The Proust Questionnaire is a questionnaire about one's personality. Its name and modern popularity as a form of interview is owed to the responses given by the French writer Marcel Proust. The following format has been borrowed from Vanity Fair magazine.
1. What is your idea of perfect happiness? Sitting on an over-sized couch with my bride, my dog, a bottomless cup of hot tea, and a pile of books.
4. What is your greatest fear? Losing my sight.
5. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Sloth.
6. What is the trait you most deplore in others? Lacking a sense of context and connection.
7. Which living person do you most admire? President Barack Obama – he exudes calm, grace and wisdom in all situations. Traits I admire, and aspire to emulate.
8. What is your greatest extravagance? Fountain pen ink – in many hues.
10. What is your current state of mind? Challenged and frustrated. (The former I can handle, combined with the latter feels unproductive.)
11. What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Obedience. Without the ability to explore – or exercise – counterpoint, we cannot get a total point-of-view.
12. On what occasion do you lie? When the truths only serves to hurt others.
13. What do you most dislike about your appearance? My hair. If I could mold it into a shape that was perfectly repeatable, my OCD would be calm.
14. Which living person do you most despise? The person who cannot offer consideration, time or positive thoughts to other living beings.
15. What is the quality you most like in a man? Self-deprecation; understanding and embracing your flaws in a genuine manner is admirable.
16. What is the quality you most like in a woman? Self-promotion; being able to speak freely about your strengths without judgment.
17. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? "Okay?", "There's two ways to look at this...", "That’s fair.", "Perception is reality, so manage perception.", and "Embrace ambiguity."
18. What or who is the greatest love of your life? Learning.
19. When and where were you happiest? Walking with my bride, in the early morning when the world is fresh, new and quiet.
20. Which talent would you most like to have? The ability to fly.
21. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? My sense of confidence.
22. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Building a team of consultants that cared for each other and the work they did for our customers. Those bonds and relationships have persisted long after our team disbanded.
23. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? A chef's knife – it has a clear purpose, it can be resharpened and honed, and through passion and skill it provides pleasure to many people.
24. Where would you most like to live? Mexico or Belize within sight of ancient civilizations.
25. What is your most treasured possession? A 1933 Ingersoll Mickey Mouse pocket watch given to me by my bride.
26. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Mourning more than one family member consecutively.
27. What is your favorite occupation? Art teacher.
28. What is your most marked characteristic? Curiosity.
29. What do you most value in your friends? Confidentiality.
30. Who are your favorite writers? Mark Twain, Ambrose Bierce.
31. Who is your hero of fiction? Frodo Baggins.
32. Which historical figure do you most identify with? General Omar Bradley, because he exemplified humble servant leadership.
33. Who are your heroes in real life? My parents.
34. What are your favorite names? Angus, Fergus, Zoey Apple, CYD and TJ Snodgrass.
35. What is it that you most dislike? Arrogance.
36. What is your greatest regret? Not taking more calculated risks.
37. How would you like to die? Hearing the laughter of children.
38. What is your motto? "Be constructively discontent."