Mandy's Question

As a follow up to yesterday and to Mandy's question from her blog post here is my list of things I think I do well.
Ahem....

I am good at listening.  I like to try and listen to a person and what they have to say and give an answer to the questions they ask or not to answer at all if they are not asking me anything.  People are too quick to give unsolicited advice and I like to be sure that I am not one of them if at all possible.  I am the first one to offer advice or a solution if my friends and loved ones ask for my help but most often listening is what people really need.

Not to be contradictory but, I think I give pretty good advice.  I am also good at being unbiased.  I look at things as objectively as possible and answer the question the best way I know how.  My personal feelings rarely have to do with what others should do so I try to keep them out of it.

I am good at being creative.  I like to find new answers to daily puzzles whether its how to fit that last piece of trash in the bag or how to solve an accounting problem at work.  I feel like looking at things from every angle and thinking them through is a strong point of mine.  Finding a new solution that someone else hasn't thought of makes me smile because I could help. 

I am good at my job.  I do collections and accounting at a real estate company that my family owns and have been for a while now.  I really feel like I have found a great niche in this company.  When I was younger my grandmother used to pay me to stick labels onto to flyers and cards to mail out and then to file her papers and later to organize her office.  I have worked on these sorts of projects since I was 12.  In 2002 when I was 17 I started working in the office part doing errands and assistant stuff with my grandmother, after I graduated in 2004 I started working there full time was working on more important projects like processing payments and reports and balancing the checkbook.  I started studying accounting in college and realized I found an area that the company needed help in and slowly worked into the position.  Now I handle collecting money on current and past due accounts as well as customer service, office manager and all of the company taxes.  I handle evictions, court cases and violations.  Basically I am good at being tough when no one else wants to.  My family members are so nice and compassionate that they always want to help and that isn't always what is best for the business.  I am good at separating my compassion from the necessity of the job well enough to be polite and firm.  Being at the company for 11 years doesn't hurt either, it means that I literally grew up learning this business and the people we work with.

I am good at being myself.  I do not feel shy or awkward or feel the need to apologize for myself.  I am up front with my characteristics as well as my flaws and let people decide if they want to deal with me or not.  I am never afraid to speak my mind or do what I think is right.

I can throw a nice right hook.

I am good at protecting the people around me.  Whether something dangerous like being vigilant in a car wreck or something simple like telling someone to back off, I am good at being there for the people who need me.  KA calls me 'the hawk, ca caaaaaa' because I hawk-eye people when we go out that are bothering her.

I am good at looking on the bright side and picking out the positive things.  When someone is down I am the first to find a funny angle or a good spot they may have overlooked.

I am good at scrapbooking, I don't win prizes or anything but I think my pages look nice and document my many memories well.  Others can look at them later and hear my story.

I'm a pretty good wife I think.  I know I cam difficult and demanding sometimes but I really do my best to be good to my husband TB.  I pay the bills and budget our money and work hard to find some extra savings when I know there's something he wants to do.  I try to be encouraging while realistic and express my feelings clearly and not be an emotional mess.  I like to make him laugh and see him smile and do small things to make his life easier.  I try to be tough and remind him to do things when he wants me to keep him on track with something and back off and leave him alone when he wants to do it himself.  I try to find the time money and space to do the things he is passionate about whether together or separate.  I work to make things better for us and to make us better.  I push him to be his best and challenge him to do more.  I spend time being silly and goofy too.  I try to make sure our life is as balanced as possible.  When he cleans the kitchen I make him dinner and when I'm tired I buy it.

I am getting pretty good at couponing.  I have been using coupons lately to get some great deals and stock up on the essentials.  I try to make smart purchases that we will need and keep them as low as possible.  I have gotten lots of stuff for free or less than a dollar.  Its kind of fun too, like a game.

I'm also good at Halloween.  Just in general.  I am good at thinking up fun decorations and scary costumes and finding a way to transform our house every year for as little money as possible.  -we just started a Halloween Blog together where we can showcase the many crafty things we make and do for this fun holiday.

I try very hard to be a good friend and a good daughter as well as a good sister and sister in law and daughter in law not to mention a good niece and a good grandchild.  I think I am good at these things too.



What are you good at?  What are you proud of?  Tell me in the comments or make your own post and leave me the link.  =)