S/O the s/o What are you really really good at?

[konapoppy]

Jul 18, 2024 0:04:05 GMT -5 ellipses84 said:

Jul 17, 2024 21:36:50 GMT -5 konapoppy said:

I can perfectly whip egg whites.

I can build rapport with nearly anyone. It’s a superpower for my job.

What are your tips for building rapport? My DH is great at it in his job too. Often the easiest thing to connect on first is location, because he has a lot of out of state customers, he’s lived in so many states, traveled a lot, has friends everywhere and a connection to all the many places I have lived.

A few things:
- Never underestimate people’s interest in themselves. Ask questions, be observant, show appreciation, empathize as appropriate. Remember what is important to them. Acknowledge something positive.
- Share some level of vulnerability or realness. This is NOT the same as sharing your life story. Yesterday I shared that I sometimes have to bribe myself with good coffee to get out of my cranky state. It is something fairly innocuous, but it shows a human side. “Relatability” can be trouble (think influencers who become big stars), but at the end of the day we are all human.
- Do not make any one thing your entire personality trait. Talking about kids incessantly to people without kids will alienate them over time. Talking about sports incessantly to non-sports fans will alienate them. Remember people are interest in themselves. Mix things up.

[VillainV]

Jul 18, 2024 7:10:13 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

Jul 18, 2024 6:51:13 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

I can type really fast. When we were in the office a lot more, people were amazed when they would walk by my office.

I have a good memory for things that aren't important, esp stupid facts. A friend said she doesn't get why I don't do bar trivia or something.

Do you have a background in piano? Even in high school my dad, an eece, would comment he heard me typing quickly, loudly, forcefully. I credit years and years of piano practice. I haven't tested in a very long time, but it's well over 100 wpm. I don't think that's particularly unique, but I will watch old L&O and see the hunt and peck and realize, yeah, maybe I'm actually decent.

I literally typed this at my coffee shop without looking at the keyboard. Is that a skill to be proud of? I think I assume every gen x or millenial has this ability. Mabye not the same speed, but close enough

I think we were probably the last generation to take actually typing class, where they specifically told us which fingers to use for which letters to achieve maximum speed and accuracy! I don’t always use the “proper” fingers, but I can also type really fast. Not a piano player, but I took 10 years of violin lessons.

[basilosaurus]

Jul 18, 2024 7:25:49 GMT -5 expectantsteelerfan said:

Jul 18, 2024 7:06:09 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

This cracks me up because it asks more questions than it answers! Clear as in drug test, and what's almost?! Not peeing on the seats? Able to hover for long times? 

I think she means she is really hydrated so her pee has almost no yellow in it.  I used to drink a gallon of water a day, but that was a habit I couldn't keep up.  


basilosaurus , I don't think I knew about your mom.  I'm sorry to learn that, and that your dad wasn't good with hair.  I taught my dh how to do a pony tail and a simple braid on my dd's hair early on, although he def. can't French braid.  DD learned to do her own at about 10, but she still can't French braid either.

I'm good with French braiding, although I'm better on my own hair than others.  But dd's friends at school often do her hair for her in fishtail braids or the ones where the braid part sticks out (I think you braid underhanded for that one), and they are much better than me lol.  I could probably figure them out if I youtubed, but DD doesn't have the patience for me to learn on her, and my hair is chin-length at the moment.

Oh, I can also do waves in my hair with a flat-iron, and people seem to be impressed by that.  

Lol, don't worry about the mom stuff. I've been very open about it, and I was extremely lucky to have a gramma so close. Welcome to 1987 terminal cancer world!

I mention it because I laugh at myself, and it's in my middle age something I can find to warn people to learn? ask? I'm not sure how to phrase it.

Dad's 2nd wife, my formally named mom, legally, had enough native American blood she had no idea about wavy hair. She also had 3 day periods (yes, this begs questions why I know and it's because when I asked for tampons she told me not needed.)

[scm1011]

Jul 18, 2024 7:38:34 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Jul 18, 2024 7:10:13 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

Do you have a background in piano? Even in high school my dad, an eece, would comment he heard me typing quickly, loudly, forcefully. I credit years and years of piano practice. I haven't tested in a very long time, but it's well over 100 wpm. I don't think that's particularly unique, but I will watch old L&O and see the hunt and peck and realize, yeah, maybe I'm actually decent.

I literally typed this at my coffee shop without looking at the keyboard. Is that a skill to be proud of? I think I assume every gen x or millenial has this ability. Mabye not the same speed, but close enough

I think we were probably the last generation to take actually typing class, where they specifically told us which fingers to use for which letters to achieve maximum speed and accuracy! I don’t always use the “proper” fingers, but I can also type really fast. Not a piano player, but I took 10 years of violin lessons.

Truth! I often think that was one of the most useful classes I took in high school lol.

[midwestmama]

Packing boxes / finding a box that is just the right size just based on looking at the box.

Overthinking.

[glw]

Planning and organizing
Logic puzzles
Dancing

[deadwing]

Oh, I'm also good at braiding. I mostly use the skill to make 4-strand braided leashes out of paracord. I used to be able to french braid my own hair, but I've been rocking a pixie cut for 15+ years, so it's been awhile. I think I could do it on someone else pretty easily.

[ssmjlm]

I got really good at doing updos in college. I did a lot of sorority sisters hair for various events/formals.


I honestly debated switching careers into hair/beauty during grad school.

[Jalapeñomel]

Jul 18, 2024 7:06:09 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

Jul 18, 2024 5:54:03 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Peeing almost clear


Im a jack of all trades, master of none.

This cracks me up because it asks more questions than it answers! Clear as in drug test, and what's almost?! Not peeing on the seats? Able to hover for long times? 

My urine is very hydrated, it's almost clear! 

[SusanBAnthony]

Parallel parking
Packing things into spaces, like car trunks
French braids
Vegetable gardening

[bbdoll]

Planning vacations.  A few years ago, we took a 6 week long trip from Pennsylvania to California and back.  The southern route going and the northern route returning.  I planned each day, booked rooms, researched attractions, researched restaurants, etc.  We didn't have one thing go wrong the entire trip.  My family adored me for it.

[brooke77]

I have a great memory.

I’m really, really decisive. I never struggle to make a decision.

Also great at tying shoes so they do not come undone, but are easy to untie.

[mel]

I'm really good at procrastinating, but still getting everything done with no errors. This isn't always a good thing.

I can remember birthdays very easily.

I can also French braid, Dutch braid, and make curls/waves with a flat iron. 

[eb777888]

Jul 17, 2024 19:47:01 GMT -5 sju said:

There’s a lot on untangling on this thread. Meanwhile, I have not used some jewelry in a long time because I’m impatient and can’t untangle.

If you're meaning the chains that get tiny knots in them, I untangle them with fine-pointed tweezers. Send them to me! lol

[mrsslocombe]

I’m really good at making decisions. People call me just to make life decisions for them.

Accents. My husband calls it my super power, I can mimic an accent after only hearing a few sentences.

I’m freakishly good at estimating sizes/weight/etc just by eyeballing.

[tacokick]

I’m good at knowing what will fit in a container/car trunk etc

I’m good at directions and remember my way around places I’ve only been once or as a child. It’s interesting because I can’t visualize anything but I have a good memory in general.

Also a fast reader and typer! I think a lot of us here are.

I can remember song lyrics after hearing a song once or twice. This made middle school chorus very tedious.

[waverly]

I'm good at research/ finding information. Telling time without a watch or phone on me.

Overanalyzing, worst case scenario stuff.

[shauni27]

Jul 18, 2024 10:19:05 GMT -5 mrsslocombe said:

I’m really good at making decisions. People call me just to make life decisions for them.

Accents. My husband calls it my super power, I can mimic an accent after only hearing a few sentences.

I’m freakishly good at estimating sizes/weight/etc just by eyeballing.

I am the WORST at this! I can do two accents well: southern and Minnesota lol.

[eb777888]

Oh, the accent thing. I'm definitely horrible at mimicking them, but I'm good at recognizing when an actor is mimicking an American accent. Just this week when we were watching Presumed Innocent and I could tell one of the actors playing an American isn't. Years ago I thought Paul Rudd must be British only to find I was wrong when I googled him, then later learned on his Hot Ones interview that his parents are British so probably picked up some of their speech patterns.

[RoxMonster]

I’m really skilled with grammar and spelling (I used to be an English teacher so it makes sense)

Good at making documents organized and formatted consistently which is part of my job now (on the knowledge management side)

To go along with that, I’m skilled at identifying gaps in procedures

Also pretty good at travel planning like others have mentioned

[eddy]

I can read the vibe of a room very quickly.

[macmars45]

Jul 18, 2024 7:38:34 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Jul 18, 2024 7:10:13 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

Do you have a background in piano? Even in high school my dad, an eece, would comment he heard me typing quickly, loudly, forcefully. I credit years and years of piano practice. I haven't tested in a very long time, but it's well over 100 wpm. I don't think that's particularly unique, but I will watch old L&O and see the hunt and peck and realize, yeah, maybe I'm actually decent.

I literally typed this at my coffee shop without looking at the keyboard. Is that a skill to be proud of? I think I assume every gen x or millenial has this ability. Maybe not the same speed, but close enough

I think we were probably the last generation to take actually typing class, where they specifically told us which fingers to use for which letters to achieve maximum speed and accuracy! I don’t always use the “proper” fingers, but I can also type really fast. Not a piano player, but I took 10 years of violin lessons.

I'm an older millennial and never took typing class. It wouldn't have mattered anyways because due to my cerebral palsy I hunt and peck for life; I will say I'm pretty fast and I don't need to look at the keyboard very much.

[ssmjlm]

My coworkers reminded me that I can read an interviewee in less than a minute and am correct.

Course they just asked me to be on another panel, LOL.

[waverly]

Jul 18, 2024 11:30:10 GMT -5 eddy said:

I can read the vibe of a room very quickly.

I can pick up people's expressions and emotions quickly.  This can be bad though when it's a negative emotion because it's not like I am insulting someone or anything like that, so usually there isn't anything I can do, but let their negative emotion pass and get a little anxious about it.  

[wanderlustmom]

I'm good at making and keeping friends. I found out I was good at tennis during the pandemic which is such a surprise since I pretty much suck at other sports. Like a few others, I'm an awesome worrier and over thinker. I'm also Mensa level at over sharing.

[beerlover]

Jul 18, 2024 12:13:44 GMT -5 waverly said:

Jul 18, 2024 11:30:10 GMT -5 eddy said:

I can read the vibe of a room very quickly.

I can pick up people's expressions and emotions quickly.  This can be bad though when it's a negative emotion because it's not like I am insulting someone or anything like that, so usually there isn't anything I can do, but let their negative emotion pass and get a little anxious about it.  

I am like this too. I am very attuned to others emotions. It’s kinda exhausting and anxiety provoking, lol.

[sju]

Jul 18, 2024 9:59:34 GMT -5 eb777888 said:

Jul 17, 2024 19:47:01 GMT -5 sju said:

There’s a lot on untangling on this thread. Meanwhile, I have not used some jewelry in a long time because I’m impatient and can’t untangle.

If you're meaning the chains that get tiny knots in them, I untangle them with fine-pointed tweezers. Send them to me! lol

Yes! Those are the worst. Lol

[wanderlustmom]

Jul 18, 2024 12:13:44 GMT -5 waverly said:

Jul 18, 2024 11:30:10 GMT -5 eddy said:

I can read the vibe of a room very quickly.

I can pick up people's expressions and emotions quickly.  This can be bad though when it's a negative emotion because it's not like I am insulting someone or anything like that, so usually there isn't anything I can do, but let their negative emotion pass and get a little anxious about it.  

Yes I feel people's energy in a very big way.  DH, DS, DD and I talk about it and they are not the same. It's often really uncomfortable 

[rosiebear]

I’m good at doing fun voices when reading books aloud. I’m good at making up crafts/activities/fun for young children out of almost nothing. I’m good at creating and throwing fun theme parties for little kids.

I was in my parenting wheelhouse when my kids were ages 2-8.

[ellipses84]

[mention]rosiebear [/mention] reminded me of a couple more.

I’m amazing at creating Halloween or theme party costumes from scratch with whatever we have in the house. I used to go all out on hand-making my costumes from scratch with supplies but if anyone shows up to a party without a costume, I will hook you up.

I’m also great at spur of the moment creative parenting. My youngest can be quite the contrarian but if something is fun and exciting he’ll be excited and willing to do it. A tiny example, the other day I knew he was hangry but would refuse to eat his lunch and he goes through phases where he loves or hates bananas. I drew an angry face on his banana with a sharpie and he was about to sit at the table and whine when he saw it and laughed. Then we had lots of back and forth about not eating a bad banana which of course made him want to eat it.