Category: MyInsights

  • Personality Matrix

    Personality Matrix

    Introduction

    Understanding personalities is key to a long work career. Here is a matrix I came across and found it to be accurate & true. Once, you can categorize a person you can then better understand their decision making. This may help you in avoiding pitfalls when conflict arises.

    Be aware that most people are a blend of two or more categories. However, one category is always dominate. So they may some traits listed below.

    Also, not all experts agree that the identified traits are exclusive to each category. So take it with a grain of salt.

    4 square matrix

    Analytical

    Pro: Technical, task driven, avoids mistakes.

    Con: Not able to commit, slow, indecisive, needs to be right. not able to communicate well, avoids others, does not volunteer data or results.

    How to handle: Be clear and specific, don’t rush them, offer a solution they can evaluate step by step, & avoid yelling at them (emotional outbursts).

    Driver

    Pro: Results driven, prefers facts & data, likes to takes charge, appreciates quick decision-making.

    Con: Impulsive (Does not consider all the facts), likes control, get it done at any costs, not concerned if data is correct.

    How to handle: Be confident in your answers, get to the point, & present a clear and actionable plan.

    Amiable

    Pro: Gets along w everyone, wants to be liked, dislikes conflict, team player, supportive, prioritize relationships.

    Con: Will lie when necessary, less assertive, unable to make decisions, can not say no.

    How to handle: Reassure them that resolving the issue will not damage the relationship, encourage them to share their opinion, & emphasize the team and working together.

    Expressive

    Pro: Works quickly, persuasive, ambitious, social, high energy, likes new ideas.

    Con: Talkative, exaggerates, attacks others, poor at planning, likes to be recognized, somewhat disorganized, dominates conversations, can be superficial and place image over substance.

    How to handle: Actively listen to what they are saying, let them get a little emotional (helps prevent an increase in conflict), avoid being too blunt (they take criticism personally), & maintain a positive attitude (they like that).

  • Practical Communication Tips for Men

    Effective Speaking for Men in Relationships

    I do not believe that communication is the key to maintaining a healthy long term relationships with a woman. This is because woman do not attempt to convey actual information when having a conversation. Instead, their motive is seeking sympathy or asking for assistance. Basically, most women do not talk TO men, they talk AT men.

    If a woman is speaking in a calm manner, and detailing some minor issue, they are not looking for you to “solve” their problem. They do not want logic based advice or tips on “how to fix” the issue. They just want: reassurance that they are not wrong; confirmation they are not a bad person; and reinforcement that (gosh darn it) people like them. A women craves constant affirmation.

    Your only job is to remain calm, listen, and provide them with positive feedback. Here are some comments I use on a regular basis to provide my wife with assurance.

    • You deserve better …
    • I can not believe they treated you that way …
    • What you are asking is not unreasonable …
    • You are so brave …

    These comments are particularly well suited for conversations that I am not paying attention too. But, they can also be dropped into any conversation.

    If a women is yelling, deflecting responsibility, talking in circles, or explaining in mind numbing details, then it is a more serious matter. Under these terms, what a women wants is for the man to assume full responsibility for the situation and fix the problem. However, she still wants to retain the right to veto any potential actions. She reserves this right in case the solution makes her look bad. In other words, you have to fix the issue, while pretending you are not actually fixing the issue (and also, maybe giving her the credit).

    You can make comments, along the lines of:

    • Don’t worry WE will figure this out together …
    • WE will ask [ third party ], if they have an answer …
    • WE will solve this tomorrow …

    I hope this article provides readers with a keen insight into how to effectively communicate with a woman. By listening, providing positive affirmation, and taking over responsibility when necessary (to bail her out of what ever situation she got herself in). You will have a long and happy relationship.

    Cheers!

  • How to Command Respect from Others

    I saw a YouTube video on a Russian Mafia Don and he stated how to command respect from others. You have to follow a few simple rules. I liked the advice so much I am reproducing it here.

    Do not divide your attention, focus, look the person in the eye.

    Make decisions and stick to them.

    Listen first, speak second.

    Speak slowly.

  • Cincinnati & Hamilton County Parks

    Introduction

    This project is about visiting all the the parks in Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH. It is intended as a quick reference for users and they can see if a specific park is worth their time.

    Details of the parks can be found at Great Parks and Cincinnati Parks respectively. I have color coded each park based on my own evaluation. Red means you can skip it, green is a favorable recommendation, and finally orange is neutral.

