I am a fixer
I solve problems.
I always was aware of this, but the Evil HR Lady identified this role as some sort of archetype.
It's fun to find that some kind of grandiose term applies to you. Like how you see yourself while reading about the 'types' of people in The Tipping Point, and realizing your friends fit some of those roles.
I'm not the only fixer I know, of course, which must be a pre-requisite for being in such a position. How else can you help people with your limited personal skillset unless you know many more people with access to ever greater skillsets?
Having said that, I must say thank you to friends who helped me with various problems recently and everyone else who helps out whenever.
If you're wondering if you're such a person, one telltale sign is to hear one of your friends say, "how do you know this?" with some mixture of shock and admiration.
If you want to begin, figure out something that always confuses people and play with it until you have a good understanding. Computers and I get along that way. I use them until they break, then I figure out how to fix them. Eventually.
If that sounds too daunting, and it often is, another fun option is to just read up on any policies and procedures at work. One tiny part of my job actually involves looking at how different companies prepare those sorts of reports. I look at my own company's policies, though, to figure out what kind of bonus perks we're eligible for. And then I incessantly remind my friends to take advantage of those perks.
After all, if something's valuable and you're eligible for it, someone must think you deserve it for some reason. So go for it.
This philosophy may have actually destroyed the Soviet Union, or it could have been Catholicism.
Or some strong combination of both. Possibly Polish 'National Spirit.' There must be a connection.