I remember her words so clearly. “You’re an orange.  I don’t see many oranges in government jobs. Most of them don’t last.”

I was working for the federal government at the time, and yes, I was one of those orange misfits she was talking about.  A lightbulb went off at that moment (an orange lightbulb, I suppose). “No WONDER I never feel like I fit here. No WONDER I just feel so dissatisfied with the status quo when so many of my colleagues keep insisting that they are so lucky to have good-paying government jobs.”

I was in a “True Colors” workshop at the time, and the person who spoke was the workshop facilitator.  She probably had no idea what a breakthrough moment that short interchange would prove to be, and how much I’d still be thinking of it as I continue to forge my path nearly 15 years later.

True Colors is a personality assessment that’s similar to Myers Briggs.  It’s much simpler than MBTI, though, in that there are only 4 colours (instead of 16 types). (Okay, I have to interject here to say that my Canadian brain is having trouble jumping from “color” to “colour”, but I have to be true to their trademark and at the same time, true to my country’s choice of spelling.) I’ve done both tests numerous times and have used them in workshops, but I keep coming back to True Colors because it resonates more with me.  I think it resonates because it is simple yet elegant, it places a special focus on relationships, and you are never just one type but a rainbow of colours with one being the strongest and others supporting that strength. The truth is, I think my artistic brain appreciates colours more than letters. One other thing I’ve come to believe over time is that your strongest colour may shift in different times and spaces in your life. (Green has always been my strong secondary colour, and I think lately it has overtaken Orange.)

(You can find some True Colors tests online, but I’m reluctant to link to them because the freebies I found seem too simplistic and not entirely accurate. It’s better to take a workshop, if you really want to learn more. I’ll also be writing more about it here in the future.)

I was an Orange misfit in a Gold world

In True Colors, Orange represents vitality, energy, action, excitement, and creativity. Orange people tend to be spontaneous and energetic.  They need new things to stimulate them on a regular basis.  They’re rarely satisfied with the status quo.  Doesn’t it make sense why I didn’t fit well within a government bureaucracy? “Energy, excitement, and creativity” aren’t exactly descriptors one would equate with the government.

It took me a while to leave the government, but I eventually did. Now I’m in a position that is a much better fit for an orange personality, and I’m not stopping here.  In the coming months, I want to move even further into what fits me by stepping away from a 9-5 job and growing my consulting business.  If I dig deep enough in my memory bank, I think the catalyst for this change was probably birthed the day I took the workshop and thought “I want to BE that workshop facilitator, not just learn from her!”

Don’t rush the journey

My point here is this – none of this stuff happens overnight.  It’s been 15 years since that workshop and I’m still learning about some of the stuff that got introduced there. Uncovering and embracing our giftedness is a life-long journey.  Just like a treasure hunt, you get little clues along the journey that point you to the next discovery. Sometimes those clues appear in quick succession, and sometimes they take years to decipher. Like me, you might have a tendency to be impatient, but sometimes the best thing to do is wait for the timing to be right and learn as much as you can along the way.

Though I stayed in a government job longer than I probably should have, I managed to eek everything “orange” I could have out of the experience. I changed departments every three years, I experimented with new and exciting roles, I progressed up the corporate ladder from clerical roles to a director position, I traveled, I interacted with media from around the world, and I learned as much as I could from mentors and teachers and workshops and books.  When I left, I took with me a whole arsenal of tools that helped me move into the future – tools that I probably wouldn’t have if I hadn’t been patient for the next clue and made the best of the situation at hand. (As much as I can, I try to live without regret, but rather gain value from every experience – even the ones that don’t fit.)

Let’s go on a Treasure Hunt!

For me, that True Colors assessment was an important clue in my treasure hunt. It pointed me to other similar workshops and books, it awakened a passion for self-discovery, and eventually it lead me to a place where I began leading my own workshops (including some on True Colors).

In the coming months, I want to start a new series on this blog that I’ll be calling “The Treasure Hunt – Discovering and Sharing your Giftedness”.  In this series, I’ll be offering tips, exercises, and advice about how you can learn more about who you are, what you’re passionate about, how you are gifted, and what you have to offer the world.  I hope that you’ll join me in the hunt. Now and then, I’ll throw in some special surprises, gifts, and interviews with amazing people, so come back often to ensure you’re part of the fun!

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for the Treasure Hunt, please let me know in the comments. One of the things I’m considering is a community space where we can enjoy the hunt together and learn from each other’s hunting tips.  Let me know if you think that would be helpful to you.

Welcome to the Treasure Hunt! Let’s have fun hunting together!

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