Strength 1: Achiever
Andrew Roche’s primary strength is that of an Achiever. This theme helps explain his drive.
Achiever describes a constant need for achievement. He feels as if every day starts at zero. By the end of the day, he must achieve something tangible in order to feel good about himself. And by “every day” he means every single day—workdays, weekends, vacations.
No matter how much he may feel he deserves a day of rest, if the day passes without some form of achievement, no matter how small, he will feel dissatisfied. He has an internal fire burning inside him. It pushes him to do more, to achieve more. After each accomplishment is reached, the fire dwindles for a moment, but very soon it rekindles itself, forcing him toward the next accomplishment.
Andrew’s relentless need for achievement might not be logical. It might not even be focused, but it will always be with him. As an Achiever, you must learn to live with this whisper of discontent. It does have its benefits in that it brings you the energy you need to work long hours without burning out. Furthermore, it is the jolt he can always count on to get him started on new tasks & new challenges. It is the power supply that causes him to set the pace and define the levels of productivity for his workgroup. Lastly, it is the theme that keeps him moving.
Love to Work
Chances are good that he finds the act of work naturally pleasurable. He routinely recharges himself physically as well as mentally by toiling for hours on your tasks, projects, or assignments. By nature, he sometimes concentrates on exceptional levels of your talent, energy, effort, and/or reasoning on certain tasks. Perhaps your good judgment allows you to establish long-term goals that are worthy of your attention.
It’s very likely that he approaches his work-related or academic assignments with a great deal of intensity. Andrew is known for putting in long hours and working hard. Instinctively, he possesses the physical and mental endurance to withstand hardships as well as stress.
Characteristically he works harder and longer than most people are capable of doing. Driven by his talents, he derives much pleasure from honoring and praising individuals, especially when their good results are the fruit of hard work. He regularly goes out of his way to notice their accomplishments, knowledge, skills, or talents. Just having someone notice these contributions encourages many people to use their gifts much more often.
Strength 2: Relator
Relator describes Andrew Roche’s strength and attitude towards forging relationships in the workplace.
In simple terms, the Relator theme pulls him toward people he already knows. Andrew does not necessarily shy away from meeting new people—in fact, he may have other themes that cause him to enjoy the thrill of turning strangers into friends—but he does derive a great deal of pleasure and strength from being around his close friends. He is comfortable with intimacy. Once the initial connection has been made, he deliberately encourages a deepening of the relationship.
He wants to understand their feelings, their goals, their fears, and their dreams; and he wants them to understand yours. He knows that this kind of closeness implies a certain amount of risk—he might be taken advantage of—but he is willing to accept that risk. For Andrew, a relationship has value only if it is genuine. And the only way to know that is to entrust himself to the other people. The more he shares with each other, the more you risk together. The more you risk together, the more each of you proves your caring is genuine. These are your steps toward real friendship, and he takes them willingly.
Openness and Honesty
By nature, Andrew sometimes feels comfortable being open and honest about who you are. He might avoid people who are less than truthful and he may prefer to spend time with individuals who speak as candidly as you do about their strengths, shortcomings, hopes, failures, or successes. Instinctively, Andrew sometimes is honest with you about yourself. He might be candid about your limitations when he is talking with certain individuals. Perhaps he is comfortable admitting his need to do some things better, more completely, or more perfectly. Driven by his talents, he fills his mind with new ideas by asking questions, reading, studying, observing, and listening. Andrew normally accumulates facts, data, stories, examples, or background information from the people he meets. Determining what they want to accomplish in the coming weeks, months, or years generally satisfies your curiosity.
These insights also allow you to understand why individuals behave the way they do in different situations. It’s very likely that you may do some of your best work when you can bring your expertise to a particular enterprise — that is, undertaking. Perhaps you like activities that keep you busy from start to finish. Chances are good that you are comfortable offering suggestions to people who regularly seek your counsel — that is, recommendations about a decision or course of action they are considering. These individuals usually feel a deep affection for you. You are likely to spend time together socializing as well as working or studying.
Strength 3: Learner
Andrew Roche’s third strength is that he enjoys learning as much as possible. The subject matter that interests him most will be determined by his other themes and experiences, but whatever the subject, Andrew will always be drawn to the process of learning. The process, more than the content or the result, is especially exciting for him. He is 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 him.
His excitement leads him to engage in adult learning experiences—yoga or piano lessons or graduate classes. It enables him to thrive in dynamic work environments where he is asked to take on short project assignments and is 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 Learner theme does not necessarily mean that he seeks to become the subject matter expert, or that you are striving for the respect that accompanies a professional or academic credential. The outcome of the learning is less significant than “getting there.”
Driven
Driven by his talents, Andrew now and then yearns to acquire additional knowledge or skills. Perhaps he uses these to do certain things better, more perfectly, or more completely than he has in the past. By nature, Andrew sometimes investigates topics or explore issues to become more knowledgeable. Through ongoing practice, he may acquire additional skills or perfect specific techniques. Maybe a few things please him as much as having mastered a subject that interests you. Instinctively, he possesses the physical and mental endurance needed to spend hours studying, reading, or researching. The more he knows, the more questions he has to ask.
