The Neptune Warrior

I’m on an airplane flying to Seattle to meet with a few vets. The conversations will vary but the focus will be on living to the fullest of their hearts. To pick up what they lost and continue the mission, to shoot for goals, to continue to move forward, to find new paths to communicate with others.

I find I have lost something as well. I have lost my ability to live in my strengths. I lost focus on my own mission. I tried to expand, tried to grow, I tried to over protect. I stopped living in my strengths.

The CliftonStrengths assessment, formerly known as StrengthsFinder, is a tool developed by Gallup to help individuals identify their unique talents and strengths across 34 themes, such as Achiever, Relator, and Strategic. These themes are categorized into four domains: Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building, and Strategic Thinking. Created by Donald O. Clifton and Gallup scientists, CliftonStrengths is based on the philosophy that people excel when they focus on building their strengths rather than overcoming weaknesses.

Key points about CliftonStrengths include:

34 Talent Themes: Identifies specific areas where an individual has the greatest potential to develop strengths.
Development Focus: Encourages enhancing natural talents for personal and professional growth.
Broad Application: Useful in workplaces, personal development, education, and career planning.
Personalized Reports: Provides detailed insights into an individual’s top strengths and how to apply them.
Enhances Team Dynamics: Helps teams leverage diverse strengths for improved collaboration and productivity.

The aim of CliftonStrengths is to promote self-awareness, personal development, and a strengths-based approach to teamwork and leadership, highlighting the benefits of understanding and applying one’s natural talents.

My primary strength is often one of the most misunderstood.

The strength of Significance is often misunderstood, leading to several misconceptions about individuals who possess it. They may be perceived as ego-driven, seeking attention for their own glory, rather than being motivated by a genuine desire to make a meaningful impact. This quest for recognition can also be mistaken for a lack of team orientation or arrogance, with their ambition and high standards misconstrued as not valuing team success or dismissing simpler contributions. Moreover, the true depth of their motivation to leave a legacy and make a difference is frequently overlooked, overshadowed by a focus on the outcomes of recognition and impact. Their need for feedback, essential for measuring their effectiveness and guiding their actions, might be misinterpreted as insecurity or a craving for approval. Additionally, their contribution to innovation is often underestimated, viewed as impractical or risky in environments that favor stability. Finally, their pursuit of recognition can strain relationships if not properly understood, mistakenly suggesting they value achievements over meaningful connections, despite their intentions to foster relationships that affirm their impact.

The Essence of Significance
The Significance theme, as delineated by CliftonStrengths, is characterized by a deep desire to make a meaningful impact. Individuals with Significance in their top strengths strive for goals that not only matter to them personally but also make a difference in the wider world. They are driven by the ambition to be recognized, not for vanity’s sake but as a validation of their efforts to contribute something of lasting value. This drive for recognition, when channeled positively, propels them to achieve excellence, innovate, and lead with vision and purpose.

The Importance of Playing to Your Strengths
Living and working in accordance with our strengths is crucial for several reasons:

Increased Engagement and Productivity: Gallup’s research has consistently shown that individuals who use their strengths daily are more engaged and productive. This alignment fosters a natural inclination towards excellence and innovation, as tasks feel less like obligations and more like extensions of one’s innate talents.

Enhanced Well-being: Positive psychology underscores the link between strengths use and well-being. People who leverage their strengths experience higher levels of happiness and lower levels of stress, contributing to overall better mental and physical health.

Fulfilling Relationships and Team Dynamics: Recognizing and appreciating each other’s strengths leads to improved communication, collaboration, and mutual respect within teams and personal relationships. This appreciation of diverse talents fosters a supportive environment where everyone can thrive.

Significance in Action: Changing the World
The strength of Significance exemplifies the power of living in alignment with our innate talents. Those driven by Significance can serve as catalysts for change, inspiring and leading others towards collective goals that have a meaningful impact. Their quest for recognition is not a selfish endeavor but a reflection of their commitment to achieving something greater than themselves. They motivate teams to strive for higher standards and innovate, ensuring that their work does not just meet expectations but sets new benchmarks for excellence and impact.

However, it’s essential to acknowledge the challenges that can arise when the need for Significance is not met. It can lead to frustration, decreased motivation, and even ethical lapses if not properly managed. Thus, creating environments where individuals feel valued and their contributions recognized is crucial for harnessing the positive power of Significance.

Integrating Strengths into Life and Work
To truly live in our strengths, we must first identify them through assessments like CliftonStrengths and then consciously seek out roles, projects, and environments that align with these innate talents. It involves a continuous process of self-reflection, seeking feedback, and adjusting our paths to ensure that we are leveraging our strengths to their fullest potential. For those with Significance as a top strength, this might mean pursuing leadership roles that allow them to drive meaningful change or engaging in work that promises a lasting impact on their community or beyond.

My Personal Insight

This was painful to reconcile. Its taken hours if not days of breathing bubbles underwater, reading and listening to a mountain of self help books and blogs, talking to a small trusted circle, and time alone.

Incorporating my strength of Significance into my life as a diver and in running a nonprofit to help veterans profoundly shapes my mission and personal fulfillment. This strength isn’t about seeking personal glory for me; it’s about leveraging my passion for diving to make a meaningful difference in the lives of veterans. The desire for recognition drives me, not for accolades, but as validation that my efforts are truly making an impact, motivating me to push forward and expand our reach.

Despite misconceptions, my pursuit of Significance actually enhances team dynamics and leadership. I’m focused not just on uplifting individual veterans but on fostering a sense of community and teamwork among them. My role in leading diving expeditions goes beyond teaching skills; it’s about building confidence and camaraderie, helping veterans find connection and healing.

The ambition tied to Significance propels me to innovate and ensure excellence in our veteran rehabilitation diving programs. I’m constantly seeking ways to improve and expand our offerings, ensuring the highest quality experiences and significant benefits for participants.

My need for feedback is crucial, not a sign of insecurity but a tool for ensuring our program’s effectiveness. By seeking input from veterans and stakeholders, I can adapt our diving programs to better meet their needs, ensuring our efforts have the intended impact.

Far from prioritizing achievements over relationships, my quest for Significance underlines a deep commitment to building meaningful connections with and among veterans. Diving is more than a sport for us; it’s a medium for shared experiences and healing, fostering bonds that support and uplift.

Ultimately, my drive for Significance is about creating a lasting legacy—a world where veterans receive the support and recognition they deserve, with diving as a powerful tool for connection and healing. My work transcends individual accolades, aiming to build a community that uplifts and honors veterans’ service and sacrifices. Living and working in alignment with this strength, I aim to amplify our impact, bringing healing and hope to veterans through the transformative power of diving.

Conclusion
I have to find my way back. I have to figure out how to live from the heart again. I have to shoot a back azimuth to making a difference in the lives of others in a meaningful way like I did before.

The journey towards living a fulfilling life, underscored by the principles of positive psychology and strengths-based development, emphasizes the importance of understanding and utilizing our unique strengths. For those like me with the strength of Significance, the path is marked by a deep-seated desire to make a difference, to be recognized for their contributions, and to leave a legacy that outlasts their time. By embracing our strengths, including Significance, we unlock our potential to lead more productive, engaged, and meaningful lives, contributing our best to the world around us.