Learning from

Spilled Milk
Stephen Price Patton
January 26, 2021
OGL 482 Pro Seminar II
Professor: Janice Lawthorn, Ph.D.
Introduction
This section will introduce the methods and processes involved in compiling,
sorting, and applying the data from my assessments to find recurring themes in my
personality.
 Research Process and Methods
The data sources that I referenced to develop this thematic analysis include personal reflective papers and self-assessments that I
completed throughout the past few weeks. I compiled the data sources (Outlined in the following three slides) by going through each
document and highlighting the various information that would be related to the recurring concepts that I found throughout the data
sources. I created codes for the most common themes present in my results so I could categorize the highlighted information into groups
that either support or contradict those themes. There were a few themes that were not as apparent and took a lot more internal
reflection on the results to develop. “However, it is important to remember that themes do not have to be large, sweeping statements; in
fact, it is sometimes better if they are not. A theme does not have to encapsulate your philosophy of life in a single sentence. Instead,
they are simply statements you can make about yourself with a high degree of confidence because they reflect a clear pattern of
behavior, interests, values, and choices, as is evidenced in your self-assessment data” (Harrington & Hall, 2007, pg. 55). I chose to
developed short themes that I felt reflect the pattern of behavior and interests that I discovered while analyzing my self-assessment
data. The recurring themes I used to categorize my data were the following:

Data Categories:
• (L1) Location/Environment
• (R1) Persistence
• (I1) Independence/Autonomy
• (C1) Conventional/Structured
• (T1) Investigative/Critical Thinking
• (P1) Extrovert Personality
• (P2) Introvert Personality
• (E1) Entrepreneurial Style
• (M1) Economics/Politics
• (S1) Confidence
• (S2) Self Critical
• (Z1) Success
• (F1) Family
My Data Sources
This section will introduce the various assessments and reflective exercises from
which my data has been derived.
 Data Sources
• Life Story Personal Narrative (LSPN)-This reflective exercise required that I create a substantial narrative of events in my
life that influenced how I see the world and my self-concept. Additionally, throughout the retelling of my story, we were
required to identify major themes which have persisted throughout our life.
• Three Questions (3Qs) – This reflective exercise required that I create answers for the three important questions: What
gives me joy?, What am I good at?, and What does the world need me to do? This exercise required me to discuss my
strengths with another person, which gave me insight into what other people viewed my strengths as.
• Identities Exercise (IE) – For this assessment, I was required to identify and prioritize the various roles in my life to see how
they influence my self-concept and actions. The life roles were then connected with our top values that we identified in
the Values Checklist.
• Values, Desired Purpose, Vision (VDPV) – These exercises required that I reflect on what I value most in life and what
values I am willing to sacrifice in order to hold true them. I was also required to reflect on what I desired in each area of
my life. This allowed connections to be made between my values, what I desired, and how I envision the future.
• Work Values Assessment (WV) - This exercise required users to rank various work values from Low to High importance as
it relates to the user’s ideal career. It reflects on what the user prioritizes when looking for careers and what aspects are
non-negotiable.
• Big Five Personality Trait Test (BF) - This exercise from my OGL 220 course in 2019, required users to Agree or Disagree
with a series of statements about your personality and how you approach various scenarios.
 Data Sources Cont.
• Kuder Interest Assessment (IA) - This assessment identified areas of career interest based on my top Holland personality
types. It required that I answer a series of reflective questions regarding activities I am interested in doing. Using the
Holland codes, it allows you to find majors and occupations related to your interests.
• Kuder Skills Confidence Assessment (SC) - This assessment identified areas of confidence regarding skills in various careers
based on my Holland personality types. I was required to answer a series of reflective questions regarding my confidence
in doing various activities. Using the Holland codes, it allows you to find majors and occupations related to your areas of
confidence
• Motivation and Career Anchor Assessment (MCA) – This assessment required users to rank a series of work values
depending on how important that value is to your career choice. It allows users to reflect on their values and understand
what primarily influences their self-concept. It identifies which self-concept or career anchor is the most important to you.
• Jung Typology Test (JT) – This assessment required users to rank a series of communication and learning styles based on
how well you identify with them. This would result in a 4-letter formula, along with the strengths of preferences and
description of the users personality type.
• Big 5 Personality Test (B5) – This assessment required users to a series of statements with a spectrum of Agree to Disagree
in order to determine the user’s personality type.
