Play to Your
Strengths
-- by Gary Lockwood, http://www.bizsuccess.com
-- http://www.redtienda.com/english/newsletter60.htm#1Remember in
school, when you signed up for subjects in which
you were already knowledgeable? How did this make
you feel? "Great! This is going to be easy.
"What advice did you get from your
counselors? Probably, they recommended you take
classes where you were weakest. What a drag!
While
learning new subjects is a great idea, striving
to develop weaknesses can work against you.
Conventional wisdom says we should work on
improving our weaknesses. This is a terrible
waste of time, talent and opportunity.
Imagine
what would have happened if Chopin, Einstein,
Chris Evert, or Pavarotti had followed that
advice. All these people devoted their life to
developing their natural strengths. As a result,
they each were tops in their field.
Highly
successful entrepreneurs, as well as top
scientists, artists, athletes and entertainers
throughout history have achieved greatness by
focusing on their areas of strength.
Everyone
has a natural aptitude in something. We all have
a special 'gift'. You may be especially good at
working with numbers, drawing pictures, teaching
children, growing plants or caring for those less
fortunate than you. Your special talent may
involve music, athletic ability, empathy,
writing, or working with your hands.
Chances
are, you don't even recognize your own aptitude.
You might think that all of us can see and
appreciate the subtleties of color the same as
you. You may not get that some of us are not as
graceful as you. You might believe that all
people are able to effortlessly grow a beautiful
garden.
The truth
is that we are all very different. You are able
to do some things better than I can. And, I can
do some things better than you.
How do
you discover your natural talents? First, write
down a list of those things that you do that seem
easy for you. These are the things that you can
do that seem almost effortless. Often, the tasks
that are easy for us are those where we have a
special aptitude.
Next,
make a list of those things you do where time
just seems to fly by. When you are doing these
activities, you may look up and realize that
several hours have passed without you even
realizing it. This is a good clue to activities
where you have natural talent.
Finally,
write all the activities that make you happy.
These are things that make you smile. These are
the tasks you would do just for yourself, with no
promise of gain, just because they're fun,
interesting and fulfilling.
Look
through the three lists to find the common
activities. These are likely to be the areas of
your natural aptitude and talent. These are the
areas of greatest potential for you. Imagine if
you could spend most of your time developing and
playing at something that makes you happy, where
time flies and where it's easy for you. Wow!
Don't get
caught up in the old advice to work on your
weaknesses. Hire someone who is good where you
are weak. Delegate tasks that you don't enjoy to
others who do enjoy those things. Automate the
repetitious tasks. Contract out the chores that
you are not great at doing.
No matter
how hard you try, it is unlikely you will ever be
more than average in areas where you do not have
an aptitude. Always working on your weaknesses
undermines your self esteem since you will focus
mostly on your deficiencies.
On the
other hand, working to develop your natural
talents is self rewarding and motivating,
allowing you to continually realize higher and
higher levels of ability, achievement and
success. Invest your time and energy in being
great at something--"Really Great." You
will be happier. And the recipients of your work,
your customers, will reward you for your
excellence. What a combination; doing what you
love and people pay you for it!
Focus on
your strengths. Experience the immense
satisfaction that comes with being superb at
something.
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