    Hamilton County Parks

    • Otto Armleder Memorial Park & Recreation Complex – Smooth flat paved bike\walk trail, 1.8 mi.
    • Campbell Lakes Preserve
    • Embshoff Woods
    • Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve – 23 acres of woods, paved walking trail. No bikes.
    • Fernbank Park -1.4 miles of flat newly paved walking trails in Saylor Park along the Ohio river, no bikes.
    • Francis Recreation
    • Glenwood gardens
    • Lake Isabella – No walking or biking, fishing, camping, picnics, boat rental available.
    • Little Miami Golf Center
    • Miami Whitewater Forest – a 1.9mi and 10 mi paved loops for biking or walking, frisbee golf, kids area.
    • Mitchell Memorial Forest
    • Sharon Woods
    • Shawnee Lookout
    • Triple Creek
    • Winton Woods – Bike and walking paths, kids area, camping.
    • Withrow Nature Preserve
    • Woodland Mound

    Cincinnati Parks

    • Alms Park
    • Geier Esplanade
    • Annwood Park
    • Hyde Park Square – Not a real park
    • Ault Park
    • Kennedy Heights Park
    • Bettman Nature Preserve
    • Larz Anderson Park
    • California Woods Nature Preserve
    • Owls Nest Park
    • Daniel Drake Park
    • Pioneer Cemetery
    • French Park
    • Stanbery Park
    • Buttercup Valley
    • Mt. Airy Forest – Off road biking and walking trails, very steep. Frisbee golf.
    • Mt. Echo Park – No biking or walking trails. Just overlooks City. Heard it can be dangerous after dark.
    • Olden View Park
    • Parkers Woods
    • Glenway Woods
    • Rapid Run Park – Small park, biking and walking, large hill and ice pond for sledding, picnics .
    • Hoffner Park
    • LaBoiteaux Woods
    • Wilson Commons
    • McEvoy Park
    • Avon Woods
    • Hopkins Park
    • Bellevue Park
    • Inwood Park
    • Burnet Woods
    • Laurel Park
    • Caldwell Nature Preserve
    • Lytle Park
    • Eden Park
    • Mt. Storm Park
    • Fairview Park
    • Piatt Park
    • Fleischmann Gardens
    • Rawson Woods Nature Preserve
    • Hauck Botanical Gardens
    • Washington Park
    • Smale Riverfront Park
    • Sawyer Point & Yeatman’s Cove.
    • Magrish Preserve
    • Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park

  • Success in the Workplace

    Brian Dunn, Director of Marketing of Western Southern Life Insurance was the keynote speaker at a lunch I attended. He spoke about achieving lifelong success in the workplace. Although, I had long believed in the concepts, he was able put the ideas into words. I have taken some of what he said about understanding yourself and achieving a successful career, put them in my own words, and modified them to fit my own life philosophy.

    1. Understand what really motivates you. (more money, free time, paid time off, etc).
    2. Be prepared to do hard work. (working long hours without immediate payback).
    3. Know what your good at. (and what are your weaknesses). Ask for help when necessary.
    4. Volunteer for more responsibility. (Even if you don’t know anything about the topic).
    5. Learn as much as you can from other people (this will shorten the learning curve of new tasks).
    6. Select a good mentor. (Someone to give good CAREER advice). (A boss or older co-worker).
    7. Learn how to think (You need to be able to problem solve on your own).
    8. Be really good at execution. (Be able to actually get things done and not just talk about it).
    9. Have personal integrity. (Do NOT lie, cheat, or steal. It will always hurt you in the long term). Can People trust you?
    10. Relax. (This is your life, you will always make some money).

  • Simple Rules for Money Management

    When I was a kid, everyone would complained that they had “no money”. I observed that what killed people was the having the stress of “not having money” and not the actual money itself. So, I developed my own a life philosophy at an early age. I knew was never going to be rich and decided that what I truly wanted was not “money”, but to live stress free.

    Most people will make over $2,000,00 in their lifetime. Most people will tell you they have no money. Most people are not realistic and want a Champaign lifestyle on a beer budget. Most people spend money on an endless list of useless things like kids soccer practice, cookies that never get eaten, flowers that never get planted, and fancy out of town vacations. You can not afford it all. You do not get to have it all.

    To get ahead, you must train yourself to not purchase things unless you have the cash. Make no mistake, it is not easy. It is a skill that must be learned. The primary rule is “if you don’t have the cash in your pocket, you can’t have it”. It’s that simple.

    This is a short list of simple rules about money that I was taught, heard about, or learned through the school of hard knocks. They have served me well.

    Grandpa Harry R.’s Rules: “It it not what you make that matters, it is what you save ….”

    1. Get up and go to work everyday!
    2. Have multiple sources of income (work two jobs, buy a rental property, etc.).
    3. Spend less money than what you make (and save the rest).

    Mark’s Rules:

    1. Pay cash for everything you buy. In particular, all small items. Do not use a credit card!
    2. Do not invest in things you do not understand.
    3. Pay yourself first. Before paying any bills, put $100+/paycheck into your emergency or long term accounts.
    4. Have an Emergency Account. Save at least $3000. You will eventually need a new hot water heater or to get your car fixed.
    5. Have a Long Term Account. Start saving for big long term purchases. You will eventually need a new car, or roof on your house. Save $100/month. Even if you can’t buy it outright, you will borrow less because you now have a significant down payment.
    6. Borrow less money. For large purchases (i.e. furniture) If you can’t pay cash outright, ask if 6 months same as cash is available.
    7. Use gift cards when you shop online. Buy a gift card at Kroger’s and get 4x fuel points. Then use the card to shop online. Now, your credit card is not linked to their system.
    8. Diversify. Make sure your money is not in just one bank. Open accounts at different banks & credit unions and ask your employer if they can divide your check and deposit to both.