Andrew Roche’s diligence reflects his need to work harder and longer than most people can. He sets lofty goals for himself and relentlessly pursues them. Once he has reached his objective, he directs much of his energy toward a second goal. He is self-motivated. He prefers to push himself rather than relax. Chances are good that he occasionally signs up for rigorous courses of study rather than enroll in easy classes. This might satisfy his need to master things that do not come naturally. Perhaps he trusts that he can handle unpleasant or difficult assignments. Maybe the struggle to expand his knowledge, broaden his skills, conquer his limitations, or fix problems motivates him to welcome academic challenges.
Because of his strengths, he occasionally figures out what factors caused someone to behave in a certain way. Once in a while, he presents evidence that explains why a particular event occurred. Perhaps some people rely on him to help them find reasonable explanations.
Strength 4: Restorative
Another one of Andrew Roche’s strengths is that he simply loves to solve problems. Whereas some are dismayed when they encounter yet another breakdown, he is energized by it. He enjoys the challenge of analyzing the symptoms, identifying what is wrong, and finding the solution. Furthermore, he may prefer practical problems or conceptual ones or personal ones. Andrew may also seek out specific kinds of problems that he has met many times before and that he is confident he can fix. Or he may feel the greatest push when faced with complex and unfamiliar problems.
Andrew’s exact preferences are determined by his other themes and experiences. But what is certain is that he enjoys bringing things back to life. It is a wonderful feeling to identify the undermining factor(s), eradicate them, and restore something to its true glory. Intuitively, Andrew knows that without your intervention, this thing—this machine, this technique, this person, this company—might have ceased to function. Andrew fixed it, resuscitated it, rekindled its vitality. Phrasing it the way he might, he saved it.
Natural Guide & Coach
Chances are good that Andrew sometimes outmaneuvers people. Perhaps he reflects on what he needs to do more completely or perfectly in the future. Instinctively, he now and then takes pride in being a good trainer or instructor. With certain individuals, he is determined to discover better ways to educate them. Perhaps he concentrates their attention on specific areas of knowledge or particular skills. By nature, he sometimes implements self-improvement plans.
Perhaps Andrew takes action when he detects a shortcoming that prevents him from reaching a personal or professional goal. Because of his strengths, he might engage in self-improvement activities once he has identified things he needs to know more about or do better. Perhaps he hopes to minimize some of your shortcomings. It’s very likely that he occasionally lightens loads of others by shouldering part of their burdens. Maybe he is more apt to assist individuals who speak candidly to him about their shortcomings because he feels their comments are helpful rather than harmful.
Strength 5: Deliberative
Andrew Roche’s fifth and final strength is that he is careful, vigilant, and private. He knows that the world is an unpredictable place. Everything may seem in order, but beneath the surface, he senses the many risks. Rather than denying these risks, Andrew draws each one out into the open. Then each risk can be identified, assessed, and ultimately reduced. Thus, he is a fairly serious person who approaches life with a certain reserve. For example, he likes to plan ahead so as to anticipate what might go wrong.
Andrew selects his friends cautiously and keeps his own counsel when the conversation turns to personal matters. He is careful not to give too much praise and recognition, lest it is misconstrued. If some people don’t like him because he is not as effusive as others, then so be it. For Andrew, life is not a popularity contest. Life is something of a minefield. Others can run through it recklessly if they so choose, but he takes a different approach. He identifies the dangers, weighs their relative impact, and then place your feet deliberately. He walks with care and carries a big stick.
No-Nonsense
Instinctively, Andrew might present himself as a no-nonsense person to certain people. Sometimes this perception is amplified when he acquires additional knowledge or skills in his area of specialization. Perhaps this proficiency enhances his ability to perform his job, progress in his studies, pursue his hobbies, or plan his travels. It’s very likely that he offers verbal feedback and positive reinforcement that is equal in measure to people’s accomplishments. Even though he praises sparingly, his words echo in the minds and hearts of recipients. When he compliments individuals, they have no doubt they are truly worthy of recognition.
Chances are good that Andrew sometimes takes time to reflect on what people say, reaching conclusions only after thoughtfully weighing the information, rather than reacting to the moment. His practicality might have a sobering effect on certain types of discussions. Now and then, he intensifies his own or other people’s capacity to consider “the bigger picture.” By nature, he may prefer to have a small circle of close friends with whom he feels safe sharing just about anything. Driven by his talents, Andrew recognizes someone’s accomplishments, strengths, or progress only when he believes the person truly deserves recognition. He is more likely to applaud those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. Simply meeting expectations is not enough to deserve a compliment, in his estimation.
Recap
In conclusion, Andrew Roche’s unique blend of strengths drives his relentless pursuit of achievement and fuels his passion for work. As an Achiever, Andrew’s need for accomplishment keeps him constantly pushing forward, setting the pace for himself and those around him. His Relator strength fosters deep, meaningful relationships, allowing him to connect with others on a genuine level. Andrew’s love for learning keeps him engaged and motivated, always seeking new knowledge and skills. His Restorative nature enables him to tackle problems head-on, bringing things back to life with his solutions. Lastly, his Deliberative approach ensures that he navigates life’s uncertainties with careful consideration and a no-nonsense attitude. Together, these strengths create a dynamic individual who is driven, thoughtful, and deeply connected to both his work and the people around him.