I absolutely adore public libraries, and frequently visit Vancouver Public Library’s main branch as well as Burnaby Public Library’s Metrotown branch.  I am sure I have donated my fair share of overdue fees in my years as a patron, and gladly pay for the array of knowledge, laughter, and insight I gleaned.
 
Once in awhile, you truly find a gem, and the book I’m about to share with you is exactly that.  I really wish that every high school student reads this as a part of his curriculum before graduation.  I used to get so frustrated with people in my life when I thought they were pessimistic, slow to act, or just plain stubborn.  But after reading this book, it opened my eyes to the different ways people process information, get motivated, make decisions and see enjoyments.
 
It’s so clear that our personality has a lot to do in determining our career choice, where we live, lifestyle, relationship choice, and how and where we travel!
 
READ on:
Motivation:
1)     Affiliator – person who is motivated by being liked by others
2)     Achiever – person who is motivated by making a dent, or reaching the pinnacle of his/her field
3)     Influencer – person who is fascinated by power and likes to influence others
Carrot and the Stick.  Carrot is the goal; the stick is the negative consequence if you don’t take action. Use both for optimum motivation to get things done.
 
People who are towards a motivation fall under various categories such as Knowledge towards, Object towards, Ideas towards, Systems towards, Feelings towards, Utility towards, Action towards.
 
Susan Quilliam says that personality is inherited as well as a learned behaviour. Your level of self esteem was formed by your surroundings and events in your life. 

These are 7 short term self-esteem boosters:
1)     Treat yourself to something you enjoy
2)     Get a professional makeover
3)     Shift your body language – stand taller, move confidently, keep eye contact, smile a lot!
4)     Buy a pet
5)     Get physical touch – a hug, a massage, mani/pedicure.
6)     Get your loved ones to compliment you genuinely.
7)     Take charge.  Make a decision you’ve put off.
 
These are 3 heavy-duty self-esteem raisers:
1)     Spot your negative talk and change that dialogue to a positive talk
2)     Take in activities that will increase your serotonin-like exercise, take vitamin B, get sunlight, avoid stress, etc.
3)     See a counsellor
 
Optimism vs Pessimism:
We tend to pick up the outlook of our parents.  A study that began in 1953, and that followed a group of college students for 25 years found that optimists live longer, lead more successful lives and are less likely to be ill.
 
Sensation Seeking is the human need for novel, varied, complex and intense experiences, which come in these flavours:
1)     Risk seeking - a tendency to love physical challenge, such as snowboarding, rap-running and freefall base-jumping off Angel Falls.
2)     Novelty seeking - a liking for travel, meeting unusual people, living an unconventional lifestyle.
3)     Boredom avoidance - hating routine in anything and needing a job that is challenging.
4)     Rule breaking - a tendency to drift towards anything forbidden that society has to offer.
If you’re high in one of these categories, you’re likely to be high in another, but not always.
 
In work, the lower you are in sensation seeking, the more likely that you will go for jobs that are quiet, routine, straightforward, undemanding.  The higher you are, the more likely you’ll sign up as a test pilot because the risk is appealing, or as a journalist for the novelty.  And if that doesn’t stretch you, you will unconsciously push yourself too far and too fast, working long hours, loving the adrenalin burst that a really vicious deadline provides.
 
When it comes to inter-personals, the more you seek sensation in the novelty strand, the more likely you are to go for unconventional relationships. And if you’re particularly high on rule breaking, you may accompany those with large doses of illegal substances.
 
When it comes to love, your sensation seeking score determines just how much you’re drawn to emotional intensity, emotional involvement, or just sheer emotional risk.
 
And when it comes to sex, sensation seeking affects whether you’re likely to have a rich fantasy life, want sexual variation, stack up the numbers, and take gambles.
 
This is determined genetically - men are programmed to be more sensation seeking than women.  Sensation seekers tend to like heavy rock music and horror films, usually a key factor in alcohol and smoking addiction.  This is the personality type that most predicts early drug use as well as sex addiction.  Plus, high sensation seekers are more likely to have relationship problems and get divorced.
 
Sensory Bias:
Visual, Auditory and Kinaesthetic.  Consider this when you need to teach, inspire or sell.
 
Time Strategy:
In-time - You live in the moment and often lose track of time.
Through-time - You see time as past, present and future, so always punctual; very aware of time.
 
Time preference:
Past – You love history and tradition, you cannot see the future and have a hard time setting goals.  You may also have problems letting go or recovering from a past trauma.
Present – You forget the past, and don’t announce future events, but live completely in the moment for your peak experience.
Future – You may be a kind of visionary, unrealistic and dreamy.  You live one goal to the other, putting off the here and now. You feel guilty when having fun because your ‘to do’ list is long in your head.  Stop and look around to enjoy your achievements and make your experience of the future more fulfilling.
 
Big Picture vs Details:
Sameness vs Difference - Looking for matching things or the odd thing out?  People who prefer sameness are extremely loyal, whereas people who prefer difference like to try new restaurants, buy new gadgets and use new technology.  If you’re sameness-oriented with a little liking for difference, you typically change jobs every 5-7 years.  If you’re difference-oriented with just a little liking for sameness, you typically move jobs every 2-3 years.  If you’re off the scale difference oriented, you typically get restless and move every six months, even if you like your job.

Believing Style - The majority of people rely that ‘credible’ medium (written evidence, verbal evidence, visual evidence, hands-on evidence) come from a credible source (own judgment, objective proof, a trusted friend, a credible role model).  52% of people would believe if the information were repeated multiple times; 15% never believe anything; and 8% believe with little or almost no evidence.
 
Starter/ Finisher/ A bit of both - Some people are great at starting projects, but can never complete them.  Some people are great at taking over and finishing a project, but could never get a project off the ground at the beginning stages.  Some people are good at both.
 
This book covers many more great insights. Please pick it up and read it for your own awareness.  It’s good for your mental and emotional health, as you will understand yourself better, and knowing these different personalities will help you navigate this complicated journey we call life.