Geniuses in the Real World: The "Tenacious" Husband vs. the Inventive Wife
I realized something about my husband. Something fairly significant in terms of our relationship and how we go about doing things. For example, he doesn't like using a particular kitchen tool that is meant to keep messy things off of counter tops. It's a spoon and pot holder lid holder. A white plastic dishwasher safe two sided contraption. Now, I have no problem using it and putting it in the dishwasher. My husband, on the other hand would prefer to NOT use said kitchen tool because he doesn't like how awkwardly it fits in the dishwasher.
After some observation of this for many years and several lighthearted conversations, I have realized it has nothing to do with the tool itself but how we both tend to approach loading the dishwasher, which is related to both of our geniuses. Well, technically my known genius versus one of my husband's suspected geniuses.
I believe my husband has the genius of tenacity. Why? Because he likes to get things done. He likes to start and project and finish it, even if it means sacrificing dishwasher detergent or a poor paper napkin or plate (sorry trees). How have I come to this conclusion, you ask? Because he would rather get the dishwasher loaded as quickly as possible, emptying the sink of any dishes and it takes too much time for him to re-organize how he loads things for the sake of washing said kitchen contraption, this leaving a single item in the sink because he doesn't want to take the time to re-arrange the dishes. He just wants to finish the job.
Me, on the other hand? I don't mind using my genius of invention to think of new ways I can rearrange the items in the dishwasher to make this kitchen contraption fit while STILL being able to fully load the dishwasher. I don't mind looking at it as a puzzle, inventing new and creative ways to load the dishwasher when I've used this particular kitchen item. In fact, I almost see it as a challenge of sorts and proudly declare to my husband once I've loaded it to his satisfaction by ensuring an empty sink while still successfully fitting the kitchen contraption in with everything else.
What's the point of this true story? That it is possible to find ways in the real world to use my geniuses for the benefit of my marriage by enabling (my other genius) my husband to work in his (suspected) genius.
Stay tuned for more from my new blog mini-series, Geniuses in the Real World found at www.jenniferjthomas.com.
P.S. If you want to know more about the Six Types of Working Genius, head over to www.workinggenius.com.
