Build On Your Strengths

I've done a considerable amount of recruiting. Most recruiters ask about a candidate's weaknesses. I've never found this inquiry to reveal anything substantial because of 1. people don't want to tell their shortcomings, and 2. it doesn't create a foundation for growth.
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You don't make someone improve by calling them weak, and you don't improve by blaming the circumstances of your job, relationships, or life as if those things have the power to make you vulnerable for mistakes.

Am I saying to ignore your weaknesses? No! I'm talking about where you place your focus.

If you want to be great, build on your strengths.

Let's look at what you can accomplish by building on your strengths.

You can shift from the notion that you can't handle something that is happening in your life right now. Instead, you can meet a weakness in your goals or relationships, business or personal life, with a pause to consider what's possible.

If you give in to weakness, you place an obstacle in your thinking, and it blocks your progress.

Remember the light-hearted banter in the movie Bird Cage, when Nathan Lane's character was so upset about crushing some toast while he was practicing being macho until he realized that he could make more toast!

I know in the real world it's often more complicated than making more toast. But why not open your mind to where you want to go? Sometimes we are so struck with ideas of limitation that it renders us incapable of considering what we can do. The notion of abundance is not just about toast or money and things but is about your resourcefulness in coming up with actions you can take now. It's what gives you power over present conditions. It's how you think about what is happening in your life right now.

Are we going to think in ways that open up something new, or are we going to think in ways that limit our options?

Here's a practice for this week:

1) Don't accuse, blame, or complain. 
The absence of this gang of 3 allows the space to identify strengths to build on.

2) Don't generalize.
Whenever you think that you're incapable, you are comparing yourself to someone else. If you want to feel bad, go ahead and compare yourself to another. Of course, I could probably say the opposite is also true if you're going to feel better compare yourself to someone worse off than you! Either way, the comparison takes you off course. Strength comes from practice, not a comparison.

3) Own your feelings, but don't think that's the truth. 
Feelings come and go. Sometimes you need a shove to get moving in the right direction. The shove can come from any direction if you pay attention and say thank you to feedback.

4) Do something physical when you find yourself moaning and groaning about life. 
When you're focused on breathing hard, you won't be able to focus on any weakness in yourself or others.

5) Savor everything you do.
It's such a gift to be alive. Take a moment to appreciate your strengths and what you bring to your job, relationships, and the world.

6) Understand that the world is better off because you're in it!
This week notice your strengths. What would someone who loves you say about you? I would say that you are resourceful. Build from that.

May your day be peaceful and productive.