Work from your Core Strengths

Today I read something that reminded me of how important it is to remember your strengths and work from them. All too often we try to shore up our weak areas and forget to look at what has gotten us to where we are now. We cannot grow to our full potential if we continually work outside our core competencies and strengths. Improvement is related to ability. Find what you are good at and become great at it.



What happens if you spend all your time working on your weaknesses and forget about working on your strengths? You become good at best, and probably just mediocre or average at what you are trying to become. Occasionally you may have to work outside of your core strengths but you should always come back to what you do best. Don't settle at mediocrity, focus on your strong suit.



We always are taught to look at the areas that we are not doing so well in. In school we are told to keep ALL our grades up. For me, sometimes I just didn't get a subject and didn't get an "A"... OK I really didn't get many "A's" I will admit, but I did well in the areas that interested me and these were the areas that were my strengths. Math, English, Arts (drama/acting) were some of the areas that I was pretty strong in. Over the years this has served me well. I run a successful small business that requires I do the books (math) and speak and write for my living. (Drama/English) The other subjects, well, they just were not something that I found particularly important to work on. AND so far this has served me well.



I was reading a daily devotional and it told a story about a group of neighborhood kids that built a fort in the woods. They formed their own club with officers and all. When they shared this with their parents they explained who held what office the parents were astonished. See they had elected a four year old boy the president. Every one thought "he must be a born leader". Au contraire... See when asked how the boy had become president and why the boys had elected him president they explained; "Well he can't very well be secretary, because he can't read or write. He couldn't be treasurer because he can't count. He would never do as sergeant at arms cause he is just to small to throw anyone out. If we didn't choose him for anything he would feel bad and like we left him out. So we made him president.."



Unfortunately life doesn't work like that. You can't and don't become successful just because you show up. It is critical that you work from your strengths and continue to expand than hone them to be as strong as you can. This will assure you are a success at what you are good at.



Seek guidance, sharpen your core strengths, be patient and doors will open for you.



Live life with passion and a clear direction.



Rick



http://www.coachrick.net/