This post is a continuation from yesterday’s post regarding important characteristics and qualities that I look for in team members (and potentially in people in general). This is not a complete and exhaustive list, but still, it does address some important attributes that I look for. So on with it…
Passion for knowledge and a curious mind
I strongly believe in the continuous quest for knowledge, in everything. You only live once so why not spend your time learning about some of the interesting things that this world has to offer? In general I am very curious person and when I want to know how something works I will usually try to figure it out. I have found that people who are curious and passionate to learn more are oftentimes very creative and determined to succeed at whatever is they do. As Steve Job’s once said in a graduation speech “stay hungry, stay foolish.”
Try new things
This may sound silly to some people but actually it’s a quality I look for. This actually goes back a little bit to branching out of your comfort zone. People that are willing to try new things accept that not every thing they new try is going to work (taste good, look good, etc). So why is this important? Well from a marketing standpoint as things continue to evolve and change we need people who are on the forefront of change. We need people who are not afraid to try something new. At first when companies were told to create blogs they laughed, but now look at what’s going on, companies are starting to create blog left and right. We need someone who can do something different, something new, something remarkable. This does not necessarily have to apply to a team member either. When was the last time you tried a new cuisine? ventured to a new place? wore something you would not usually wear? watched something you would not usually watch? You would be surprised to find out how much you can learn about yourself by trying something new.
A sense of humor
I try not to take myself too seriously sometimes, because quite frankly, I like to enjoy myself. Now, this does not mean that I would go ridding around in a clown outfit throughout San Francisco. I get work done, but I have a good time while I’m doing it. Even when things are not always going the way I want them to, I manage to smile and enjoy myself, and that’s because I realize that there is no point in getting down. Have fun and smile, you will improve your quality of life and I’m willing to bet that you will be more productive as well 🙂
Enjoys challenges and obstacles
I love challenges, I love when people tell me I cannot do something, because you know what? I know that I can. This probably comes from my passion for chess. Chess is filed with puzzles, challenges, and obstacles and to overcome them you really need to enjoy the game. Enjoy the game of life, face all of your challenges head on and enjoy them. There is nothing that you cannont overcome and nothing that you cannot do. People who run away from challenges are not bad people, they are just not ones that I would want on my team leading a company. My favorite part of overcoming a challenge is looking back it on it later on and saying, “I did that when people told me that I couldn’t.” Like Nike says, “Just do it.”
There are other characteristics and qualities that I look for as well, but I think this 2 part post covers a lot of the important ones. Keep in mind that this is just my personal preference. I’m sure you look for different things and I’d love to hear what some of them are.
What do you look for in team members (or people in general?)
Thanks for reading
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