The Gallup Organization’s Clifton StrengthsFinder is a 180 question, web-based survey designed to identify your top five themes. The themes and the research upon which they are based are discussed in Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton’s book, “Now, Discover Your Strengths.“

The book’s basic theme is that you can accomplish more in life by doing activities that engage your strengths, rather than trying to improve the areas in which you’re simply not talented.

I found the results far more interesting and useful than the results of the personality tests I’ve taken. The results of the StrengthsFinder test aren’t about your personality, rather, they describe your areas of talent. Ultimately, this maps to the fundamental types of activities that get you engaged and excited. It’s a nice tool for thinking about the careers in which you can be truly exceptional.

In case you’re interested, these were my top five themes:

Competition — People strong in the Competition theme measure their progress against the performance of others. They strive to win first place and revel in contests.

Futuristic — People strong in the Futuristic theme are inspired by the future and what could be. They inspire others with their visions of the future.

Command — People strong in the Command theme have presence. They can take control of a situation and make decisions.

Individualization — People strong in the Individualization theme are intrigued with the unique qualities of each person. They have a gift for figuring out how people who are different can work together productively.

Activator — People strong in the Activator theme can make things happen by turning thoughts into action. They are often impatient.

More information is available at Gallup’s StrengthsFinder Center.