CAREER QUESTIONNAIRE
Copyright Ken Willig, GoalMakers
www.goalmakers.com
Created August 30, 2000
Revised February 13, 2007
1. What five things do you like to do (work or play) the most?
a. A teaching and preaching Christian ministry
b. Family activities, family travel, family homeschool
c. Adding value to people and helping people
d. Doing significant, meaningful, productive work
e. Playing sports and exercising
2. Why?
Because I'm giving, learning or prospering in doing what is right. It excites me when I'm doing positive things that impact others and give me a sense of accomplishment.
3. What brings you 80% of your pleasure, joy and fun?
Seeing my family grow, prosper, and succeed in all areas, including education, the arts, sports, spirituality, and serving.
4. Why?
Because they'll succeed in life and impact others as a result. What I do I do for God and family.
5. What do you see to be your single greatest strength?
My drive and determination, coupled with honor and integrity.
6. What are two more?
a. My ability to build others.
b. My ability to see the big picture and communicate it clearly.
7. What does your spouse (closest or most trusted friend) say is your greatest strength? (Give their answer.)
Leslie: I see the humor and positive in things.
Ken W.: My energy, drive and enthusiasm.
8. What ten adjectives would best describe you?
a. Integrity
b. Giver
c. Submitted
d. Husband
e. Father
f. Communicator
g. Motivator
h. Athlete
i. Leader
j. Christian
9. What are your three most valuable assets?
a. My family
b. My attitude
c. My inner circle of advisors
10. What five things do you like to do the least and why?
a. Working under a leadership lid - cannot contribute at my highest level.
b. Firing employees – human emotions get in the way of what’s necessary.
c. Playing politics at work - unproductive, petty, unprofessional.
d. Having any debt - causes stress and limits options.
e. Squandering family time and time with God - what is more important?
11. What causes 80% of your frustration, tension and pressure?
Seeing human potential unreached for any reason.
12. Why?
God is a builder and has invested his Son in people. To see people suffer, or not reach their full potential, thanks to the carelessness, gutlessness, apathy, rudeness, or small-mindedness of those "above" them causes me great internal stress.
13. Where do you want to reside, that is, to make your permanent home? (State and area of)
South Snohomish County. It's where my extended family is, my ministry, my church, it's where there's good employment, and where my closest friends are. Quick access to major arterials.
14. Are you now paid appropriately for the work you do?
I will be.
15. Could you earn more if you simply worked harder at what you are now employed to do? If yes, why don't you?
When I'm compensated commensurate with my contributions and abilities, it will be what I deserve.
16. Could you do your boss's (or previous boss's, if unemployed) job?
My desire is to be a General Manager for a manufacturing organization. I want to manage managers (engineering, operations, customer service, finance). Then, I can build an organization after my own image - this is my ultimate desire. I will have to start at the VP level (department), but I will rise from that if there is no lid.
17. Will it be offered to you within the next year?
Yes. Provided I'm in the right environment. Even if it doesn't happen next year (due to business economic conditions), it needs to be a real potential that will be realized when the timing is right.
18. If no, why not?
As answered above, if business conditions prevent it next year, the understanding still needs to be that this is my career path and it will happen when conditions warrant it. This has to be clear among the president, board or directors, or ownership of the business.
19. If you could have any one job you wanted, whose (by name, title and job description) would it be? Be specific.
General Manager, and ultimately Chief Operating Officer (managing multiple general managers) for a private corporation where I had significant and tangible equity interests.
20. Name the three persons whom you most admire and why.
a. Rolly Capes (my first full-gospel pastor), Builder, financially independent, entrepreneur, godly, excellent husband and father, faith, added value, taught doctrine, strong in the scriptures, great example of integrity and honor and commitment, years of consistency, sacrificed to advance the kingdom of God, practical, gracious, hard working, balanced, steady, wise, unshakable. Able to take a severe hit and still maintain his testimony without skipping a beat.
b. Greg Von Tobel (leader of Prisoners for Christ), Faith, vision, integrity, honor, superior leader, excellent husband and father, practical, entrepreneur, transparent, straight shooter, wise, adds value to others, leads a volunteer organization, educated, broad network, honored by others. Long string of accomplishments - local, national, and international.
c. Gary Hammons (business colleague) Superior consistency, honor, integrity, highly capable at all levels of business - finance, engineering, operations, sales. Outstanding leader and mentor and a great coach. Have learned as much from him as anyone, especially in the business world. Has succeeded in the difficult climate of consulting which takes skill, knowledge, business acumen, and interpersonal relationship ability.