• TypeFinder Personality Test (TF) - This assessment requires users to responds to a series of statements that either
accurately or inaccurately describe that person. The assessment uses the responses to determine strengths and
personality type based off the 16 personality types created by Myers & Briggs.
My 10 Themes
This section will explore the themes that I found will reflecting on the various
assessments and exercises previously introduced.
Theme #1 Having a career with autonomy and a flexible
work schedule has always been very important to me
Supporting Evidence:
• Kuder Interest Assessment (IA) My Investigative category ranked 2nd highest in my Career
Interest Assessment. The Investigative category involves gathering information and solving
complex problems which must involve a great deal of autonomy in order to achieve the best
results. (L1)
• Motivation and Career Anchors Assessment (MCA) My Primary Career Anchor was
Entrepreneurial Creativity and my Secondary Career Anchor was Autonomy/Independence
which aligns with this theme perfectly. (I1)
• Work Values Assessment (WV) My work values assessment ranked Independence as my 3rd
most valued aspect of work. Being able to rely on myself and make important decisions is a
very important part of any job I hold. (I1)
Contradictory Evidence:
• Kuder Skills Confidence Assessment (SC) I ranked highest in the Conventional category which is
more aligned with activities that follow established processes and very little room for
autonomy. (C1)
Theme #1 Having a career with autonomy and a flexible
work schedule has always been very important to me
Reflection:
Having the ability to decide my work schedule is very important to me. I have
grown up with a Father that was restricted entirely by his strict work schedule
causing him to miss out on many events in my childhood. This impacted me
because I want to be able to control the order in which I prioritize activities. Being
autonomous means I am not having someone controlling every little aspect of each
task I do and allows me to complete tasks more efficiently.
Theme #2 I have always enjoyed being in an
entrepreneurial environment
Supporting Evidence:
• Jung Typology Test (JT) This assessment gave me the 4-Letter Personality code ENFJ, which is
characterized by “Have a tremendous amount of Charisma by which many are drawn to their
nurturant” (Human Metric.com). Charisma is essential to entrepreneurial activities. (P1)
• Big5 Personality Test (B5) I ranked highest in the Conscientiousness category, showing that I
dislike precise details and prefer to have flexibility. (I1)
• Motivation and Career Anchors Assessment (MCA) My primary career anchor was
Entrepreneurial Creativity, which is aligned with this theme directly. (E1)
Contradictory Evidence:
• Kuder Interests Assessment (IA) The Enterprising category was far down the career interests
list. It ranked in 4th place out of six categories. The Enterprising category includes
entrepreneurial skills and activities which I should have ranked higher if I have always enjoyed
that environment. (C1)
Theme #2 I have always enjoyed being in an
entrepreneurial environment
Reflection:
I find jobs that have no growth potential or no room to innovate as restricting. I
have always found joy in creating something myself and trying to market that
service or product to potential customers. Being an entrepreneur puts me in a
position closer to the decision makers of a business. Rather than working a retail
job where my duties are set and no feedback is warranted, I like giving suggestions
to refine processes and expand the business.
Theme #3 I have always been interested in
activities that involve critical thinking
Supporting Evidence:
• Kuders Interest Assessment (IA) I scored 2nd highest in the Investigative category which
involves activities that require critical thinking such as information gathering and problem
solving. (T1)
• Life Story Personal Narrative (LSPN) In my personal narrative I was constantly trying to crunch
the numbers and find a way to get my dream car. I was faced with an impossible task of getting
a car I couldn’t afford, but with a little critical thinking and planning, I was able to achieve the
goal of attaining my dream car. (T1)
• Work Values Assessment (WV) The work values that came in 4th was “Challenge”, which shows
that I enjoy difficult problems that require a high level of critical thinking to solve. (T1)
• Big Five Personality Trait Test (BF) - The Big Five test from my OGL 220 course scored my
Intellect/Imagination in the 91st percentile, the highest scoring category in my results. (T1)
Contradictory Evidence:
• Kuders Skills Confidence Assessment (SC) My Investigative category cames in second to last
place in my Skills Confidence assessment. This category includes activities that require critical
thinking and problem solving, which I would have expected to rank higher. (C1)
Theme #3 I have always been interested in
activities that involve critical thinking
Reflection:
Problem solving has always interested me. In high school I joined a computer
programming course that spanned all four years of my high school career. This
involved critical thinking to determine why things were not working as expected
and analyzing a situation to diagnose where the problem could be originating from.
