One of my mentors once told me, “Manage your weaknesses but develop your strengths.”
Many of us struggle with this equation, especially early on in our professional careers. We feel we need to work tirelessly on our weaknesses, ensuring our skillset is at least adequate across the board.
Instead, the ticket to success is developing your strengths.
If you’re 5’10”, the fact is you will never be 6’5. Manage and accept that.
Sure, I encourage you to be who you’re meant to be, and I’ll never discourage someone from following their passion or goal, no matter where they’re starting.
But be who you are meant to be, not someone else, your authentic self.
Focus on your strengths. Practice and hone those skills and characteristics so they go from excellent to elite. Become one of the best in the world at THAT ONE THING you can do like no one else.
Once someone buys into that, the sky is the limit.
To do just that, you’ll need to recognize who you are and develop the best of what you have. That applies when managing someone, in a relationship, with business or personal goals, and more.
Remember, too, that the quickest way to destroy a person is to continually ask them for a response to something for which they have none.
We expect so much from those around us, from ourselves. I, for one, find it difficult to let things go. I am always pushing and pushing.
Sometimes, others just don’t have it. It’s not their strength and never will be. So why continue to expect it and ask?
Is this about them or about us?
And what about those weaknesses? Won’t you be exposed, fall short, and made-a-fool because of those shortcomings?
Not at all. That’s what we have teams for, employees, partners, advisors, and mentors. Even systems and accountability will allow us to plug those holes.
Just make sure you complement yourself with those whose strengths correspond with your weaknesses. (And be the complement to others’ weaknesses.)
That’s your ticket to meteoric success!
Manage your weaknesses and develop those strengths; my guess is life becomes a lot more enjoyable and manageable along the way!
-J.D.