My secret sauce

Ingredients:

•  3 cups persistence
•  1 cup (self) motivation
•  1 cup determination
•  4 heaping Tbsp curiosity
•  1 Tbsp support system
•  3 tsp intellect
•  A dash impulse

Directions:
1) From Brittany with love - Brittany says I'm one of the sweetest and kindest people she's ever met! Honestly, I'm so flattered. Brittany and I used to be mortal enemies, but our relationship has grown over the years. I think we've uncovered many similarities, and it's brought us closer. I will also take her statement that I'm always there when you need me and claim I'm reliable. Admittedly, there are exceptions to my reliability because I prioritize my family and friends first, but overall, I do my best to accommodate everyone--I always have.
2) I had to include Beth in this assignment; she's seen parts of me that my other close friends/family haven't, and I think that gives her a unique perspective. Beth fell a little short describing how exactly I'm unique, but I'm going to get her to expound upon things. I want to know more about what Beth thinks, what she sees. 

3) Everyone should ask their mother this question. Mine started to cry. - Who knows us better than our mothers? I surprised my mother with this, and her response didn't fail to entertain me. It's one of those sweet mommy-daughter moments, which is strange for us. I was shocked she said I was generous, but I do agree. I think because I look at myself with a perfectionist lens, and I know my mother and I are very much alike, I expected her to give me working points.
4) Compliments of Thom - Thom's response made me blush. He really tapped into who I am, though not necessarily how I see myself. His vision of me is much more pure. And incredibly flattering. Now I want to dress up like a woodland faerie and save some animals.
5) An underwhelming finale - One of the people I expected to know me best was the most tongue-tied. To be fair, I gave none of my interviewees advance notice of what I was doing--Beth being the exception as she got a voicemail and responded via text. I wanted honest answers; I didn't want anyone to manufacture an answer that would sound good but didn't truly apply to me. I'll have to work on my impact with this one. 
 
Review: 
My own perception of what others think of me has always been that I'm a stuck up bitch. I'm intelligent, assertive and communicative. If I have a problem, or can make a contribution, I address it openly and honestly. As people get to know me, they realize I tend to think of a collective "we" rather than the individual "I," and there's a shift in perspective that opens the pathway to a deeper connection. My interviewees do see that I'm communicative, and they also describe me as caring, generous and personable. I think I'm much harsher than those closest to me; I see beyond what they see, and they're at an advantage (versus people meeting me for the first time) because they've known me as long, and as intimately, as they have. My interviewees are all "correct," though (as if their opinions could be wrong). I suppose if I were to add some components to my ingredients, it would have to be kind, connected to nature/the universe and thoughtful.