STUART HARPER
Web Developer | HTML | React | Redux | Angular | SQL API's | Physics | Research
"Life is Good ..."
My Strengths
Near the start of 2017, I took the Cliffton Gallup StrengthsFinders test. It takes a list of 34 different business talents and skills and ranks which are your best from greatest to least. The top 5 are given specialized attention as being extremely insightful to who you are and what you bring to a company. Below are the list of my top 5. I hope this helps you get to know me better:
Responsibility
My sense of responsibility forces me to take psychological ownership for anything I commit to, and whether large or small, I feel emotionally bound to follow it through to completion. My good name depends on it. If for some reason I cannot deliver, I automatically start to look for ways to make it up to the other person. Apologies are not enough. Excuses and rationalizations are totally unacceptable. I will not quite be able to live with myself until I have made restitution. This conscientiousness, this near obsession for doing things right, and my impeccable ethics, combine to create my reputation: utterly dependable. When assigning new responsibilities, people tend to look to me first because they know it will get done. When people come to me for help I strive to be selective, because my willingness to volunteer may sometimes lead me to take on more than I should.
Learner
I love to learn. Whatever the subject, you will always be drawn to the process of learning. The process is especially exciting for me. I are energized by the steady and deliberate journey from ignorance to competence. The thrill of the first few facts, the early efforts to recite or practice what you have learned, the growing confidence of a skill mastered—this is the process that entices me. My excitement leads me to engage in adult learning experiences—like meetups, conferences, or online courses. It enables me to thrive in dynamic work environments where I am asked to take on short project assignments and am expected to learn a lot about the new subject matter in a short period of time and then move on to the next one. This does not necessarily mean that I seek to become the subject matter expert, or that I am striving for the honors that accompanies a professional or academic credential. It means more that I am driven to learn what is needed now in my own life and in my job.
Achiever
My Achiever theme helps explain my drive. Achiever describes a constant need for achievement. I feel as if every day starts at zero. By the end of the day I usually must achieve something tangible in order to feel satisfied, by “every day” I mean every single day. I have an internal fire burning inside me. It pushes me to do more, to achieve more. After each accomplishment is reached, the fire dwindles for a moment, but very soon it rekindles itself, forcing me toward the next accomplishment. However, I have learned to live with this whisper of discontent. It does have its benefits. It brings me the energy I need to work long hours without burning out. It is the jolt I can always count on to get me started on new tasks, new challenges. It is the power supply that causes me to set the pace and define the levels of productivity for my work group. It is the theme that keeps me moving. One way I manage this is by by constantly making small goals and then celebrating these achievements
Connectedness
Things happen for a reason. I am sure of it. I am sure of it because in my soul I know that we are all connected. Yes, we are individuals, responsible for our own judgments and in possession of our own free will, but nonetheless we are part of something larger. I gain confidence from knowing that we are not isolated from one another or from the earth and the life on it. This feeling of Connectedness implies certain responsibilities. If we are all part of a larger picture, then we must not harm others because we will be harming ourselves. We must not exploit because we will be exploiting ourselves. My awareness of these responsibilities helps create my value system. I try to be considerate, caring, and accepting. Certain of the unity of humankind, I try to be a bridge builder for people of different cultures. Sensitive to the invisible hand, you can give others comfort that there is a purpose to life. My faith is strong. It sustains me and my close friends in the face of life’s trials. These views for me are highly influenced by my faith in Jesus Christ as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Intellection
I like to think. I like mental activity. I like exercising the “muscles” of my brain, stretching them in multiple directions. This need for mental activity may be focused; for example, you may be trying to solve a problem or develop an idea or understand another person’s feelings. The exact focus will depend on your other strengths. On the other hand, this mental activity may very well lack focus. I am the kind of person who enjoys my time alone because it is my time for musing and reflection. I am introspective. In a sense I am my own best companion, as I pose myself questions and try out answers on myself to see how they sound. This introspection may tend toward more pragmatic matters such as the events of the day or a conversation that I plan to have later, or to more abstract concepts such as higher order coding ideas, algorithms, or theology . Wherever it leads me, this mental hum is one of the constants of my life.