Kim’s Message: How Will You Thrive in 2025?

For the first time in many years, I didn’t make any New Year’s Resolutions for the year ahead. Apparently I wasn’t alone, as I recently read that the majority of people who make resolutions fail to follow through on them because they often require us to change something we do naturally. In fact, Baylor College of Medicine reported that 88% of people who set New Year’s resolutions failed before the end of January.

So, this year, instead of making drastic changes, I am going to focus on playing to my strengths. I’ve long been a believer in the CliftonStrengths (Strengthsfinder assessment by Gallup), having taken my first one when I contemplated leaving a career in manufacturing. Years later I took the assessment again following a painful divorce. Gallup has scientifically proven that when I spend more time investing in and nurturing my natural talents I am more likely to grow, succeed and thrive! Now this doesn’t mean I’m going to overlook the areas where I need to improve (being a better listener, being more patient, etc.), but I do know that whenever I lean more into my strengths, it benefits me as well as those around me. When I focus on my natural gifts, I am more productive and make more impactful contributions to the CEA team as a whole.

At CEA every employee takes a StrengthsFinder® assessment during the new hire orientation. The new employee learns more about their top five strengths and the rest of our team can quickly tap into their talents. We’ve also created a grid that lists all of our team members, broken down into four domains: Executing, Influencing, Strategic Thinking, and Relationship Building, to make sure we have the right people in the right positions.    

People’s strengths may change over the years a bit, based on where they are at in life, however, there a few core talents generally remain the same. Over the years, my top five strengths have fluctuated a bit, but two or three are always there. My current top five strengths serve me well in my role as CEO of CEA: 

• Input: I’m a curious person who wants to know more and is constantly acquiring information, facts and knowledge.
• Woo: I’m energized by meeting new people and enjoy having the opportunity to build a rapport with the new people I meet.
• Communication: People with dominant Influencing themes like Communication take charge, speak up and make sure others are heard. 
• Positivity: People in this “theme” generally have contagious enthusiasm. They are upbeat and can get others excited about what they are going to do.
• Responsibility: I take psychological ownership of what I say I will do. And, I am committed to values such as honesty and loyalty.

We are fortunate to have two (2) Certified Coaches on our team who work with our staff and hundreds of employers across California, to leverage personal and collective strengths and drive success. 

Find Your Natural Strengths

Join us on February 12, 2025 for Know Your Strengths to Thrive in 2025, a two-hour webinar to learn more about your top five talents. Over 31 million people have already taken the CliftonStrengths® assessment (StrengthsFinder®), to elevate their organizational performance and foster a positive workplace culture. 

Want to create greater career satisfaction for your team?  We can work with your team onsite or virtually to help make meaningful changes, instead of New Years’ Resolutions so that we all Thrive in 2025!