Figuring out solutions or original ideas by way of critical thinking has brought me
more satisfaction than any other type of activity.
Theme #4 I have a very strong interest in
issues of economics and politics
Supporting Evidence:
• Life Story Personal Narrative (LSPN) I have always been interested in money and influence,
which is exactly what economic and political issues entail. When I was recruited into a pyramid
scheme, I committed to it so religiously since I was so intrigued by the idea of using political
influence to build a business that would fix my economic problems. (M1)
• Identities Exercise (IE) I prioritize my role as a Commercial Investment Broker and my political
affiliation as Independent as the top roles that I attend to in my life. These are both priorities in
my life because of how interested I am in those topics. (M1)
• Kuder Skills Confidence Assessment (SC) Enterprising was the second highest ranked category
in my Skills confidence assessment. This category includes activities focused on economic gain
and using political/social influence to create success. (M1)
Contradictory Evidence:
• Big 5 Personality Test (B5) My highest ranking category was Conscientiousness, meaning I
dislike precise details and prefer flexible schedules. These are the exact opposite of Political and
Economic issues which have punctual deadlines and precise details. (I1)
Theme #4 I have a very strong interest in
issues of economics and politics
Reflection:
I find economics and politics very intriguing. The most influential and the most
wealthy people are heavily involved in these two areas. I began investing in stocks
when I turned eighteen years old and became interested in the economics of
cryptocurrencies in the past few years. I do not understand why most people are
not interested in these two areas since they are what create and influence your
success over the long term. My father started his own business when I was little
and sold it before we moved to Reno. This motivated me to understand economics
and politics so that I could better navigate the business environment.
Theme #5 My work environment is a very
important determinant of job satisfaction
Supporting Evidence:
• Motivation and Career Anchors Assessment (MCA) My secondary career anchor was
Independence/Autonomy which a work environment can either inhibit or prohibit very
effectively. (I1)
• Work Values Assessment (WV) My Work Values Assessment ranked the Workplace as my
second most important value in any career. (L1)
• Life Story Personal Narrative (LSPN) In my personal narrative I took a job at Savemart so that I
could afford my dream car. Since I did not like the work environment I started looking for
another job. After getting hired at Office Depot I knew that this work environment was not
different enough from the previous retail job. I was not feeling fulfilled by any job I worked until
the pyramid scheme, where the work environment offered independence and autonomy. (L1)
Contradictory Evidence:
• No Contradictory Evidence Found: I believe this is because I discovered so much evidence that
my workplace does have such an impact on my attitude and behavior while working. This is a
non-negotiable aspect of any job I have. (S1)
Theme #5 My work environment is a very
important determinant of job satisfaction
Reflection:
As discussed in my personal narrative, my work environment has a large influence
on my behavior and satisfaction while working. I worked in Savemart and Office
Depot where the environment was not aligned with my values. I got trapped in a
pyramid scheme-type job because I genuinely enjoyed the entrepreneurial
environment and attitudes of everyone else involved. Although this turned out to
be a poor decision it allowed me to understand the type of work environment that
made me the most satisfied.
Theme #6 I vacillate between being involved too
much with others and seeking refuge in isolation
Supporting Evidence:
• Jung Typology Test (JT) I was slightly leaning towards the Extrovert side of the spectrum in the
Jung Typology test. This close ranking is the second assessment that resulted in a mix of Extro
and Introversion. (P1)
• Life Story Personal Narrative (LSPN) After the events in Los Angeles I became stuck in a lonely,
isolated state which was the results from a night of extreme Extroversion and outgoing
behavior. (P2)
• Big Five Personality Traits Test (BF) - I scored the lowest in the Emotional Stability category of
this assessment, scoring in the 9th percentile. This likely shows that I vacillate between Intra
and Extroversion. (P1) & (P2)
Contradictory Evidence:
• TypeFinder Personality Test (TF) These results showed I was more of an extravert personality
type. It also showed a subcategory for my energy style which showed I was far more Prominent
and Expressive than I was Reserved and Private. (P1)
Theme #6 I vacillate between being involved too
much with others and seeking refuge in isolation
Reflection:
It has been a repeating theme in my life where I will go from very motivated and
social to becoming very unmotivated and anti-social. As in my personal narrative,
after the events that took place in Los Angeles, I became very isolated and did not
want to be with any family or friends. On the other extreme I tend to talk too much
and want to be with my friends and family at every moment of the day. My
assessment results pointed out that I was close to being 50% Introvert and 50%
Extravert aligning with this theme of being too involved to too isolated.
