Just over 18 years ago, I started a business that had lots of potential.  Timing was right.  I had some skills that I had learned over the years and I was primed and ready to build a business that had a tremendous potential.  Small business computers were new and there were a lot of programs available to small business.  I knew from my years of experience in the Rental business that programs designed for the needs of small business were just not available.  Someone had design programs for different niche markets and that is just what I envisioned my business doing.

Early Growth

In the beginning, it was just like building any other business.  I had to "beat the pavement" to find clients.  They were not that hard to find but I seem to have more challenges selling them on the need for a system.  But, when I found someone who realized the need, programming was a must.  There simply weren't that many "canned" programs to choose from, and, when you did find one it did fit the business.

Programming

Now the fun begins.  I had take some programming classes in college but that was years earlier and had learned a programming language through a "need to learn" situation in the early days of TV Rental.  As I visited with different businesses and began to design programs, I constantly had to learn more coding (programming) skills.  It was challenging but I felt good about my talents and work.

Frustrating Times

Coding always involves learning just like any other business that is progressing but I didn't realize just how much concentrated would be needed until I had been in this for several years.  There were many days that I would work all day at the store and have to come back in the evening to program.  A time when I could really concentrate and focus on nothing but coding.  It was during these times that the frustration really set in.  I well remember evenings when I would spend may 1 or 2 hours just getting my mind wrapped around the things I need to do only to be totally exhausted an hour later.

I could not concentrated for extended periods of time.  My mind would simply not allow me to do that.

The best explanation that I could come up with was that I must have some type of attention deficit problem and I considered this to be a defect that I would just have to get use to.

Relief, Finally!

Last fall I was working with a colleague with other projects.  During some of our conversations, I shared my frustrations with programming.  How it seemed impossible to concentrate on some of the more complex programs.  Several times he suggested that I talk an online personality exam.  He said that it would probably help.  It took three times before I decided to listen enough to do the exam.

Now this only took about 10 minutes so it wasn't hard for me to find the time and get it done.  When I got the results back and started studying the report, it was as if a weight have been lifted from my shoulders.  I never dreamed that it was a common personality trait and not a flaw.

My dominant personality was Promoter.  To be good at programming, I needed to be a strong Analyzer personality and that part of me barely moved the scale.

New Career

Now I spend my time developing a business of personality testing and training.  This is more inline with my personality.  It's fun!  It's challenging!  Best of all it fits me and that makes life fun.