Identify Your Skills 11224

We are as unique as our DNA. All skills live on the Normal Curve with a few on the top and bottom and most in the middle. We all need to identify our best skills and use these motivated abilities as clues to God’s Plan for us. These are skills we do well and enjoy doing. Our interests are clues about where we can use these skills. I have outlined my own experiences below and suggest that you begin to write your own stories based on my outline to help you identify your own interests and motivated abilities. This method comes from the System for identifying Motivated Abilities and was published by Art Miller. 

I homeschooled from 1943 to 1949, got 120 on my IQ test and entered school in 3^rd grade in Queens NY at Holy Child School. We moved back to St Louis in 1951 and I entered Immaculate Conception school.  I joined the Boy Scouts as a bugler, served as an Alter Boy, sang in the Children’s Choir, joined the School Band as a trumpet player, learned to play piano by ear and learned to play the guitar. I ran with all groups in grade school.

My 8^th grade Iowa Tests indicated that I was 2 grade levels ahead in math and reading comprehension. I had identified a career in Personnel in Manufacturing as my occupation and needed to confirm what skills I needed. I looked forward to science courses in High School and College. I chose Personnel when I was 10 years old, based on my interest in removing the Mafia from Labor Unions and I had time to prepare. I learned home maintenance chores and was interested in how things were made. In 1957, I formed a 2 guitar, sax and drums band to play at teen towns and parties.

In the St. Lous suburbs, while in Christian Brother’s Military High School 1957-1961 and working as a musician 3 nights per week. I was the Band Scholarship Winner and Homeroom Class President in 1957. I learned the leadership, performance and strategic skills I would need to work in Personnel from my extra-curricular activities. I was tapped to join the Speech Team and won gold medals and stared in the school play “Time Limit”, I was tapped to sing, act and dance in St. Joseph Academy musicals, I become Drum Major, Girl’s School Rep Escort, Cheer Leader, President of Activities, Prom Magazine Reporter, and a Yearbook Editor 1961.  I worked summers on the Admiral Steamboat Cruiser.  

In the St Louis suburbs, while attending college at St. Louis University 1961-1965 and working as a musician 6 nights per week,I took 20 hours per semester and graduated a semester early in 1965. I worked summers at St. Louis State School and Hospital and Granite City Steel. I took pre-med for science courses and graduate seminars for relevant psychology courses. My required minors were philosophy and theology where I learned about people.

In St Charles Mo, while working for Monsanto 1968-1971 and Washington University 1971-1975. I Founded the St Charles County Council of Homeowners Associations 1968 and served as President 1969-1975.Church Lector, St Joseph’s St Charles Mo 1966-1975.

In Salina Kansas, while working for Schwan Foods 1975-1979 and Rickel Manufacturing 1979-1983. Founder Salina Area Personnel Association 1975 to establish a compensation survey and provide monthly programs for Personnel staffs for 40 companies and served as President in 1979.  I was tapped to serve as a National Officer of the American Society for Personnel Administration as ASPA Director for Kansas 1979- 1983. I was tapped to be a Columnist for Kansas Business News 1979-1983. I was a Contributor to the Salina Journal, My wife and I were chosen to be Salina Marriage Encounter Leaders in 1977 and Engaged Encounter Leaders for Western Kansas in 1979. We served as Pool Directors at the Elks Club. I served as Board Reporter for the Lions club. I served on the Salina United Way Board and served as Choir Director for St. Mary’s church 1977- 1983.  We bought a boat and camped with our 6 kids from 1975 to 1983.

In the Atlanta GA suburbs, while working for Hayes Microcomputer Products 1983-1986 and Electromagnetic Sciences 1986-1993.  I founded the Metro Atlanta High Tech Personnel Association 1984 to establish a compensation survey and provide monthly programs for Personnel staffs from 40 electronics companies.  I joined the Gwinnett Personnel Association in 1985 and served as president in 1990. I was a Columnist for Computer Currents 1993, I served on the Gwinnet Tech Council of Advisors 1984-1989. I served as HR Chair on the American Electronics Association Board in Atlanta 1986-1996 and provided programs for members. I served as IEEE Program Chair in 1990.  I served as a Faculty Advisor at DeVry in 1990. I served as a Columnist for the Georgia Medical Journal in 1993 and wrote the AEA national position on Hillary-Care in 1993. My wife and I served as an Engaged Encounter Team Couple 1983-1990 and Marriage Ministry Leaders at St. Jude’s church 1990 -1998. In 2011, I registered the Dunwoody GA Tea Party with Tea Party.net and started this blog.

My community involvement was largely due to my Personnel jobs. Our church involvement was developmental.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader