Devora Zack - The Cactus and Snowflake at Work: How the Logical and Sensitive Can Thrive Side by Side

ALSO BY THE AUTHOR

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The Cactus and Snowflake at Work

Copyright 2022 by Devora Zack

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First Edition

Paperback print edition ISBN 978-1-5230-9336-6

PDF e-book ISBN 978-1-5230-9337-3

IDPF e-book ISBN 978-1-5230-9338-0

Digital audio ISBN 978-1-5230-9339-7

2021-1

Book production and design: Seventeenth Street Studios.

Cover design: Susan Malikowski, DesignLeaf Studio.

Illustration: Jeni Paltiel. Author photo: Dan Corey.

FOR EVAN

When you go out into the woods, and you look at trees, you see all these different trees. And some of them are bent, and some of them are straight, and some of them are evergreens, and some of them are whatever. And you look at the tree and you allow it. You see why it is the way it is. You sort of understand that it didnt get enough light, and so it turned that way. And you dont get all emotional about it. You just allow it. You appreciate the tree.

The minute you get near humans, you lose all that. And you are constantly saying You are too this, or Im too this. That judgment mind comes in. And so I practice turning people into trees. Which means appreciating them just the way they are.

RAM DASS

Chapter One. Traversing the Great Divide
Take a Self-Assessment & Explore the Results

Chapter Two. Getting Acquainted
Roots of Stereotypes & Reasons Behind Behaviors

Chapter Three. Respect
Platinum Rule, Flex Your Style & Mind Your Own Business

Chapter Four. The Nonevent
Alternative Realities & Beans up the Nose

Chapter Five. Thoughts, Words, Actions
The Three Areas You Control

Chapter Six. Stress and Shadows
Personality in Times of Angst

Chapter Seven. Leaders in the Tundra and Sahara
Methods to Maximize Leadership Effectiveness

Chapter Eight. Introverts and Extroverts in the Mix
The Interplay of Introversion, Extroversion, Snowflakes & Cacti

Chapter Nine. Beyond Business
Snowflakes & Cacti in Your Personal Life

Hi. Welcome to my book. Make yourself at home.

What made you crease this spine? Are you plagued by a sense of otherness? Out of sync? Do you relentlessly process encounters until they are ground to dust in your mind? Harbor an uneasy suspicion youre hindered by a highly sensitive nature?

Or perhaps you live or work with someone who takes everything personally. An innocent comment turns into a tailspin. Drives you nuts.

I hear you. Either way, Im here to help.

Some folks seemingly barrel through life. Dont look back, take it in stride. Ostensibly well equipped to navigate this world. Roll-with-the-Punches their middle, albeit lengthy, name.

Then there are the rest of us, exuding emotions, the smallest infraction permeating a not-protective-enough exterior shell. Whats wrong with me? a familiar refrain. Second guessing = second nature. At times succumbing to the notion that those with a tough exterior are favored in the roulette of life. Not true. This misnomer belongs in the middle of a bologna sandwich.

A dozen years ago we were busily banishing false notions about introverts and extroverts. Believe it or not, back then some confused humans actually thought extroverts were somehow better equipped for networking. We nipped that in the bud! Yet no resting on our laurels.

Our work is not finished. Now were dishing about feelers and thinkers. Which will evolve into Snowflakes and Cacti.

Dont panic. Ill walk beside you every step of the way.

Perhaps youre new to the concept of personality styles. Is this uncharted territory for you? Heres a supersonic overview:

We each come equipped with particular proclivities, influencing our behavior, mental processing, and subjective experiences. Learning about predispositions yields insights into what makes each of us tick, heightens tolerance levels, and builds a platform to expand our comfort zones.

Youve come to the right place for a slew of creative and actionable tools, tips, and applications. The best place to start is expanding your own self-awareness and fanning out from there to the world around you.

Own your temperament. Its as elegantand often as elusiveas that.

Zack, Devora. Networking for People Who Hate Networking, 2nd edition. Berrett-Koehler, 2019.

Life is short. Avoid causing yawns.

ELINOR GLYN

Prepare to squash stereotypes, validate values, and dissipate erroneous judgments. Transform previously perceived liabilities into your finest strengths. In these pages youll discover how to understand, accept, and leverage the true you. Well address misconceptions and rewrite the playbook.

This is not about changing anyone else. Why bang your head against the wall? Expend your energy wisely; focus on refining you. Done well, that will take all your spare time.