My Secret Sauce

5 ways that I think I have human capital that sets me apart:

1. I am super friendly and social. I rarely meet someone without leaving with a new friend or acquaintance. I have a tendency to make people feel at ease around me.
2. I care. I genuinely care about people.  I really care about children. My business would be about the children, I would care for them like I do my own child.
3. I am loyal. Once I reach a certain level of friendship or business relationship with someone, I am fiercely loyal.
4. I take no crap. I am firm, but fair.
5. I tend to have a different perspective of things. I try to be a decent human and not be selfish all the time. I think that selfishness is human nature, but I really try to take a step back and understand the situation and do what's best for the whole, not just myself.

I interviewed 5 people who know me the best, who have been with me through the good, the bad and the ugly. My interviewees are as follows:

• My best friend, Kristi. She knows me better than I know myself. We have been friends for almost 25 years. 
• My friend Dayna. We have known each other for over 10 years, but have become much closer in the last 5-6 years.
• My friend Tamara. We have been friends a little over 4 years. We met, instantly clicked and have been thick as thieves since.
• My Dad. He has been there for almost 38 years. We got much closer after my mom passed. I think he knows me pretty well. 
• My Aunt Carol. She, too, has been there for almost 38 years. She is the only family member that I have stayed in contact with throughout my life and I once lived with her. I think she knows me pretty well too.  

There really was no difference in what they had to say about me and what I thought about myself. I think that I have been blessed to go through trials in life and survive them. I am able to take a step back and see who I really am and see my worth. I am pleased to see that I have a pretty spot on sense of self. It didn't make it to the recording, but Tamara stated that I "have been refined by fire." It took 38 years, 3 states, 3 colleges, 20 years of working full time, one child, an impending divorce, salvation and a whole lot of sh!t in between to see who I really am and I kinda like me.  

The general consensus is that I'm a pretty alright person. Every single one of them said that they enjoy being around me because of my personality and humor. Kristi and my Aunt Carol touched on some things from the emotional category that others didn't, I can get angry and can be fierce when pushed too much. They are right. I feel that I give people ample opportunity to redeem themselves or their behaviors, but I am a firm believer in 3 strikes. Kristi also touched on my knowledge of the law, which is good to have in any business situation.  I think that everyone said pretty much the same thing, that I have diverse knowledge, am helpful, cheerful and am all around pretty happy person.

I think the funniest part of this assignment was talking to people about my emotions. Dayna busted out laughing saying that I can get overly invested in things emotionally and Tamara did too, to an extent, although Tamara feels that I am more guarded with my emotions.  Clearly, Aunt Carol, Daddy and Kristi have seen me get upset over things and know where my boundaries lie. I guess that is to be expected since I have been around them the longest.