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The power of analysis

Part of the self-development course I am studying is to look at your strengths, talents and personality traits. There are many online tests you can do that will help you. They give insight into yourself.

It’s about noticing your own traits. Becoming self-aware. 

If you do enough different tests, you start noticing trends. You start noticing the tests keep saying the same thing about you. If the same thing is said enough times, then perhaps you should sit up and take notice.

For me, there were a few things that came up repeatedly:

  1. Prefers to work alone.

  2. Pursues knowledge and learning 

  3. Logical

  4. Looks to the future

  5. Problem solver 

Then one test in particular stood out. It told me that my superpower was analysis.

Then it proceeded to ask me for some money to find out more. Being a tight northerner, I declined.

It did, however, get me thinking.

What if I had a superpower and that superpower was analysis?

Definition

First of all, let’s define ’analysis’.

”Analysis is the process of breaking a complex topic or substance into smaller parts in order to gain a better understanding of it.”

Noticing the trait

Next, I reflected on this idea of breaking down the complex so that it may be understood. I was looking to see it in my own life. Some of these tests you need to take with a pinch of salt. But I was open enough to seeing if this superpower made sense to me. 

I have seen it in Jiu-Jitsu. Especially in grappling. When I first started, I had no idea what was going on. I started watching YouTube videos to help me understand. Then I filtered through all the information. I started seeing the main positions: mount, guard, half-guard, rear-mount, side-control. Then you start to see the main transitions: bridge, bridge and roll, shrimping, hip bump. Then you start to see the main submissions: rear naked choke, arm bar, guillotine, kimura, cross collar choke. 

I see it whenever I am thinking of purchasing something. I start doing lots of research. Collecting as much data as I can. Reading reviews. Reading product specifications. Reading and understanding about different functionalities and technologies. Trying to understand what is available and what do I want or need from the product. I will probably get stuck in analysis paralysis for a little while. Then I am able to whittle down to a top few options before settling on the best one.

I see it a work when I am building reports or automating processes. I collect information or data as to what the final outcome is to look like. Then I find where I can get the data. I will then find the key fields I am after and build relationships and tables between the two. I will trial and test. I will find solutions to what isn’t working.

On reflection, I can see this analysis trait (or superpower) all over my life. Then I wonder why no-one told me about this before? Then I realise that people have but in a different way. I have been told in the past that I am good at explaining complex financial terms and reports to others without a financial background. I have been told that I consider all the information and facts before coming to a decision.

Strengths

If you have the power of analysis, how does this help you in life? What are you good at? What should you be doing with it?

You would have a deliberate, methodical approach to solving problems.

You would be comfortable analysing large amounts of data.

You would take time to think things through when making a decision.

Weaknesses

With this superpower, what might you not be good at? What obstacles might you face? What struggles might you have?

Seeking the perfect solution instead of a workable one.

Taking a long time to gather info and analyse before making a decision.

Fear of being criticised or being incompetent.

Dislikes conflict and will avoid it if possible.

Careers

If you have the analysis superpower, what job or career might suit your power best?

Any type of analyst job would suit, here are just a few:

Finance Analyst

Business Analyst

Process Analyst

Information Analyst

Test Analyst

Military Analyst

Intelligence Analyst

They tend to work in more technical fields like:

Computing – software engineers or programmer  

Engineering

Science – Scientists, Mathematicians or Physicists

Law – Attorneys

Business/Finance – Accountants

Anything that allows them to gather information, test ideas, be objective, solve problems and be technically competent.

Takeaways

There are those in the world who have the superpower of analysis. They break the complex down and make it simple. The understand how the parts fit together to make the machine work.

They are logical, methodical, objective, like to gather information and solve problems.

They dislike conflict and criticism. They can get stuck in the trap of perfectionism and analysis paralysis.

They do however design and make our bridges, vehicles and aircraft. They work in STEM subjects to advance our science and technology. They are trustworthy and dependable and look after our laws, businesses and finances.

That’s the power of analysis.

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