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In his book, Launch Your Life, Morgan Rich explains how we can come to know and appreciate our unique qualities and preferences: “Who you are is a combination of how your brain works and what is in your heart and your body. When you Know Yourself, you understand that you are okay just the way you are. You will always continue to expand who you are and what you know, and you get to decide what is best for you and what you care about.” (p. 139)

This includes how you personally learn about the world and what you hold dear. Rich continues, “While you build your Know Yourself, it will be helpful to capture the things you learn about yourself in the Powerful Portfolio part of your Play Huge Notebook. This can be a collection of pictures, words, poems, quotes, music, or whatever else will keep you connected to your Know Yourself and on the path of the Real You.” (p.160)

A few places to start when it comes to learning about your abilities and interests and compiling your Powerful Portfolio:

• Learning Styles assessments (Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic p.144-6)
• Multiple Intelligences theory (Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, Logical/Mathematical, Linguistic, Musical, Bodily/Kinesthetic, Natural, Spatial… p.147-9) 
• Brain Dominance Tendency (Left and Right p.149-50)
• Values (p.154, Values Clarification Exercise p.170)
• Passions (p.155, 171)
• Talents (p.155, 171)
• Rejuvenation or what makes you feel alive (p.156, 171)
• Meyers-Briggs (MBT), Strengthsfinder, Enneagram, The Four Tendencies, or other assessments you find helpful
• Love File of thank-yous, positive feedback, nice notes to look at when you need a pick-me-up, inspiration, and reinforcement that you’re doing a good job and to keep going
• Accomplishments List as a reminder of past hard work, persistence, and success
• Needs & Conditions of Satisfaction (for life, relationship, career…)
• Short-, Medium-, and Long-Term Goals and Projects
• Results Tracking towards objectives & habits

Your Powerful Portfolio can be a notebook, hard copy or digital file, collage, Pinterest board, audio file, jar of scraps of paper… Mine is a binder, with articles, notes, goals, statements of purpose, resume and CV, thank-you notes from students and feedback from clients and colleagues, letters of recommendation, current projects, long-term goals, transcripts, certificates, mission and vision statements, inspiring quotes and music, and more as well as an annual digital running list of accomplishments, as shared in my 2020 End-of-Year Reflection blog. I find it a grounding and inspiring resource as I pursue my dreams!

I will record a video for my YouTube Channel sharing the contents of my Powerful Portfolio, and would love to see what you assemble to create your own.

Do you keep something like a “Powerful Portfolio” to celebrate your strengths and accomplishments, or do you plan to start? Send me a message, or hop over to the A Blythe Coach Facebook Page and tell me about it! Or visit ablythecoach.com and join my weekly email newsletter to get joy and resources direct to your inbox :)

Blythe Stephens

she/her or they/them

A Blythe Coach:

move through life with balance, grace, & power