All of these men have added leadership, example, and value to me when I needed it the most.
21. List the five achievements of your life (school, work, family, social, athletic), which delight you the most.
a. Spiritual: Making a decision for Christ, attending Ravi meetings, joining BHCF, presbytery meetings, getting involved in prison ministry.
b. Family: Marrying at 20, staying married, having eight children, and prospering and succeeding as husband and father.
c. Education: Graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree, magna cum laude, commencement speaker, earning professional engineer's license, three Associate degrees, enjoy learning; also teaching engineering at the 4-year college level.
d. Recreation: Traveling to the east coast twice in a motorhome with my family to see my relatives. Visited all 48 states with everyone, which was a personal goal.
e. Employment: Steadily increasing in my field of employment (high-tech), from bench assembler to R&D manager, to VP of Engineering; able to work anywhere, in any industry, at a high salary and high level of influence, many accomplishments to look back on (including numerous patents and co-development of the eNPI Process).
22. Why?
Recognized for hard work and enjoying the rewards thereof; doing what many could do, but what few actually did. Vision realized!
23. What job, by title and description, do you want to have five years from now?
Chief Operating Officer, or General Manager (over other general managers), in a $50M, multi-faceted manufacturing business enterprise.
24. In order to qualify for it, what ten things do you need to equip yourself with or accomplish between now and then?
1 - Improved understanding of Sales
2 - Improved understanding of Marketing
3 - Improved understanding of business valuation, mergers, acquisitions
4 - Get in the right environment (business, people)
5 - Be prepared to "go down" before I "go up" (position, compensation)
6 - Review all financial statements thoroughly to be expert (presently capable, but can improve)
7 - Learn about the industry(ies) I'm in (people, markets, products, suppliers)
8 - Build a complete quality management systems (quality manual, etc.)
9 - Build upon my knowledge of product development, add statistic analyses
10 - Build upon my knowledge of lean manufacturing
25. What three things could keep you from having it?
1 - Running out of energy/vision/opportunity (not likely)
2 - Running out of funding (not likely)
3 - Compromising (not even likely)
26. What do you feel are the roadblocks keeping you from reaching your full potential as a person?
Financial independence.
27. What is there about you that has held you back?
Nothing I’d want to change since they would all involved compromising my make-up or morals. Being a Christian and working and prospering in the world comes at a price.
28. Would your spouse (best bosom friend) agree?
Yes.
29. How much money do you earn per year now?
Right now - zero. But that will change!
30. How much do you want to be earning five years from now, in today's dollars?
Salary: $200K
Bonus/Equity: $1M
31. Ten years from now (In today's dollars.)
Salary: $300
Bonus/Equity: $5M
32. If God told you to do anything you wanted… you had all of the time, staff, education, materials, etc., that you needed, and you knew with 100% certainty that you would not fail, what would you do?
Manage multiple businesses; develop leaders who develop staff.
33. Why?
Because that's what I was created to do. I can have the most influence with people and do the most good for people.
34. In what areas do you feel the most need for personal growth?
Business development
35. What question(s) would you want answered by a career counselor?
Nothing comes to mind. I know what I was made to do, now I just have to do it.
36. What do you hope to accomplish by completing this questionnaire?
When you write it down you have the best opportunity to accomplish it!
37. Of the above (34-36), which single item is mot important and pressing on you personally?
#34 - what I need to do next.
38. Why?
I'm an action guy and am able to go-forward best when I have an action plan.
39. What are the "lingering questions" in your mind… the kind which keep coming back time after time and still have not been resolved…. About anything in life?
Can I really, with the time I have, do everything I want to do and have to do?
40. What would you care to share that you feel would be helpful to gain an in-depth understanding of you?
That is answered by my Unifying Life Principles (my core aspirations, in order of importance) and my Personal Mission Statement.
UNIFYING LIFE PRINCIPLES
1. Be a man of integrity
2. Be a spiritual man
3. Enjoy freedom
4. Be an outstanding husband
5. Be an outstanding father
6. Commit to worthy goals
7. Enjoy excellent physical health
8. Be an excellent teacher
9. Be a strong leader
10. Be a communicator
11. Be a submitted man
12. Grow intellectually
13. Maintain a strong work ethic
14. Be balanced in work and play
15. Commit to Christian ministry
16. Love the Golden Rule
17. Love my extended family
18. Help others
19. Live with a purpose
Personal Mission Statement
Make forward progress in all areas of life, all of the time, and help others to do the same.