Did you know that you have 24 strengths? We all have a unique Character Strengths Profile. The study and use of strengths are central to the science of positive psychology. Knowing and tapping into your strengths is vital to thrive at work and act in your zone of excellence!

One of the founders of positive psychology, Martin Seligman, has the ambitious vision of seeing 50% of humanity ‘flourish’ in 2050 instead of less than 20% now.

Watch his Ted Talk, where he explains, ” We created the opposite of the diagnostic manual of the insanities: a classification of the strengths and virtues (…), how they’re defined, how to diagnose them, what builds them and what gets in their way.”

My mission is to contribute to this goal. The Prosper with Poise Framework helps bright entrepreneurs and professionals make money while serving others or the greater good and staying well.

Act from your zone of excellence.

The American VIA Institute on Character has developed a free online survey (available in 20 languages). This VIA Survey will result in your unique Character Strengths Profile, detailing a strengths palette of 24 aspects.

Knowing yourself better and looking at yourself with ‘strengths googles’ can be a life-changer.

I have worked with this amazing tool and the VIA Pro Reports with my clients since 2013, and its efficacy is astounding.

Knowing their 24 Character Strengths has allowed my clients to:

• Stop wasting time thinking about what is ‘wrong’ with them
• Define and achieve their goals
• Change the way they perceived themselves (beliefs about their identity)
• Act in more creative and entirely new ways
• Resolve conflicts and eliminate communication barriers
• Enhanced working relationships and love relationships
• Focus on what they really love to do
• Learn to say no and delegate more

Taking this scientific survey allows you to learn about your 4 – 7 Signature Strengths, which you apply quickly and without thinking.

Knowing your Unique Signature Strengths is like uncovering a hidden treasure. It will significantly and immediately impact you in all areas of your life.

Why?

Because you will see clearly what you do best, how you can be more often in your flow, and what you can (or should) outsource and delegate.

Find out what is best in you.

For a long time, psychology focused on mental illnesses and troubles and ways to relieve this kind of human suffering. The recent science of positive psychology aims at counterbalancing the research and its application.

One main area of this new science concentrates on what is best in us and what we can do to enhance our life satisfaction and our performance. If you want to learn more about the well-being theory of Martin Seligman, see his book Flourish.

Everyone has 24 VIA Character Strengths. They are the psychological ingredients for displaying human goodness and serve as pathways for developing a life of greater virtue. VIA stands for Values In Action.

The 24 VIA Strengths

The 24 strengths fall under six broad virtues and encompass our capacities for helping ourselves and others.

1. Wisdom and Knowledge: creativity, curiosity, judgement, love of learning, perspective
2. Courage: bravery, perseverance, honesty, zest
3. Humanity: love, kindness, social intelligence
4. Justice: teamwork, fairness, leadership
5. Temperance: forgiveness, humility, prudence, self-regulation
6. Transcendence: appreciation of beauty and excellence, gratitude, hope, humour, spirituality

The 24 VIA Character Strengths are universal across all aspects of life: work, school, family, friends, and community. See also the Classification and Handbook on ‘Character Strengths and Virtues’.

The science of character

I did my first VIA Character Strengths Survey, participating in a study at the University of Zurich in 2007. During my training as a professional coach (2007 – 2008), a strengths-based attitude to all aspects of life became habitual.

At the beginning of 2013, I took the survey another time and got 30 minutes of coaching from Donna Mayerson, Director of Practice at the VIA Institute and one of the leading experts on the subject.

She helped me discover what was extraordinary about the order and combination of my Unique ‘Core Strengths’ of spirituality, love, love of learning, forgiveness, curiosity, gratitude and hope. She revealed the paradox of Signature Strengths: it’s easy for us not to see them as something special.

This coaching session and further training in Character Strengths confirmed that I have a ‘high’ Strengths Profile, which translates to living a virtuous life, which is paramount for me.

Above all, it made me realise that I’m not a ‘super-brainy’, results-oriented person as I saw myself. On the contrary, I ‘breathe love’ in all I do in the sense of ‘really and truly caring for the well-being of others.

My mission is to inspire hope, forgiveness, and openness of mind to others and help them find meaning and live their purpose.

Focus your time and energy on your zone of excellence

Are you a bright woman who wants to flourish? Let me show you how to harness your unique strengths.

Are you ready to Play To Your Strengths now?

This post was written in 2014 and last updated in September 2024. I no longer offer personalized coaching but may open up a SPACE for Bright Entrepreneurs again at the end of 2025. Get in touch if this prospect interests you.