In Review: The Surprising Things that Happened this Year

Today is July 1, which means it’s now the second half of 2020. This year isn’t going the way we thought it would when it started. But we thought it worthwhile to look back at the first half of the year and then look forward to what's coming.

Developments

Although this year has been really hard for a number of reasons, there were good leaps forward. Thanks for sticking with us.

This year we:

• Launched our new website
• Launched our online Enneagram course
• Started the Enneagram + Strengths Facebook group
• Turned our workshops online
• Launched the Enneagram for Strengths Coaches Bootcamp
• Provided 24 free resources for you (downloads, videos, podcasts)
• Provided CliftonStrengths® and Enneagram codes and coaching

Top Blog Posts

Writing is one of my favorite things to do, and if I had more time, I would write more. But we managed to publish 30 blog posts. I hope you’ve enjoyed them.

Here are the top ten blog posts from the first half of the year:

1. Growth Questions for the 34 Strengths
2. Strengths and Shortfalls for the 34 Strengths
3. Using Your Strengths to Succeed During Uncertain Times
4. Where Strengths and the Enneagram Meet
5. Gifts from the 34 Strengths to the World
6. How the 34 Strengths Deal with Stress
7. Growth Practices for Your Enneagram Type
8. Questions on Strengths and the Enneagram
9. Even Talents Need to Grow
10. My Little Secret about Personality Assessments

Looking Ahead

Now that we've looked back, let's look ahead. Here’s what we’re dreaming about for the future. While we’re optimistic (I’m high in Positivity and Belief), I’m also trying to be realistic because, well sometimes unexpected things happen (hello 2020). Plus my #34 talent theme is Strategic, so maybe I’m more optimistic than realistic.

But any way, here’s what we’re dreaming about for the second half of 2020:

• Release of research study on the connection between Enneagram and Strengths
• Launch of Enneagram + Strengths Network, a membership community for resourcing, training, and connecting around Enneagram and Strengths
• Presentation at the International Enneagram Association Conference on “Integrating the Enneagram and Gallup Strengths”
• Publishing two books—a devotional book on prayer and a kid’s devotional book on Christ
• Resuming onsite workshops
• Offering online workshops on next-level topics since we’re offering a summer’s worth of introductory workshops on Enneagram and on Strengths
• Opening up another cycle of Bootcamp

Sounds ambitious I know, and with Achiever at #30! On top of that, I’m a Type 9 on the Enneagram, sometimes thought of as "Lazy Number 9."

But here’s a good lesson on how we can all reach our intended outcomes through the talents and drives we possess. The way you get there may be different than other people. But know yourself, know where you're going, and use the best parts of you to get there. The key is learning how to use them together.

Despite some hard times for all of us, it has been a really good year in many ways. Thanks for trusting us with your time and attention. We look forward to what’s ahead in 2020 and finding helpful ways to serve you.

To God be the glory.