Einzelgänger - What does that German word mean? The reason why I am asking this is because during my farewell lunch with my boss, he was kind enough to give me some advice, eg. words of wisdom for me to carry along with me to my new job. He said that I was an Einzelgänger. So of course I had to look it up, and here are the translations into English:

• mugwump - a person who acts independently or remains neutral, especially in politics. Rate: [8]


• lone wolf - one who prefers to go without the company or assistance of others, also called lone hand. Rate: [6]


• loner - One who avoids the company of other people. Rate: [5]


• maverick - an unbranded range animal, especially a calf that has become separated from its mother, traditionally considered the property of the first person who brands it, one that refuses to abide by the dictates of or resists adherence to a group; a dissenter. Rate: [6]

I rated each definition in bold red with a score from one (disagree the most) ten (agree the most) indicating what I think about this. Of course I am not the most objective person to make judgements about myself. Conclusion: there is some truth in what he says, probably more than I would like to admit. Also it can be seen as a talent which can be used to my advantage, but like every other talent one is born with it should be used within reasonable limits and tempered whenever required.