Personal SWOT Analysis

Yesterday I was working on a SWOT analysis for a new client.  According to Wiki (reputable source) a SWOT analysis is a strategic planning method used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project or a business.  When beginning a SWOT analysis you need an objective and a whole lot of research.  You also need to understand what each facet of a SWOT analysis entails.

• Strengths: attributes of the person or company which are helpful to achieving the objective(s).
• Weaknesses: attributes of the person or company which are harmful to achieving the objective(s). Congenial
• Opportunities: external conditions which are helpful to achieving the objective(s).
• Threats: external conditions which could do damage to the objective(s).

My research for this particular SWOT analysis involved a 2 hour long client meeting in which we listened to everything they had to say.  I took a lot of notes which allowed me to come up with a clear SWOT analysis.  The internal factors include the strengths and weaknesses and the external factors include the opportunities and threats.

I decided it would be fun to do a SWOT analysis for myself and my personal career goals.  It was a lot harder than I thought!  I started with the strengths and moved accordingly across the chart. My external factors could be a lot more in-depth but I had trouble seeing that part of the equation.  This is something I can add to when I become accustomed to the industry and learn more about the opportunities I can access and the threats I need to overcome.

Strengths	Weaknesses
Writing Strong communication skills with team members Personable Educated with an honours BA Ability to ask in-depth questions Strong and effective to-do lists Proactive Friendly Analytical Fast runner Excellent colour coordinator Creative Strong interpersonal skills Disciplined Motivated	Daydreaming Sensitive Indecisive Fearful Worrisome Lack of political knowledge Fails to look both ways before crossing the street Lack of public relations and marketing experience Emotional decision maker Strange eating habits Lack of technical knowledge (ie. design programs) Unable to do math Lack of network and good contacts Small bladder
Opportunities	Threats
Freelance writing Opportunity to grow within public relations and marketing field Positive trends in social media and new marketing	Lack of upward movement Competition with other more qualified candidates Keeping up with workload as well as improving other skill sets Negative economic trends diminish jobs in field Difficult field to get started in

Some of these are serious, some of them aren’t.  Well, they’re all true but there are a few that probably won’t affect career path in any substantial way.  As I sit here in my pajamas on a Saturday night (watching Pleasantville for the 40^th time on Bravo) I realize that coming up with weaknesses is a lot easier than strengths.  It’s a lot easier to judge yourself in a negative way.  I realize that both of these are necessary for a SWOT analysis but why is it easier to pick ourselves apart than build ourselves up?

I’ll ponder this and probably fall asleep on the couch before I get a definitive answer.  Stay safe if you’re in the city and please people…. Think positive thoughts.