The Tool-Time Girl

At work we have done a manager training/team builder event called DISC several times over the years. Its VERY interesting and has given me great insight into what drives me and the best way to approach the people I manage and work with.

Basically, it's a personality profile and one of the most accurate I have ever seen. I've done the whole color code thing (that one says if you are a Red, Blue, Yellow, or White) before but this one just seems much more accurate and applicable. But that might have something to do with the professional trainers who do the class with us. But I digress.

When doing the test, you chose one out of four words that best describes you and then out of the three remaining words you chose which least describes you. After your done, the results are calculated and you are given a profile. D...I...S...and a C. But it doesn't just tell you one. It gives you a graph of where you fit on all 4 sections. Then your two highest categories (depending on how high and and how low on the graph you are) dictate your profile.

For example: When at work, I used to be a DC. My D was very focused on the results. My C was focused on the tools to get things done. My I was very low because, and this hasn't changed much, I have a hard time getting "personal" in a work environment. I'll come up and say... "You didn't do this right. This is how you should do it from now on." If I had a high I it would be more like "Oh Joan." (Patting her on the shoulder) "How are you doing today? Are you feeling Okay? How is your Mom?"

Well... the last time I took the test I tried to do it more as just "Who I am" all the time, not just at work. I'm in a different position, I've change a lot, I now work from home and with different people... I wanted a more accurate description of ME! It changed some and I was quite surprised.

I am a CD and I have a middle level I (but my C and D are EXTREMELY high). My S is at the very bottom. Maybe thats why I can't remember what S's are like??? lol

Anyways... so to help you understand what this means... it would be more like "Hey, Jane! You sure look nice today. Come check out these cool new organizational boxes I got at the Container Store. You are just going to LOVE them. It's going to change my whole office storage system."

So the whole point to this story... I know, it's been a long time coming. If you made it this far, you deserve a treat. Go get one. I'll wait...

*waiting*

Welcome back.

So, Shane was in training last week and during the conversation the trainer (who is the same guy who does the DISCs with us) says... "So when a C walks into an Organizational Store like the Container Store, thats why their eyes light up and they spend HOURS looking at every shelf."

Shane had a flash back to my time in Denver and my MANY MANY trips to the Container store and suddenly he understood.

There is this corner in our kitchen that is more like a Pile In Waiting instead of a kitchen counter. I don't know why, but this corner is ALWAYS an out of control pile. Until I went to the exciting "Red Store" (you know, the bulls eye) and purchased some organizational items and I cleaned up the corner. It's been clean and organized ever since.

Shane came home from work that day and said "I understand now!! All this time, I've wanted this corner clean and all I needed to do was get you the tools!!"

So today, I asked him to run to the other big box retailer "The Blue Store" and pick up a few things. On my list was a label maker. Lilly will be starting Preschool and Dance soon and all her things need to have a label. He started to ask me why I couldn't just write on them with a marker but then stopped himself. He says, "Never mind. I understand. You need the tools."

He went shopping and came home with my label maker.

He tells me... "I get it now babe. It's the same reason that you have to have special baskets to sort the laundry into before you wash it. You need the tools! That training was SO worth my time if only for the fact that I understand you better now!"

Tell me about it. I am so thankful for that training. Now that he understands me better, I won't have to beg for all the tools I need.