Have you harvested your strengths lately? Better yet, do you even know what your strengths are? Chances are you have not and don’t, so read on to discover why you should.

Shortcomings and flaws

As a society we tend to focus on shortcomings. How often do we hear ourselves and others comment “I am not very good at …..”  In school, we are taught to spend extra time in the area we are deficient. At work, our reviews normally focus on the areas that “need improvement” and in long term relationships we consistently focus on our mate’s flaws.

Thus, from the very beginning and throughout life, we become experts at our shortcomings. This environment breeds unproductive, unhappy, and unfulfilled human beings.

What we now know is that this conventional thought process is incorrect for a couple of reasons. First, it is a horrendous waste of time, and talent. Second, it has us focus on things we don’t do well, which in turn undermines our esteem and self confidence.

In the end, regardless of how much time and effort you put into an area of weakness, unless you have an aptitude in this area, it is unlikely you will ever be more than average.

Developing greater potential for success

Gallup spent 40 years studying this issue and their finding was that individuals have a greater potential for success by focusing on their strengths, rather than spending time addressing their weaknesses. What they discovered was that each of us has a unique set of strengths or skills. We are all gifted in one way or another. Thus, we are most productive, happy and fulfilled when we are using the strengths that are intuitive to who we are.

Our goal should not be to become average or competent in a skill, but rather we should strive to become exceptional in a skill. We achieve this by exploiting our strengths and not focusing on our weaknesses.

Imagine for a moment if Lance Armstrong, Steve Jobs, or Thomas Edison had spent time working on their weaknesses. All of them devoted time to developing their own natural strengths ,and as a result, each became exceptional in their field.

You are no different. You can be exceptional. The key to life and your own personal growth is to discover your strengths and then harvest them.

StrengthsFinder

StrengthsFinders 2.0 by Gallup is a great tool to uncover your  strengths and put you on the road to success that will  forever change your life. As a leader in this area of study and member of the best seller’s lists for years, Gallop’s book StrengthsFinder 2.0 is an easy read with an online assessment tool that will extract, define and explain your top five strengths.

Invest your time and energy being great at something. Not just anything, but that thing you already have a knack for. Developing your natural talents is self rewarding and motivating, allowing you to be productive, happy and most important – fulfilled. Now….how cool is that?!?!