I always hear people give the advice that we should focus on our weaknesses and turn them into strengths. It sounds great in theory, but does it really all add up? I always agreed with that idea, but I noticed that my weaknesses seem to remain as weak as ever! Surely I am not alone here….am I?
It is pretty funny if you really stop and think about it.
Think about your most glaring personal weaknesses from 10 years ago…
Are you still weak in those areas?
I am guessing so even though I may not know you or your story. Although you may have improved, I bet you are still much weaker in those areas when compared to your natural strengths.
Do you agree with me?
Have you ever considered accepting your weaknesses for what they are? I hope you are not driving yourself crazy by trying to become someone that you were never meant to become. Why not focus instead on making your current strengths even stronger? I am talking about going from good to great! This is exactly why really successful people surround themselves with an amazing team. A carefully selected team is made up of unique skills and experiences that the leader does not possess alone.
This is where the saying that a team “is only as strong as its weakest link” comes from. A member with nothing to add to the collective strength of the group doesn’t deserve a seat at the table. They must demonstrate a real value or they are doing a disservice to themselves and the rest of the group.
This brings me back to the point of this blog post.
I said it early on and now I will say it again, focus on improving upon your strengths! You will be better because of this focus and so will everyone else who depends on you. How do you do this though? Personal development is a start, but we know that growth does not occur without struggle. This is why stepping out of your comfort zone is so important. It facilitates creativity, action, and ultimately growth. Your character is stretched and grows and so does your skillset. When you endure trials and step into the unknown, you come out of it different than when you went into them. There is no better educator than a real-life experience.
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Ask yourself, what you are strong at. Are you currently using your God-given talents to your advantage in business and in life? Are you living up to your potential? If not, what are you planning on doing about it? Someone somewhere is searching for a person with your skill set and unique talents right now. We all have a place that we belong, but sometimes the effort is required on our part to find it.
You have strengths that others lack and because of this, you have the ability to make a significant, positive impact on a person or a business right now.
Take full advantage of this opportunity and strive to maximize your greatness!
In Go Put Your Strengths to Work, a Wall Street Journal bestseller in hardcover, Buckingham will show you how to hone and apply your strengths for maximum success in your career.
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