Tell Us About Yourself

[Zen Lady]

Tell us about yourself.

• What have you done and what do you want to do?
  
• How did you find out you were a Scanner?
  
• What combination of scanner types are you?
  
• What are your current projects or interests?
  
• How do you earn income?
  
• What jobs/careers would you like to try?
  
• Would you prefer to live near mountains, ocean, forest, or desert?
  
• Does your family/friends see you as unmotivated or cowardly?
  
• Are you living your dream? If not, what’s stopping you?

[phoenix]

Hi. I'm phoenix and I've known I was a scanner for four days.

I haven't got the book yet (I'm waiting for my hold to come in the library - any day now!) but I've been learning all I can about scanners from the web.

It probably says a lot about me that I first discovered scanners last week when I was researching who else is a recovering perfectionist. Before that, I had no idea these type of people existed - even though I'm one of them!

Everything I think about my life makes sense now under the scanner umbrella. Thinking about having one job for the rest of my life has always filled me with dread. Whenever I think that I might be somewhere for a while, at some point I get this trapped feeling and want to run away. Today I was driving around the city (I live in Chicago), aching to get out and go somewhere else, aching to be on the road, see new places, travel. But unfortunately because of money, I have never been out of this country (even though I have a passport).

I have no idea what I want to do with my life. I enjoy singing, art, playing the piano, learning languages, linguistics, astronomy, biology, occasionally math, reading, being outdoors, badminton, softball... I have considered pursuing many jobs, including music therapist, writer, astronomer, college professor, linguistics researcher, teacher, childcare provider, and even ballerina (though admittedly not since I was a kid ). I have often wished - since becoming an adult - that I was a kid again, so I wouldn't have all this responsibility and could just pursue whatever I wanted.

Right now I'm between jobs. I've graduated college with a BA and I'm completing my first year of grad school (different school, different subject), but already I don't know if this is what I want even though I've enjoyed being here. I can't wait to get the book because I hope it would give me some answers about what to do, but I don't know.

Any suggestions or advice is appreciated.

[educguess]

I recognize I am a scanner and I identified 2-4 scanner types that applied to me - have to reread RFC and clarify again/more.
The key thing I recognized is I last in the same job title about 2 1/2 years and then need new stimulus. I have been with a company for 10 years - but changed the job about every two years. I need to be able to be creative in the different positions - assisting with change (the plan is improvement - won't say all my ideas are on target - sometimes never find out -corporate / government - environment resistance). I have also found "jobs" I know I have the skill and abilities to perform well because of specifics -credentials, environments etc will not even give me a second look.
Looking at the various forums - I like being a scanner - however, well aware that at this day an age - as Barbara has pointed out - acceptance is less, less, less and many times not. I have overcome that at for periods of times by being an entrepreneur (advantages and disadvantages - I see more advantages and will return to self-employment soon - couple of years).
Over the years the lack of acceptance has created certain patterns in my responses (some become resistance in achieving goals) " Your are so smart" "You are such a smartalic " coming regarding the same experience. Thus being reserved in expressing my talents or apologizing or down playing or emphasizing I can be wrong.
Ways I have/do express my scannerism - crocheting, mandalas, counseling, acupressure, flower essences, pain management, bowling, dancing, book-books-and more books (reading), science explorations -all kinds for myself and for my boys as they went through school (great excuse for a scanner), discovering new sights to see in nature, helping others start new businesses and the research that goes with that, that's a start.
If a project has an importance to me and I have not labeled it just for fun - I make a commitment to myself (or if I have made a commitment to someone else) it does get done. If I put my money where my mouth is I get it done. I have developed skills to complete projects (and have really appreciated Barbara's reverse flow charting).
I have worked with children (a little), adolescents, adults, and seniors. I have reasons/desires to focus on each age group and keep fluctuating and changing - again that is less acceptable in the professional world.
I have two traditional degrees and two non-traditional - and again acceptance varies.
I have had some major successes that I have had great pride in that went on for several years even after I moved on to another project.
Still searching for the next project and meeting some of my desires.
I enjoy connecting with others that can related to the talents, the fun, the frustration of being a scanner. Comments - Feedback - thoughts --- all part of the connecting. Let me know.

[birdchaser]

Hello everyone, my name is Rob and I am a Scanner!

What have you done and what do you want to do?
I have a PhD in Geography (because Anthropology, my undergrad, wasn't wide enough!) and am considered an expert on birds, bird conservation, and urban ecology. But I also study bird lore among various Mayan groups in Guatemala and Belize--which has been an attempt to get back into another of my interests--Mesoamerican archaeology and ethnohistory. I've been an archaeologist (did salvage work in Chiapas, Mexico) and paleontologist (excavated dinosaurs in Montana and was a fossil preparator at the Smithsonian in DC). I love birding and traveling, and had a hard time with my PhD because I hated spending soooo much time on the same thing! My masters was easier--partly because I got to write some poetry, do original illustrations, and create new ways of thinking about birds and bird behavior. Now that I know I'm a Scanner I feel free to explore so many of the other things I left behind (like art and music) trying to be a find that one elusive "Oyster".

