Dr. Lynn K. Jones - Certified Personal Executive and Life Coaching

I needed to look at myself ??outside of the box? following what we now call the Great Recession layoff. I was desperate for insight because I hadn??t found a job in six months and had no self-esteem left. If anybody needed to get her mojo back, it was me.

1. We took a strengths assessment test devised and administered directly by the Gallup organization. As an amateur statistician, I know that means that the results can be greatly relied upon. When I got the results, I recognized my own strengths but I hadn??t organized them in my head that way before, the personal traits I knew I could rely on in myself. I felt validated.

When my friend took the test, he got strengths back which we didn??t recognize. I know he competes on tests to prove how smart he is. He forgot the part of himself which is hospitable, enthusiastic about shared projects, willing to volunteer, etc. He wasn??t thinking about his whole self. He just thought about his intellect. My advice to test takers is to think of their entire self ?? individual, parent, sibling, child ?? when you answer the questions. Then you will get more meaningful answers. The test asks the same questions using different words numerous times so try on your different selves when you answer to triangulate on your strengths in all your varied roles.

CONCRETE RESULT: I now have a personal inventory of my highest strengths with a whole book to explain the results. The book is included in the Mojo Class fees. My personal printed inventory of strengths continues to be a source of inspiration when my self-esteem threatens to deteriorate.

2. There was a lot of homework. I got a lot out of doing the assignments as requested because Lynn challenged us to do some tasks which I found emotionally aggressive. CONCRETE RESULT: I reaped the rewards of accepting the challenge. I got positive results (as Lynn assured me I would) and can ??take it to the bank.?

3. Not everybody in our class thrived. Being a Mojo student is no different than being any other kind of a student ?? if you don??t do the homework you can not understand what the teacher talked about in theory in class. CONCRETE RESULT: I verified that my learning skills were intact. I verified that the effort was worth the results.

3. The people in our telephone class applied their new knowledge in ways I could not have foreseen. I appreciated hearing their stories and ??watching? them grow. We all stumbled speaking about ourselves in a positive way but that just proved how our common cultural norms prevented us from focusing on the whole self. CONCRETE RESULT: I have a new appreciation for positive articulateness and expect it from myself.

4. Lynn??s lectures were a highlight of the program. She??s a savvy teacher, very organized in her thoughts, simplifying concepts to make them understandable at any level. She speaks with lofty goals in mind. She was ambitious for us. She worked off-line with certain students to ensure that they got the most out of their experience. CONCRETE RESULT: My confidence in Lynn??s abilities are strong.

CONCLUSION: I highly recommend Lynn K. Jones?? Mojo class.