed path is a necessary part of the adjustment.

This past week I gave a free session to a client who was stuck. She knew that God was calling her to something but had no idea what it was. She felt confused and like her life was in limbo. It is a common scenario and one that many of us go through. Especially when we have a life that already seems so imbalanced and out of whack.

As I talked to her I began asking questions like….

• When do you feel most alive?
• What types of things do you like to do?
• Are you willing to let go of what you need to in order to move forward with the work God has for you?
• What are your spiritual gifts?
• What are you passionate about?
• What is your personality type?

As I was asking the questions she realized that there was  lot she did not know about herself. What a revelation!

Many of us are stuck in the mode that are roles in life make us who we are. That is not true. The fact is that who we are is based on our characteristics which in essence is your personality – the core of your being.  The uniqueness inside of you, that very thing that makes you different is who you are.

The talents and skills that you have are usually an extension of your personality.

Knowing your spiritual gifts, if you are a believer, will also help to open your eyes as to who you are in Christ. I am still amazed that in this day and time many churches and ministries do not encourage the discovering of Spiritual Gifts. Again, I know this because of the many people I have consulted or spoken with who have no idea what their gifts are.

I can tell you from my experience in discovering mine that once you know what they are you ready to serve in a new way. Knowing your gifts provides a sense of confidence that can only be gained as we get deeper and deeper into our relationship with God.

Here is a homework assignment if you dare.

Being prayerful and honest, take a spiritual gift assessment and a personality quiz and find out a little more about you. Sit down and write down what you discover and how you think God wants to use your personality and gifts to honor Him.

Consider the following questions as you do this assignment:

• How does he want you to find balance by using what you have and not what you want to have?
• What are the blessings and benefits of being who you are?
• How can you serve others with your uniqueness?

I know this may seem like a lot but trust me, doing work like this is necessary for the change you may seek.

As far as spiritual gifts,I don’t suggest that you take just any assessment that is available. You need to find one that is biblically sound and founded upon the Word and the Word alone. I use the Team Ministry spiritual gift assessment when I am ready to review my own gifts and make sure I am swinging on the right side of the pendulum when it comes to my service and work. It is free and is taken directly from the Word with no added or guessed gifts.

As far as your personality, if you want to take an assessment for that, I love the Personality Plus quiz that you can find online for free as well. While Personality Plus is a book that everyone should read, you can easily find the quiz online. However, if want to get the book, I highly suggest it. As-a-matter-of-fact, Personality Plus is the book of the month for September’s Integrated Book Club discussion.

You can find a free personality quiz based on this book here.  I am a strong choleric! What are you?

I hope that if you are truly searching, that you take the time to follow through with this exercise.  I also hope that you come back here and comment or email me and let me know how it went. We can also set up a free 30 minute consultation. All you have to do is contact me and I will add you to my schedule.

Don’t you think it is time to find out who you really are?

Over the last few months I have been developing my brand. All during this time I reflected and considered many things. What would God have me to do? How will I use it to serve others? How will I use it to glorify God? How will what God has for me fit into the brand I create?

What I have learned has been a blessing. I have discovered that branding comes down to the Three P’s: Personality, Passion, and Purpose. These are things I already use to help me walk my path anyway and I was able to see how they apply to my business as well.

• Personality: Your personality has to be apart of your brand. You can’t pretend to be something you are not and think that others will not notice. Instead take your personality and allow it to flow through all you do.
• Passion: When I speak of passion here, I am not speaking of hobbies or things to do. I am talking about those things that tug at your heart and make you want to take action. Look towards those things to see how your business fits with it. Sometimes our passions don’t fit but often times what we are passionate about can lead to a very lucrative career or business.
• Purpose: Whatever your purpose is, it cannot be separated from what you are doing. When God shows you your purpose, it has to melt with your passion and personality so that you walk the right path towards what God has for you. He wants you to succeed, that is why He gave you the purpose. He knows the plans He has for you and they are prosperous and for His glory.

Maybe you are reading this and wondering what is has to do with your life or your business. In finding an authentic approach to life, it also fits for your business. Your authentic self will help your business grow and thrive. I know this from my own experience. The more I put “Me” in the mix without going overboard, the more my business grew by leaps and bounds and my life was enhanced as well. The more I let “Me” shine through the more balanced my own life was.

Taking the time to allow the Three P’s to meet and get to know one another has given me insight, focus, and value where my business is concerned.

I have been using the Three P’s system consistently for over a year now and it works, it really does!

What are your thoughts on the Three P’s of Branding? Do you think that personality, passion, and purpose have a place in business? How does this post relate to you?