Commentary by Ron Armstrong:
As Consultant Professionals in the areas of personnel, data processing, and finance since 1965 we've
always been interested in what makes people successful in business and in personal relationships. For
some it seems so easy and for others it is difficult at best. We've seen people in companies rise to the
top and then after ten years or so suddenly, they are fired or quit in disgrace. What happen? One minute
they are the fair haired hero who could do no wrong and the next they are the goat. We've seen two
people apply for the same job, same credentials and years of experience, one has a job and the other
didn't. The one with the job was made the offer and the one that really needed the job, didn't. Why?
What makes people tick?
One would think that with proper planning, education, and working really hard, success would be
guaranteed. Of course, success is a relative term. Do we measure it in terms of material possessions,
personal relationships, goals, dreams, peace, or happiness? We've learned over the years that people
have their own concept of success, like the old phrase 'one's man's trash is another man's gold.' We've
also learned over the years that most people don't care much for advice unless it suits their personal
needs. Sad but true. It is almost as though history is destined to repeat itself over and over.
With this in mind, we developed "The Personality Balance Sheet". It is not an IQ test. It simply is a tool to
measure your own personal needs and interest. It is a fact that if your needs and interest are not met
then chances are you will not be a 'happy camper'. You need to understand your personality in order
that you can meet these very real needs. When you understand your personal needs, it helps you to
understand and sometimes adjust to others. This is extremely important because the number one reason
why people change jobs is 'ego' issues. Someone hurt your feelings, didn't understand you, can't
communicate with you, didn't appreciate your work, and a host of other problems by many names.
Each of us has a unique personality and we find ourselves surrounded by others with their own individual
needs as well. Understanding these needs and interest in others gives us knowledge and knowledge is
power. We become attuned to our surroundings and know when we are dealing with an individual or
situation that is moving us from our 'comfort zone' to our 'stress zone'. Sometimes when we really try, we
understand they didn't mean to hurt your feelings at all, it is just 'the way they are'. Once you understand
this, things that really bugged you about them become less personal.
We discovered over the years that while individuals have unique personalities, companies do as well. In
fact each position within a firm has a unique personality. In other words, to perform well in a given
position, your personality and that of the position must be a match. It is really hard to force a square peg
in a round hole, but you might be amazed how many times people try and then wonder why they weren't
successful. The company personality comes from the top person. Their personality will determine the
personality of the company.
For this reason, an individual that is doing well may find themselves on the outside looking in because
when management changes, the company personality changes as well. In the Navy, and I'm sure it is true
in all the other military branches as well, 'crap runs down hill'. The top dog sets the tone for the troops
below them. If they are aggressive then more than likely they will be looking for folks that are as well. If
they were technical then there is a good chance that technical people got ahead before the
non-technical types did. You get the ideal.
An individual that was doing well under the old management team suddenly finds themselves not fitting in
any more. Why? Did they suddenly developed a case of the 'dumbs' or is it because what made them the
hero in the old environment makes them the goat in the new. Happens all the time. The stock holders
decide to change the CEO from an individual that rose to the top as a salesperson is replaced by an
accountant or engineer type personality. The old 'loose' ship is now the tight-ass, everything by the
numbers environment. Some will adjust and others won't. The ones that won't need to find another 'loose'
ship sailing by.
It is also a known fact that opposites attract. In the old days, psychologists thought that marriages were
more successful if the two people were opposite in personalities. That probably explains why the divorce
rate has gone through the roof in recent years. This attitude has changed over the years. It is better if
your mate for life is more compatible. That is not to say that opposites can not make it together. They
can and do but it takes real understanding and willingness to adjust to your partners needs and interest.
If you truly love someone then this is possible. When you and your partner begin to understand that
many of the things that attracted you in the first place will aggravate you over the long term, you can
overcome this problem. When you understand that they aren't doing things just to 'tick you off', rather
they are pursuing their individual needs, the issues become less personal. Egos can be easily damaged
in careers and relationships. When you perceive that it is a personal attack, it is much more difficult to
overcome hurt feelings. However, when you truly understand yourself and your partner, you can more
easily see, it is not personal.
"The Personality Balance Sheet" was developed primarily to help us in placing people in careers. Over
the years it has been used in counseling individuals and even groups of people. It can be fun and
educational. It is not a 'cure-all' and there is no guarantee that once you take it life will be a bed of roses.
It can be a first step for a person or persons to grasp why they do the things they do and why their
career or relationship just isn't getting it done. It is difficult to change if you do not understand the
problem. The first step is understanding. The next step is up to you.