How did you find out you were a Scanner?
I "just happened" to stumble on Refuse to Choose at a bookstore this week! Such a relief to realize I'm not a freak of nature! Or just lazy and unfocused!

What combination of scanner types are you?
I seem to most relate to the Sybil, Jack-of-All-Trades, and Wanderer types, with a touch of Plate Spinner.

What are your current projects or interests?
I just got back from a conference (in Hawaii) where I presented some of my Mayan research and from leading a birding/whale-watching cruise to Alaska. I'm blogging, writing a book, and trying to put together a TV show with my kids.

How do you earn income?
For the past 5 years I've been a Senior Scientist for the National Audubon Society. Right now I'm "funemployed."

What jobs/careers would you like to try?
I'd like to teach (Once upon a time I taught at UT-Austin and Austin Community College), write, lecture, and travel.

Would you prefer to live near mountains, ocean, forest, or desert?
Are you kidding? I'm a nature freak, I love them all!

Does your family/friends see you as unmotivated or cowardly?
Yep!

Are you living your dream? If not, what’s stopping you?
Most people think I've got a pretty dreamy life, but deep down I know that I've only scratched the surface so far. Now that I know I don't have to choose just one of my interests, but need to figure out how to follow them all, I'm much more motivated to get stuff done. I was really paralyzed trying to choose That One Thing that was supposed to be my Oyster. This sounds crazy to my friends, family, and colleagues, who see me as a highly-trained bird specialist!

Happy to be a Scanner and thrilled to be here!

[Carolyn]

Hello to all my fellow scanners,

How I would love to find "that one thing" that will make me blessedly content for the next 10 years. Ok, so not saying "the rest of my life" is a good clue that I am a scanner.

I've spent most of my life (and I'm mid-50's) doing what was expected of me or what was required of me. So, in high school and college it was learn to be a good wife and mother, and afterwards it was to be a good wife and mother. Interesting pattern there! Being happy was purely optional and depended solely on attitude.

I was the good wife and mother and, though I'm happy doing that, feel lost. What the heck do I do now? BTW my youngest is now in college so it's a rather empty nest with no funds to go off and find my bliss.

I think that a scanner is supposed to want to do a lot of things, but right now there's nothing I want to do. I keep reminding myself that there must be plenty of women who got started on something new and wonderful at my age. Quite frankly, I don't know any but I have to believe they are out there.

Enough of the pity party!
Carolyn

[SquarePeg]

Hi All:

I joined the boards at BarbaraSher yesterday. And today I found this one and joined.

* What have you done and what do you want to do?
* How did you find out you were a Scanner?
* What combination of scanner types are you?
* What are your current projects or interests?
* How do you earn income?
* What jobs/careers would you like to try?
* Would you prefer to live near mountains, ocean, forest, or desert?
* Does your family/friends see you as unmotivated or cowardly?
* Are you living your dream? If not, what’s stopping you?

I make a living as an electrical engineer. I'm in the design part of things, so I get to use some creativity. I just started to read "Refuse to Choose," but I needed to interrupt that to redo the home office, and read two other books and write reviews for them. Currently I am blogging, posting photography on DeviantArt, reading (always), doing Sudoku, serving as Treasurer for my daughter's Girl Scout troop (cookies are currently on sale, BTW), serving as Chair for the board of a professional society.

I live in the Northeast of USA. I prefer to live near forested areas, and I'm not too disappointed.

My wife always wants to pay someone to work on the house because she says I'll never finish it, or I'll drag it out too long.

Some things that hold me back are: perfectionism, fear of failure, expectations of others (i.e., am I setting a bad example for our 12-yo daughter?), being a cheapskate, wife's health (sometimes I live like a single parent), easily distracted by computer games.

[SquarePeg]

-snip-
Some things that hold me back are: perfectionism, fear of failure, expectations of others (i.e., am I setting a bad example for our 12-yo daughter?), being a cheapskate, wife's health (sometimes I live like a single parent), easily distracted by computer games.

I'm also very distrustful of strangers, particularly those in sales. And I'm overly fond of responding to my own posts.

[SquarePeg]

I didn't find a thread exclusively for "What Have I Done So Far?" lists. But this seems like a good place for them.

You can find my list here: http://square--peg.blogspot.com/2010/01 ... -list.html