When we were little kids we had all kind of ideas of what we wanted to be but very few of us ended up being that person. Some wanted to be a fireman, doctor, nurse, teacher why, because those were the people we came in contact with. The truth is we should have looked at what we enjoyed doing to as children and pursued that.
Is it too late to do now? Of course not but you need to be focused in the process. It will take a little reflection and memory searching to find out what you enjoyed. An easy way to speed up the process is to ask people who are old enough to remember what you enjoyed. That person might have been an uncle, parent, or grandparent, make sure it is someone who spent a lot of time with you growing up.
Tap into that knowledge and use it to your best advantage. After you discover what you enjoyed apply it to your current life and think of how that would apply. One of the things that helped me in this process was the book Strength Finders 2.0. Reading this book and taking the test in the back will reveal your top 5 strengths. You want to make sure that you purchase the book new, because the test in the back of the book is only good to use once. With this information you can take an objective look at your life and discover how you can apply your strengths.
Working from a position of strength makes you more productive and confidant. You feel empowered when you are using your strengths. Do not spend time on your weaknesses. You may have to develop a process to manage them but do not spend time trying to improve them. You will get more leverage by spending time focused of developing your strengths.
I would be happy to help you in your strength finding journey. I recommend that you purchase the book and give me a call after you have taken the test. Send me an e mail or a message on my contact form to tell me what your top 5 strengths are. I would be happy to work with you.
Great inspiration! I also believe it’s never to late to discover what you want to be when you grow up – and you don’t have to grow up too early 🙂
Encouraging others to focus on their strengths -refreshing! I finally figured this one out and started delegating tasks that weren’t my strength to others on my team that were better in those areas.
Thanks!
Sally
Sally Liddicoat´s last blog post ..Reward Good Behavior
My experience is that strengths also be ones greatest weaknesses.
If you are a natural leader, that leadership quality can be use for evil purposes.
I think is behooves all of us to recognize our strengths but use them wisely.
Sally,
Delegating tasks that are not your strength to other team members who’s strengths are in preforming these tasks is just smart business sense. It is funny how we are all socialized to do the opposite. Thank you for your comment and I too agree that we do not have to grow up too early.
All the best,
Kevin
Great words. Most of the time we focus on our shortcomings and totally loose sight of our strengths. And I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. The joy for me is simply “being” as I grow. “Grow up” seems so final.
Hi Barbara,
I believe that working from a position of using your strengths helps you uncover your brilliance which is right in line with your purpose in life. Thanks so much for you comment and like you I believe that I will never grow up, but continue to search for new opportunities to learn and develop.
All the best,
Kevin
Kevin, Great Post. I’m sure Sally would agree that I have yet to grow up, sometimes. I have a shirt that says “It’s never too late to become the person you are supposed to be” So I am hopeful. And when I do grow up I think I want to be like you.
Mike
Focusing on your individual strengths helps eliminate the desire to be what you are not. So many people are miserable because they are not doing what makes them happy. I love Strenghth Finders…it help validate what I know to be true.
Thanks for the reminder about working from a position of your strengths. So many people want to be something that they are not. Everyone has strengths. Just capitalize on them and you will have doors opened beyond your wildest dreams!
Hi Mike,
Thanks so much for the complement. I think that is a great shirt title. Thanks so much for leaving a comment.
All the best,
Kevin
Hi Beverly,
I am so glad you like Strength Finders. I believe it is one of the best tools to improve the productivity of an individual or organization.
All the best,
Kevin
Hi Karen,
I agree with you. I think we need to start a strength based educational system so the younger generation can tap into their strengths at a young age.
Thanks for your comment.
All the best,
Kevin
I want to be a sax player or piano player when I grow up. I am also thinking about getting into shape so I can play basketball again. Ok, you got to have a dream. I will never ever grow up. Oops, I also want to have Tina Turner Legs.
Now my strengths are a youthful perspective, playful attitude and stubborn determination.
This baby boomer thanks you for this post.
rosie´s last blog post ..It’s Shake and Bake Blogging and I Helped-
Hi Rosie,
I think you might be a follower of Martin Luther King because you have a dream. Never let those dreams of that wonderful attitude die.
All the best,
Kevin