As Consultant Professionals in the areas of personnel, data processing, and finance since 1965 we've
always been interested in what makes people successful in business and in personal relationships. For
some it seems so easy and for others it is difficult at best. We've seen people in companies rise to the
top and then after ten years or so suddenly, they are fired or quit in disgrace. What happen? One minute
they are the fair haired hero who could do no wrong and the next they are the goat. We've seen two
people apply for the same job, same credentials and years of experience, one has a job and the other
didn't. The one with the job was made the offer and the one that really needed the job, didn't. Why?
What makes people tick?
One would think that with proper planning, education, and working really hard, success would be
guaranteed. Of course, success is a relative term. Do we measure it in terms of material possessions,
personal relationships, goals, dreams, peace, or happiness? We've learned over the years that people
have their own concept of success, like the old phrase 'one's man's trash is another man's gold.' We've
also learned over the years that most people don't care much for advice unless it suits their personal
needs. Sad but true. It is almost as though history is destined to repeat itself over and over.
With this in mind, we developed "The Personality Balance Sheet". It is not an IQ test. It simply is a tool to
measure your own personal needs and interest. It is a fact that if your needs and interest are not met
then chances are you will not be a 'happy camper'. You need to understand your personality in order
that you can meet these very real needs. When you understand your personal needs, it helps you to
understand and sometimes adjust to others. This is extremely important because the number one reason
why people change jobs is 'ego' issues. Someone hurt your feelings, didn't understand you, can't
communicate with you, didn't appreciate your work, and a host of other problems by many names.
Each of us has a unique personality and we find ourselves surrounded by others with their own individual
needs as well. Understanding these needs and interest in others gives us knowledge and knowledge is
power. We become attuned to our surroundings and know when we are dealing with an individual or
situation that is moving us from our 'comfort zone' to our 'stress zone'. Sometimes when we really try, we
understand they didn't mean to hurt your feelings at all, it is just 'the way they are'. Once you understand
this, things that really bugged you about them become less personal.
We discovered over the years that while individuals have unique personalities, companies do as well. In
fact each position within a firm has a unique personality. In other words, to perform well in a given
position, your personality and that of the position must be a match. It is really hard to force a square peg
in a round hole, but you might be amazed how many times people try and then wonder why they weren't
successful. The company personality comes from the top person. Their personality will determine the
personality of the company.
For this reason, an individual that is doing well may find themselves on the outside looking in because
when management changes, the company personality changes as well. In the Navy, and I'm sure it is true
in all the other military branches as well, 'crap runs down hill'. The top dog sets the tone for the troops
below them. If they are aggressive then more than likely they will be looking for folks that are as well. If
they were technical then there is a good chance that technical people got ahead before the
non-technical types did. You get the ideal.
An individual that was doing well under the old management team suddenly finds themselves not fitting in
any more. Why? Did they suddenly developed a case of the 'dumbs' or is it because what made them the
hero in the old environment makes them the goat in the new. Happens all the time. The stock holders
decide to change the CEO from an individual that rose to the top as a salesperson is replaced by an
accountant or engineer type personality. The old 'loose' ship is now the tight-ass, everything by the
numbers environment. Some will adjust and others won't. The ones that won't need to find another 'loose'
ship sailing by.
It is also a known fact that opposites attract. In the old days, psychologists thought that marriages were
more successful if the two people were opposite in personalities. That probably explains why the divorce
rate has gone through the roof in recent years. This attitude has changed over the years. It is better if
your mate for life is more compatible. That is not to say that opposites can not make it together. They
can and do but it takes real understanding and willingness to adjust to your partners needs and interest.
If you truly love someone then this is possible. When you and your partner begin to understand that
many of the things that attracted you in the first place will aggravate you over the long term, you can
overcome this problem. When you understand that they aren't doing things just to 'tick you off', rather
they are pursuing their individual needs, the issues become less personal. Egos can be easily damaged
in careers and relationships. When you perceive that it is a personal attack, it is much more difficult to
overcome hurt feelings. However, when you truly understand yourself and your partner, you can more
easily see, it is not personal.
"The Personality Balance Sheet" was developed primarily to help us in placing people in careers. Over
the years it has been used in counseling individuals and even groups of people. It can be fun and
educational. It is not a 'cure-all' and there is no guarantee that once you take it life will be a bed of roses.
It can be a first step for a person or persons to grasp why they do the things they do and why their
career or relationship just isn't getting it done. It is difficult to change if you do not understand the
problem. The first step is understanding. The next step is up to you.
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