Theme #7 My self-concept wavers from
extremely confident to highly self-critical
Supporting Evidence:
• Life Story Personal Narrative (LSPN) In my personal narrative it is a recurring theme that I
become blinded by my desires and make a large, impactful decision that I would soon regret
and second guess. (S1)
• Jung Typology Test (JT) & TypeFinder Personality Test (TF) I received a higher score for Judging,
rather than Perceiving, in the Jung Typology Test; While the TypeFinder Personality test gave
me a higher score in Perceiving, rather than Judging. This shows that I waver between being
confident in how I perceive outside information to relying on my own internal judgements to
make sense of the outside world. (S1)
• TypeFinder Personality Test (TF) These results showed that I am a “Tough” person, meaning I
am a less forgiving person, even towards myself at times. (S2)
Contradictory Evidence:
• No Contradictory Evidence Found - I think there was no contradictory evidence because I had
evidence of being both confident and self-critical, which automatically negates any evidence
that I do not waver between the two.
Theme #7 My self-concept wavers from
extremely confident to highly self-critical
Reflection:
When I get my mind set on an idea, I do not stop striving for that goal until I have
achieved it. I feel on top of the world and excited to achieve my goals. There are
other times when I feel like I cannot do anything to get myself in a better position
which then leads to becoming highly self-critical. When I feel self critical I remain
isolated and solely try to work on myself. I am extremely confident when I feel
prepared, but when I do not feel prepared, I over prepare myself by becoming
highly self-critical. This aligns with the theme of wavering from being too involved
with others to being too isolated.
Theme #8 I can accomplish anything I put
my mind to
Supporting Evidence:
• Life Story Personal Narrative (LSPN) I was a 16 year old that went through four vehicles by the
time I was 18 years old. I had it in my mind that I would get my dream car and did not stop
overcoming obstacle until I achieved that goal. (S1)
• Work Values Assessment (WV) The work values that ranked 4th highest was Challenge. I am
not afraid of a challenge because I am willing to problem solve and find previously hidden
solutions that other people might not have realized. I find joy in achieving the “impossible” (R1)
• TypeFinder Personality Test (TF) I was very split with my scores on Judging versus Perceiving.
Where most people do one or the other, I feel like I have a healthy balance of perceiving and
judging information so I can utilize it for my best interests. This allows me to have a unique
approach to problems people would otherwise not be able to figure out. (S1)
Contradictory Evidence:
• Life Story Personal Narrative (LSPN) Once I had purchased my dream car, I began to fall behind
on my car payments due to not having a job. This caused me to lose my car and reversed all the
accomplishments I had worked so hard to obtain over the preceding years. (S2)
Theme #8 I can accomplish anything I put
my mind to
Reflection:
As discussed in my personal narrative, I was determined to get my hands on my
dream car. I had no money to accomplish this goal so I had to use critical thinking to
find a path to my dream car. I traded cars, sold cars, got a job, and finally financed
my dream car. I had accomplished what I had set my mind to but the jobs were not
bringing me enough joy to make the car worth my time. I quit my job and vowed
never to take a job that did not satisfy me. I went through a pyramid scheme on my
journey to find a more satisfying job before ending up at a commercial real estate
brokerage that checked off all my boxes. A few years later, I now have my dream car
back in my hands, totally paid off, with a job that I enjoy.
Theme #9 As I get older, family and friends play
an increasingly important part in my identity
Supporting Evidence:
• Life Story Personal Narrative (LSPN) Throughout my narrative, I learn many lessons that
compound into teaching me that I need to enjoy the small things in life because material things
are not forever. After the hardships I endured I came out with a renewed appreciation for the
people in my life and the small, often overlooked aspects of my life. (F1)
• Jung Typology Test (JT) My results showed that I swayed more to the Extrovert side of the
personality spectrum. This shows that I recieve energy, joy, and comfort from interacting with
other people. I used to be far more Introverted but have slowly been developing my personality
to be more outgoing as I get older. (P1)
Contradictory Evidence:
• Motivation and Career Anchors Assessment (MCA) The Lifestyle Integration was the second-
lowest scoring career anchor on my assessment. This shows that I still value Independence and
Workplace over the ability to integrate my family and friends into a well balanced lifestyle. (Z1)
• Work Values Assessment (WV) Out of the 12 Values ranked in the Work Values Assessment,
Lifestyle ranked 11th on the list. This shows that I place higher priority on Prestige and
Independence over work-life integration. (Z1)
Theme #9 As I get older, family and friends play
an increasingly important part in my identity
Reflection:
While I was in high school and my first years in college, I took my family and
friends for granted. I felt like they were things that would be with me no matter
what so I didn’t have to put any time or effort into those relationships. Now I
better understand the fragility of everything I own and the relationships I have. I
value my family more and realize how much effort they had put into me to give
me the best life possible. I want to give back as much as I can because I did not
put that effort in over the previous years. Family and friends play a much larger
part in my identity now because I will always defend them and look out for their
best interests instead of focusing entirely on my own goals.
