Music stopped me from dying young, a poignant life story

Remember the Six-Word Life Story query. Telling yours in six words. No more. No less.

I posed the query on LinkedIn as well as Facebook with phenomenal results (90 responses from LinkedIn alone). I already submitted mine for SMITH Magazine's next six-word memoir book.

Here are the global results of my Six-Word query from the U.S., Ukraine, Chile, France, etc.

I selected my Top Ten and the winner IMO is:

"Music stopped me from dying young"

submitted by Malcolm Murray
creator of the popular online magazine BlackCityMag.com

Thanks, Malcolm, for sharing!

Sale-ing through life with great friends!

Ok, maybe I should use that as my six-word life story. Not bad actually.

And, very true! From a referral from a colleague in NoVA, I made friends with Brad McDonald soon after arriving in Hampton Roads last year.

While our personalities or "styles" may be very different, our love of sales/marketing connects us. Brad is a self-proclaimed high "D" (and I'd agree with him, of course, since he's a "D", after all) and me? Well, I'm in the middle of the DISC - I represent a little of all of the traits, creating a very chameleon-like personality. Notice I said "chameleon" and NOT schizophrenic. I tend to adapt well to whatever the personality of the person(s) with whom I am dealing at the moment.

Brad writes a column for Inside Business and for Executive Lifestyle Magazine, the latter if which prompted me to post this.

DISC originated in the 20s by American psychologist, William Moulton Marston. It measures four preferences, in which you are scored, to develop a snapshot of your personality. Take one here Personality Test or here Personality Test (be aware that you will be charged to take the test; I do not have any affiliation with the testing organization nor the test, just passing along the links, if interested).



Here is what DISC stands for (the letters stand pat but the accompanying descriptor changes based on your frame of reference):

Dominant (Direct, Driver, Demanding, Determined, Decisive, Doer)
Independent, persistent, direct. Energetic, busy, fearless. Focus on own goals rather than people. Tell rather than ask. Ask 'What?'

Influential (Inducement, Inspiring, Impressive, Interacting, Interesting)
Social, persuasive, friendly. Energetic, busy, optimistic, distractible. Imaginative, focus on the new and future. Poor time managers. Focused on people than tasks. Tell rather than ask. Ask 'Who?'

Steady (Submissive, Stable, Supportive, Shy, Status quo, Specialist)
Consistent, like stability. Accommodating, peace-seeking. Like helping and supporting others. Good listeners and counselors. Close relationships with few friends. Ask, rather than tell. Ask 'How?' and 'When?'

Conscientious (Cautious, Compliant, Correct, Calculating, Concerned, Careful, Contemplative)
Slow and critical thinker, perfectionist. Logical, fact-based, organized, follows rules. Don't show feelings. Private. Few, but good friends. Big-picture, outlines. Ask 'Why?' and 'How?'


Yes, I am a WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE HOW-kind of person! Here are my personality results.

Anyway, Brad's point in the article is quite simple really:
Know thineself.
Know others.
Sell more.
Sell better.

Can you tell your life story in 6 words?

Everyone has a story. Can you tell yours in six words? No more. No less.

I added mine. I've added the question to LinkedIn as well and will post some of the best here. What an overwhelming response thus far!

Submit yours to be considered for SMITH Magazine's next six-word memoir book.

www.SmithMag.net/SixWords

The first book, Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure, was published earlier this year and is available now.