What Kind of Thought Leader Are You?

Quiz Questions

• 1.
  Describe Your Relationship to Time

  • A.
    We only have so much time to make a difference. 
  • B.
    Live in the now, man!
  • C.
    Beware! History is written only by the winners.
  • D.
    I dream of what the future will be like. 
• 2.
  In high school you were voted "most likely" to ______. 

  • A.
    help others
  • B.
    push the envelope
  • C.
    become president
  • D.
    overthrow the government
• 3.
  When friends come to you for advice, you ______ . 

  • A.
    question whether they have an actual problem, or merely an opportunity
  • B.
    empathize and then help them look at the problem differently
  • C.
    ask a lot of questions, especially about how this problem came about and who is involved
  • D.
    offer advice and expect them to take immediate action
• 4.
  Which blog title interests you most:

  • A.
    Why Your $250,000 Law Degree Is Worthless
  • B.
    What My 8-Year-Old Taught Me About Artificial Intelligence
  • C.
    The Power Of Empathy In Mentorship 
  • D.
    7 Rules You Must Break At Work
• 5.
  When you have free time you ______ .

  • A.
    call friends and see how they are doing
  • B.
    take something apart to see how it works
  • C.
    read
  • D.
    daydream

Quiz Outcomes

• 1.
  The Visionary

  Image Source

  While visionary thought leaders may not desire to see the future as clearly as Nostradamus, they are certainly fixated on talking about it. In fact, the future is definitely their most important way to frame any conversation. For the visionary thought leader, what the future could be gives meaning to the present. Visionary thought leaders are not detail oriented, but big-picture driven. They are less concerned with how we get where we are going than about painting a picture about how awesome it is going to be when we get there in order to garner collective buy-in. Collaboration is a source of joy for the visionary. They are likely to share knowledge with the hopes that by working together toward a common goal learning is accelerated and ideation is streamlined. The truth is, because they are always forward focused, the future never truly arrives for visionary thought leaders. In this way, their work is never done and because of this they are often misunderstood as dreamers. But they are not typically dreaming of their own success or gain. Their dreams tend to be centered around a drive for large-scale advancement for maximum impact. You're in good company. Other visionary thought leaders include Sir Richard Branson, Larry Ellison, Elon Musk and Steve Jobs.
• 2.
  The Revolutionary

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  With a deep love of history, revolutionary thought leaders look deeper into how we tell the story of the past. But they don't tell history as we know it because their intent is not to tell history, but to ensure we don't repeat mistakes from the past. They question history especially because they understand our future is precariously balanced on our proper understanding of the past. Revolutionaries interrogate history; they interrogate facts; they question authority. They shake things up until the truth falls out. They won't stop until things feel transparent - even if they feel a bit bare and worn-out. That's when they know they've gotten to the bottom of things. Revolutionary thought leaders are not revolting without reason. In fact, they are just as happy to incite peace so long as it is based in truth. Even their questioning of history, the facts and authority are based in a deep respect for all three. In this way, they are frequently misunderstood as anti-establishment. The truth is, they are strongly guided by sheer curiosity of what we could do if not misguided. Revolutionary thought leaders are the vanguards and have a tenacity that leaves others in the dust. Their high tolerance for leaving mistakes in the past gives us a chance to start over and this time do it right. You're in good company. Other revolutionary thought leaders include Malcolm Gladwell, Seth Godin and Dan Carlin.
• 3.
  The Radical

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  Radical thought leaders are catalysts. They call us to change and, in fact, insist upon it. Much like a radical in science, once paired with the right combination of factors, radicals cause detonation. When they blow your mind, radical thought leaders create space for a new way of thinking; a new way of being; a new way of living. Radical thought leaders see new paths before others perceive a need for one. They are willing to walk away from previous deeply held beliefs despite having incredibly strong convictions about other beliefs. Their leadership is not focused is on collaboration, but on inciting change. They are typically quite persuasive and articulate. Many are excellent writers and in fact many have composed a propaganda piece or two in their day. Radical thought leaders can provide a much needed boost to positive societal change because they demand action. In short, when radicals change our thinking for good, they change our thinking for good. You're in good company. Other radical thought leaders include Naomi Simon, Claire Diaz-Ortiz, Simon Sinek and Brené Brown.
• 4.
  The Inspiration

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  The cornerstone of a great inspirational thought leader is humility. They tend to wrap the stories of their accomplishments in a way that leaves us believing we are the same - we too can accomplish much. They quiet our anxiety about problems and instead shine their light on the possibilities of the human spirit. They call us to the best version of who we are. In this way, they call us homeward asking us to look within for the solution. When we hear an inspirational speaker, we don't typically learn something new, but we reframe the problem and leave their presence with rearranged priorities. They may tell an old truth in a new way or they may tell a new story, but in the end, their goal is to inspire us and plant a seed of conviction. Their deepest desire is to inspire us to take personal responsibility for getting this change thing started instead of waiting for someone else to get the show on the road. You're in good company. Other inspirational leaders include Katya Andresen, Sheryl Sandberg, Martin Luther King Jr., and Beth Comstock.