Theme #10 I enjoy working on complex
problems on my own
Supporting Evidence:
• Kuder Skills Confidence Assessment (SC) I ranked lowest in the Social category which aligns
with the theme that I prefer to work on complex problems alone. Social activities include
solving problems with help from others and collaborating to accomplish tasks. (P2)
• Life Story Personal Narrative (LSPN) Throughout my personal narrative I tend to become
obsessed with an idea that I then work to achieve without consulting a family member or
friend. When I have my mind set on working on a task, I like to have a quiet space to think
critically, only coming together to consult when I have results. (I1)
• Work Values Assessment (WV) My 3rd highest ranked work value was Independence because I
do not enjoy being micromanaged or told step by step how I should accomplish a task. I prefer
activities that have offer the freedom for me to use my skills to find the best possible solution.
(I1)
Contradictory Evidence:
• TypeFinder Personality Test (TF) These results showed I was more of an extravert, but also has
a subcategory for my energy style which showed I was far more Prominent and Expressive than
I was Reserved and Private. (P1)
Theme #10 I enjoy working on complex
problems on my own
Reflection:
Independence and autonomy are two values that I prioritize highly. Working on
complex problems by myself is much easier for me because I can sit and use critical
thinking to come up with unique solutions that might not have been realized
otherwise. Working with multiple people on complex problems often leads to
frustration when we have conflicting opinions, especially when the other person
tries to take control and micromanage my decisions. I prefer collaborating after I
have worked on the complex problem independently to discuss potential ways to
improve the process using aspects from each of our approaches.
My Personal Vision Statement
Vision Statement:
For as long as I can stand on my own two-feet, through engaged business practices and more
diligently focusing on personal relationships, regardless of any personal sacrifice, I will
continuously strive to improve the lives of as many people as I can reach.

Reflection:
Throughout this statement development process I learned that I wanted to make the people I
work with and my family members feel like they have someone that supports their dreams. To
begin breaking down what matters most to me, I wrote statements such as “I am at my best
when…” and “I want to be a person who…” This helped me ask the introspective questions that
gave me an idea of what I want to accomplish in life.
My Personal Mission Statement
Mission Statement:
I am dedicated to standing for integrity and my protecting my credibility, both as a professional
and as a loved one to my family, while respecting values and convictions that are different from
my own, and handling tense situations with a firm, yet patient hand.

Reflection:
While developing my mission statement, I looked at what my themes and values showed about
what I prioritize. I asked myself if success would be my mission if it meant overlooking my
relationships, which was an immediate “No!” This brought me to develop a mission of
protecting my credibility as a professional and as a person.
Conclusion
I have learned that I waver from extravert to introvert very often. This thematic
analysis has allowed me to discover what aspects of my personal and work life
matter most to me, which are my relationships and my independence. I want to be
able to have a successful career while not being restricted by tight schedules so
that I can put time and effort into my personal life as well. My work environment
needs to offer a sense of competition and have a performance-based
compensation because it keeps me on my toes. The satisfaction I get from
entrepreneurial environments allows me to stay motivated and strive for greatness.
References
1. Kuder Assessments: https://asu.kuder.com/home/dashboard
2. Jung Typology Test: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp
3. The TypeFinder Personality Test: https://www.truity.com/test/type-finder-personality-test-new
4. Big Five Personality Test: https://www.123test.com/
5. Big Five Traits Test (Results from March 2019, OGL 220) https://openpsychometrics.org/tests/IPIP-BFFM/1.php
6. Harrington, B, & Hall, D. T. (2007). Career management & work/life integration: Using self-assessment to navigate
contemporary careers. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.