Well, here it is. This is part one of the AskJesse Profile. I realized that this could get rather long if I put it all together, so I'm going to post them separately. This will also allow me to write other things in between these posts. Below is the first personality test. It is supposed to identify five strengths. Should you decide to take this test, your results may look completely different. And, if you do take any of the tests in this segment, I'd be very interested to see how your results compare to my own. After the personality test, I've written my critique of the test and a critique of the results. Enjoy!

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1. Integrity [authenticity, honesty]

 You speak the truth and present yourself in a genuine way. You are without pretense. You take responsibility for your feelings and actions.

2. Perspective [wisdom]

  You are able to provide wise counsel to others. You have ways of looking at the world that make sense to yourself and to other people.

3. Prudence 

 You are careful about your choices. You don't take undue risks. You don't say or do things that might later be regretted.

4. Open-mindedness [judgment, critical thinking]

  You think things through and examine them from all sides. You don't jump to conclusions. You are able to change your mind in light of evidence. You weigh all evidence fairly.

5. Humility/Modesty

 You let your accomplishments speak for themselves. You don't seek the spotlight. You don't regard yourself as more special than you are.

 http://positive-psychology.org/perl/VIA_Surveys.pl 

 You know, the test above was an interesting test. Mind you, the results don't mean that this is the type of person that I am, but the type of person that I think I am. That is the flaw of all personality tests, though for the most part they work out rather well if you answer them honestly. I think there is a fair percentage of accuracy in the results, but the descriptions of the results sound very absolute and all very positive. The reason is that this particular test is supposed to identify five strengths.  

I'd argue with these results very little and on small points. I don't think I am these things or do these things all of the time. After all, I'm only human. There is the same possibility of bias here as with all personality tests due to the possibility of you choosing the answers that you like as opposed to the answers that truly apply to you. This test does have merit in that it effectively identifies the traits that you want to see in yourself, even if they aren't traits that you possess, it still identifies traits that you'd like to possess. The results could be better if is also shared some areas of personality that need improved.

But, yes, these are definitely things that I would like to see in myself and for the most part, I do possess these five strengths, and sometimes I possess them to the point that they become my weaknesses, as well. For example, I can be overly modest. This isn't so bad when you are with friends and family, but when you are trying to make an impression on someone who wants you to tell them all of your accomplishments and strengths and you hold back and tell them you aren't really that great, the guy who isn't so modest is likely to walk all over you.

The same goes with taking responsibility for my feelings and actions. This is a great quality to possess when you are around other people who do the same. But the fact of the matter is that when you are with people who can't take responsibility for their actions and feelings, you end taking much of their blame upon yourself. 

And while not taking too many risks that could later be regretted is a great quality to have, it is also not a desired quality to have in all things. Sometimes, if you are like me, you don't take a risk that you probably should have taken. I'm not without the ability to take a risk, though. I tend to take way too much time to take a risk, though, and this can lead to missing an opportunity as often as not. 

So, this was the first segment of the AskJesse Profile. How do we compare?