Using your strengths will result in faster and better results than trying to overcome your weaknesses. This is discussed in greater detail in the book, “StrengthsFinder 2.0.”

Focus on the Areas of Greatest Potential – Your Strengths

Here is a hypothetical: Your 9-year old son brings home a report card with 3 As, 2 Bs and a C-. Where do you focus your efforts for the next semester? StrengthsFinder 2.0 says:

 The overwhelming majority of parents (77%) think that a student’s lowest grades deserve the most time and attention. Parents and teachers reward excellence with apathy instead of investing more time in the areas where a child has the most potential for greatness. It’s clear from research that each person has greater potential for success in specific areas, and the key to human development is building on who you already are.

3 Steps to Find Your Strengths

1) Write Down All Your Known Strengths

• Obvious to others
• Known only to you
• Be sure this isn’t a I’m right they aren’t. It’s a “I’m good at this.”

2) Write Everything You Enjoy Doing

• Hobby, skill, interest, a talent, the one part of a job you like, everything.

3) Ask Yourself Why You Enjoy Doing Each Thing

• Spend time really answering this question for each item
• The reasons you like doing these things are likely your strengths

Why Find Your Strengths

You will get greater success in a shorter period of time than if you were to focus on your weaknesses. StrengthsFinder 2.0 says:

The most successful people start with a dominant talent – then add skills, knowledge, and practice to the mix.

• Utilizing your strengths you’ll naturally do better work and more work
• You’ll be more confident asking for help when needed, resulting in better work
• Better work, more work – results in more income
• You’ll move from working for money to working because you enjoy it

Here is Andrew Skukra’s website, mentioned in the podcast.

Pics From My Trip to Glacier National Park (as mentioned in the podcast)