ARE YOU A HIGH ACHIEVER?

My entrepreneurship professor made me take a personality test to determine if I am a high achiever, moderate achiever or low achiever. The aim of the test is to evaluate yourself as to how well you think you can handle risk and crisis. It is important for every entrepreneur to be a good risk and crisis manager.

I took the test and scored 77 percent which means I am a high achiever. I felt I could do better and thought the test did not describe my personality in terms taking risk. The result of the test challenged me to build my entrepreneurial skills to the best. I will post the test and hope that many readers take this test and evaluate you.

One of the most important characteristics of a successful entrepreneur is the desire to be a high achiever. The following ten questions are designed to help identify your achievement drive. Write the letter preceding your answer in the blank to the left of each question. Scoring information is provided at the end of the exercise.

1.            An instructor in one of your college classes has asked you to vote on three grading options: (a) Study the course material, take the exams, and receive the grade you earn; (b) roll a die and get an A if you roll an odd number and a D if you roll an even number; (c) show up for all class lectures, turn in a short term paper, and get a C. Which of these options would you choose?

2.            How would you describe yourself as a risk taker? (a) high, (b) moderate, (c) low.

3.            You have just been asked by your boss to take on a new project in addition to the many tasks you are already doing. What would you tell your boss? (a) Since I’m already snowed under, I can’t handle any more. (b) Sure, I’m happy to help out; give it to me. (c) Let me look over my current workload and get back to you tomorrow about whether I can take on any more work.

4.            Which one of these people would you most like to be? (a) Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Computers, (b) Lee Iacocca of Chrysler fame, (c) Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric.

5.            Which one of these games would you most like to play? (a) Monopoly, (b) bingo, (c) roulette.

6.            You have decided to become more physically active. Which one of these approaches has the greatest attraction for you? (a) join a neighborhood team, (b) work out on your own, (c) join a local health club.

7.            With which one of these groups would you most enjoy playing poker? (a) Friends, (b) high-stake players, (c) individuals who can challenge you.

8.            Which one of these persons would you most like to be? (a) a detective solving a crime, (b) a politician giving a victory statement, (c) a millionaire sailing on his or her yacht.

9.            Which one of these activities would you prefer to do on an evening off? (a) visit a friend, (b) work on a hobby, (c) watch television.

10.          Which one of these occupations has the greatest career appeal for you? (a) computer salesperson, (b) corporate accountant, (c) criminal lawyer.

Scoring: Transfer each of your answers to the following scoring key by circling the appropriate number (for example, if your answer to question 1 is c, you will circle the number 2 in row 1). Then total all three columns to arrive at your final score.

                             a                                         b                                                    c

  

1.                       10                                          0                                                    2

2.                          2                                        10                                                   2

3.                          6                                          2                                                   10

4.                          7                                         10                                                  5

5.                       10                                          0                                                    0

6.                         2                                          10                                                   6

7.                         4                                           2                                                    10

8.                       10                                           7                                                    4

9.                        4                                           10                                                   4

10.                     10                                           5                                                    10

                      ----------            +                  -----------               +                         -------------                  = -----------------           

High achievers   76-100

 Moderate achievers 50-75

 Low achievers   less than 50

Interpretation:

1. High achievers take personal responsibility for their actions. They do not like to rely on luck. The third option (c) assumes that the class time saved by not having to study for exams will be used to study for other classes; otherwise, the answer would be a zero.

2. High achievers are moderate risk takers in important situations. 3. High achievers like to study a situation before committing themselves to a course of action.

3. High achievers like to study a situation before committing themselves to a course of action.

4. Jobs is a high-achieving individual but is more interested in design and engineering than in goal accomplishment; Iacocca is an extremely high-achieving salesperson/executive; Jack Welch is more driven by the need for power than the need to achieve.

5. Monopoly allows the high achiever to use his or her skills; bingo and roulette depend on luck.

6. The high achiever would work out on his or her own. The second-best choice is to join a health club, which allows less individual freedom but provides the chance to get feedback and guidance from individuals who understand how to work out effectively.

7. High achievers like challenges but not high risks. If you are a very good poker player and you chose (b), you can raise your score on this question from 2 to 10.

8. Because high achievers like to accomplish goals, the detective would have the greatest appeal for them. The politician is more interested in power, and the millionaire is simply enjoying him- or herself.

9. High achievers like to do constructive things that help them improve themselves, so working on a hobby would be their first choice.

10. The computer salesperson and the criminal lawyer have a much higher need to achieve than does the corporate accountant.

I expect comments from your results after taking the test. Do you think the test did justice in evaluating you? Did you score too high in the test or you think you should do better than score? We will appreciate your comments .