Knowing Your Strengths

P.O Box 1540, Albany Western Australia 6331
Phone/Fax: (08) 98 418 418
E-mail: abl-alb@omninet.net.au

Knowing Your Strengths
From my observation it appears that some people waste a lot of perfectly good energy wishing they could do things they can’t. They hear someone play the piano and say longingly, “If only I could make such beautiful music!” They watch an athlete, hear a stirring speech, or read a well-crafted novel and lament, “I wish I could do that!” Well, my theory is that everybody is good at something and that the key both to achievement and satisfaction is in knowing what that “something” is, developing it to a maximal degree, and using it. In other words, play to your strengths. One young family I know of has a daughter who is trying to decide what she wants to do when she grows up. As with most seven-year-olds, she sees the world as her domain to conquer. She has ruled nothing out as yet. You have to admire that kind of optimism - and pray that nothing wrings it out of her. At the same time, her optimism must have a bit of reality mixed with it. So there has been a dilemma. Her current hot options are between being a rock singer and a star tennis player. The reality factor here is that she occasionally hits the tennis ball; she never hits a note! So her mum and dad have had no great difficulty in deciding between singing lessons and tennis instruction. However, with us grown-ups, time is more of the essence. We may not have another five or ten years to cast about among unlimited options. So how do you find your strengths? To answer that question, let me suggest that you begin with four sheets of paper, and use these headings: (1) things that are easy for me, (2) things people tell me I do well, (3) things that make me lose track of time, and (4) things that are fun and fulfilling for me. Now circle the thing(s) that appear on all four lists. You’ve probably discovered your strength(s). Friend, conventional wisdom may tell you to find your areas of greatest weakness and shore them up. But does that really make sense? The truth is, you will probably never be more than mediocre at something you dislike, try to avoid, and feel frustrated doing. So if you’re tone deaf, don’t waste money on singing lessons. Try tennis! Somehow, it seems far wiser to explore your aptitudes, passions, and talents. Focus and develop your energies there. Become really, really good at something you enjoy. The truth is, you will find tremendous satisfaction in generating excellence in using whatever passions and talents you may have. And the great likelihood is that people will reward you for it. Perhaps you may not have realized this before, but true greatness is within the reach of each of us. So, if you are struggling with your life right now, but would like to take hold of true greatness, I’m going to encourage you to write to me for a FREE copy of a small booklet titled: “YOU CAN BE GREAT.” To receive your copy by return mail Email me or write to me at P.O Box 1540, Albany W.A 6331. Telephone / Fax (08) 98 418 418

From my observation it appears that some people waste a lot of perfectly good energy wishing they could do things they can’t. They hear someone play the piano and say longingly, “If only I could make such beautiful music!” They watch an athlete, hear a stirring speech, or read a well-crafted novel and lament, “I wish I could do that!”

Well, my theory is that everybody is good at something and that the key both to achievement and satisfaction is in knowing what that “something” is, developing it to a maximal degree, and using it. In other words, play to your strengths.

One young family I know of has a daughter who is trying to decide what she wants to do when she grows up. As with most seven-year-olds, she sees the world as her domain to conquer. She has ruled nothing out as yet. You have to admire that kind of optimism - and pray that nothing wrings it out of her.

At the same time, her optimism must have a bit of reality mixed with it. So there has been a dilemma. Her current hot options are between being a rock singer and a star tennis player. The reality factor here is that she occasionally hits the tennis ball; she never hits a note! So her mum and dad have had no great difficulty in deciding between singing lessons and tennis instruction.

However, with us grown-ups, time is more of the essence. We may not have another five or ten years to cast about among unlimited options. So how do you find your strengths? To answer that question, let me suggest that you begin with four sheets of paper, and use these headings: (1) things that are easy for me, (2) things people tell me I do well, (3) things that make me lose track of time, and (4) things that are fun and fulfilling for me. Now circle the thing(s) that appear on all four lists. You’ve probably discovered your strength(s).

Friend, conventional wisdom may tell you to find your areas of greatest weakness and shore them up. But does that really make sense? The truth is, you will probably never be more than mediocre at something you dislike, try to avoid, and feel frustrated doing. So if you’re tone deaf, don’t waste money on singing lessons. Try tennis!

Somehow, it seems far wiser to explore your aptitudes, passions, and talents. Focus and develop your energies there. Become really, really good at something you enjoy. The truth is, you will find tremendous satisfaction in generating excellence in using whatever passions and talents you may have. And the great likelihood is that people will reward you for it.

Perhaps you may not have realized this before, but true greatness is within the reach of each of us. So, if you are struggling with your life right now, but would like to take hold of true greatness, I’m going to encourage you to write to me for a FREE copy of a small booklet titled: “YOU CAN BE GREAT.” To receive your copy by return mail

Email me
or write to me at
P.O Box 1540,
Albany W.A 6331.

Telephone / Fax (08) 98 418 418