Using a spoon is frustrating.
We’ve been told “Know your weaknesses and work on them.” It certainly makes sense to recognize and eradicate them where possible, but like anyone who has tried to row a boat with a spoon can tell you, it’s a lot of hard work! Inadequacies have a way of zapping the passion from us while rendering our efforts all but futile. We put so much in yet get so little out.
Champions focus on what they CAN, not what they CAN NOT.
They spend less time breaking their backs mastering weaknesses and dedicate more of themselves to their strengths. Weakness are not ignored. No, they are ruthlessly worked on for improvement but not at the expense of strengths. Focusing on our weaknesses can be daunting because we invest so much effort yet progress so little. It’s the inverse of the 80/20 rule. It expends 80% of our capacity just to return a mere 20% results. Even more important than tempering our weak areas is building upon our strengths, for therein lies the real leverage for accomplishment. This is where we see exponential growth. But to do that we must know ourselves well.
English Writer Jonathan Swift likened the search for strength to mining for treasure when he remarked that “men are accused of not knowing their own weakness, yet perhaps few know their own strength. It is in men as in soils, where sometimes there is a vein of gold which the owner knows not of.”
In every single one of us there’s hidden treasure and ores of strength. The point is to discover them. We must dig into the mine of our abilities to unearth our strengths – those veins of gold – and look for ways to extract and use them to our advantage. Zig Ziglar reminds us that we already have all the characteristics necessary for success, if we recognize, claim, develop and use them. Easier said than done? Keep in mind that no success comes without effort, but champions become what they are by exerting their efforts in the right places – their strengths. Mine it and you’ll find it. Here’s how:
KNOW THE MINE.
Take careful note of what you enjoy and the areas where you excel. This is where you’ll discover gold. What classes did you get the most A’s? What games and activities do you find most fun and fulfilling? That addictive exhilaration that we get from winning a game, solving a problem, or finishing an artistic endeavor is the combination of a strength fueled by passion. When you find that mine by all means stake your claim and explore it.
QUARRY.
Try new things, explore new possibilities. No explorer has discovered new territory by staying put in the homeland. No athlete gets better in the game by practicing within their comfort zone. Get out there, embrace change, and you might just surprise yourself in what you find. You may discover hidden gems of talent, new realms of passion, or forgotten areas of interest. Embrace the adventure!
POLISH THE GEMS.
Dusty, uncut, and unpolished ore are but gems of strengths intermingled with weaknesses. They are treasures that too often go undervalued. It’s up to you to do the work, to polish and bring out the best from what you’ve discovered. Look for ways to continuously improve your craft. In doing so, your strengths will outshine your weaknesses.
COMPLEMENT.
Set your gems in the right metals, accentuate their highlights. It’s true that inspecting our capabilities opens our eyes both to our weaknesses and strengths and allows us to find ways to overcome weaknesses by maximizing the value our of strengths. What’s important afterward is that you put your strengths on display. Share them with the world. Only then will their true value be realized.
“A box without hinges, key, or lid, yet golden treasure inside is hid.” ~ J.R.R. Tolkien
What golden strengths should you be sharing with the world?
What’s holding you back?
What strengths have you discovered recently?
What gems of talent are you polishing to perfection?
[explore more championship traits here]
