Does your barbell have “not good enough’ on one end, and ‘fix my flaws’ on the other?
There’s body building. Then there’s this…
Sometimes we get caught up with forcing ourselves to get stronger in weak areas. Noble and worthwhile ambitions. But you will never be passionate here, and it won’t hold your focus. By investing in your strengths, this can be a powerful source for success.
It must be the educator and designer in me, but I love creating learning tools. Here is an easy three step process to concentrate on your most powerful areas. You can use this knowledge to elevate your success.
A little homework:
- Grab yourself an iced tea, relax in your lawn chair in the back yard and make a list. Take stock of your strengths. Answer these questions:
- “In what areas of life do I feel naturally strong?”
- “What am I already good at?”
- “Given that this is a strength, what’s the next level of development with that?”
- Next, make a list of two to three goals, and the resources that are available to you right now.
- Then, weave these two lists together, do this in narrative form. This is positively reinforcing what you already have, instead of focusing on what you don’t have, or are striving to get.
Sarah’s Example:
Strengths:
- I make rapid, easy connections with people
- I have a large network
- I have infectious positivity
- I have great communication skills
Goals
- Develop a part time marketing biz;
With an eye toward taking it full time
- Develop a wider network, outside local area
- Health goals – start a regular work out routine
Resources
- Connections within Professional Business Community
- Use national platform I’m already a part of
- Connect within network with a health goal partner or workout buddy
Her Narrative
I view my strengths as being my soft skills – because I genuinely like people and am an extrovert, I make rapid, easy connections. Because of this, I have a large network. I have been blessed with infectious positivity, and tend to view the world as a friendly place.
Because my goal is to develop a part time marketing business, I will need to use my large network of people to begin getting the word out and start creating clients. I know I’ll have to throw the net wider if I’m going to make it a full time business. I realize now I could take on a leadership role with the state chapter of the professional business community that I am now a member of locally. My connections there will be great resources.
I realize now that my strengths as a people person might help with my health goals too. I will commit to connect with people who can support me with diet and regular exercise. A personal trainer or workout buddy?
P.S. If you are curious about what your strengths might be, the University of Pennsylvania has a survey you can take. You’ll need to register. ( Look for QUESTIONNAIRES. They offer many surveys, the strengths survey is called VIA Survey of Character Strengths. There is also a shorter version available, Brief Strengths test.) https://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/
Onward and Upward!
