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Personal Characteristics

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Submitted By fraggglerock
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`It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles. The latter part of this famous quote by the famous Chinese general Sun Tzu implicates an important concept that is not only applicable in war, but also in one’s professional career. Introspective awareness of your strengths as well as your weaknesses is instrumental in professional success.
One asset I have found that has bolstered my professional success is my ability to step back, view the bigger picture, and maintain that line of sight throughout the task or responsibility. In my experience, many individuals tend to get bogged down in the nuances of a single task, which frequently results in lessened productivity of a group as a whole. Keeping a broader perspective has allowed me to not only think ahead in my work, but also leave me with the mental and creative freedom to think outside the box.
When faced with a daunting challenge or an impossibly uncertain problem, I often find myself backed into a corner, armed with nothing but my resolve. My professional experience at the Law Offices of Richard Pena engrained this virtue in me all too well. After the other legal assistants quit, I had to choose to sink or swim. Through hard work and a will to never give up, eventually I was able to help restore a steady equilibrium to the department. I find that I work well under pressure, and I am confident that I can handle any adversity that may come my way.

One characteristic that has hampered my professional success is my initial aversion to conflict. Though I am by no means shy, I instinctively tend to look for ways to smooth over a potential clash because I often think that conflict impedes productivity in a situation. However, I have slowly realized that sweeping such things under the rug can actually hinder work in a professional environment. It is often through healthy conflict that peers temper better work product as well as a better work environment. As I continue to grow professionally, I am now able to see conflict as a constructive opportunity as opposed to something to avoid.
Introspective analysis is a good check on the underpinnings of success, but one must also be a proactive professional and not just an idle observer. As I continue to cultivate my strengths, I also know that I must strive to improve my shortcomings as well.

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