What Makes You Different?

Zoe Samuel

Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

No two people are the same. Depending on where one comes from, what one does for a living, and one's cultural or religious background, a person's strengths, tastes, and state of mind can vary. This is why humanity has been so successful. People who totally focused on a single endeavor, like physics or art, are the reason that we can enjoy art like the Sistine Chapel ceiling or fly into outer space. There are no unimportant people, only people whose importance is not yet understood.

Your childhood, education, religion, and life experience not only provide you with tools but also motives. That combination drives you to do all the things you do, and contribute to the world in a way only you are capable of. Then, of course, there are the gifts of nature. There are certain aspects of humanity that we inherit, like our affinity for math, or painting, or basketball. These gifts can be embraced or cast aside, and sometimes the latter is for the best, as many great humans abandoned one calling for another for which they are well known.

So what sets you apart? Where are you from that gave you your start in life? What gifts lie locked in your DNA? What unique skills did your education impart? What is the thing that makes you special?

How did you goof off in class when you were in high school?

I'd draw comic book characters.

I'd do my homework.
I didn't goof off.

I'd pass notes.

What did you want to study when you got to college?

Theater

Computers
Philosophy

Communications

Did your fellow students call you a nerd?

No, I was the one calling people nerds.

Yeah, I was a total nerd.
Maybe. I wasn't paying attention.

No one would dare talk about me like that. They'd get it in the neck.

What after school activities were you into?

I took painting classes.

I was a mathlete.
I was on the baseball team.

I would hang out with my friends in the park.

Were you popular in school?

I hung with the misfits.

Nope.
My popularity was relative to my performance in sports.

Yes, very much so.

What activity did you get the most out of in college?

history classes

philosophy classes
the football team

networking events

What got you a job when you graduated from college?

I had a senior show.

I developed a cool piece of software.
I had excellent grades.

I knew people.

What field do you work in?

media

STEM
business

management

Which hobby is closest to one you have?

improv

magic
bowling

brunch

Do you do your own taxes?

No, I hire a big tax firm.

Yes, I do them. It's easy.
I make it easy for my accountant by keeping all my receipts.

I know a guy.

Can you stick to a budget?

Heavens, no.

If I make the budget, I can make it work.
I can stick to any budget.

Are you sure we can't fudge that budget a little?

What is your favorite current hobby?

painting

sudoku
blackjack

learning languages

How long have you been doing your favorite hobby?

since I was a child

since I was in junior high school
since college

since yesterday

How would you fix a computer?

I'd go to the Apple store and beg them to fix it.

I'd just read the owner's manual and Google what I don't already know.
I'd learn all the skills needed to fix it.

I'd find the best computer tech available.

Are you any good at telephone interviews?

No, I babble.

No, I tend to lose track of when the other party is paying attention.
I'm okay, but I like to look people in the eye when I talk to them.

I'm the master of the phone interview.

Are you convincing?

If I'm passionate, I can communicate my vision.

If I have all the facts, I can lay them out convincingly.
I always find the best approach, through careful study.

I can be convincing off the cuff.

When the plan goes out the window, can you improvise?

I'm the best at improvisation!

Not well.
I'm prepared to dive in.

I can talk my way through it.

How do you deal with grief?

I find a way to express myself.

I find something new to learn.
I throw myself into my work.

I see a therapist.

How are you at helping other people deal with grief?

I do something to distract them.

I try to figure out what's causing it and if there is anything I can do.
I tell them to get over it.

I let them talk about it.

What are you most worried about day to day?

where my next gig is going to be

the news
my own willpower

how my friends will feel

What gets you upset?

stagnation

chaos
vices

silence

What do you do to relax?

go to the movies

read
study a new skill

hang out with friends

What strength of yours does your circle of friends call on?

I'm full of ideas.

I can see things very clearly.
I don't get distracted easily.

I can advise them on how to pitch things.

Would you intervene if you saw someone being bullied?

I don't know.

I might, I hope.
Yes.

I would say something.

How do you respond if you are pulled over for speeding?

I come up with an excuse.

I come up with a reasonable explanation.
I deny everything.

I sweet talk my way out of it.

How large is your circle of friends?

It's not too big.

It's very small.
It's small but high quality.

It's massive.

Do you have many friends with politics different from yours?

Nope.

I have no idea what their politics are.
Yes, I force myself to look beyond petty politics.

Sure, I have friends from socialists to hard line right wingers.

How much time do you put aside to prepare for changes in the workplace?

Not much. I find ways around, not through change.

I spend a lot of time reading trade publications and planning.
I force myself to learn the new skills, even when I don't want to.

I keep on top of those things by asking the best of the best what they do.

How do you approach your calendar?

It's a mess.

It's carefully organized with room to move things around.
I fill it and stick to it with military precision.

I leave wiggle room in case meetings go long.

How often do you feel overloaded with work?

All the time!

I usually parse out my work so I never feel overloaded.
I buckle down and do it, so I don't feel stressed about it.

Sometimes, if I can't delegate tasks.

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