Playing to Your Strengths Instead of Working on Your Weaknesses

A story about Pokemon, Steve Jobs, and working smart - not hard.

My new blog post just dropped (LINK)

Lately, I’ve been coming across situations that got me thinking a lot about strengths, natural abilities, and how they stack up against our weaknesses. One example that stands out is the recent Olympics that were held in Paris.

Whenever I watch the Olympics, I can’t help but notice the various kinds of athletes who show up for different disciplines. You’ve got the big, strong folks lifting massive weights over their heads, the lean speedsters flying down the track, and the endurance warriors who have seemingly limitless stamina.

This makes me wonder: What came first? Was it the person’s natural genetics, environment, or innate strength that made them a prime specimen for that particular sport? Or was it simply a case of sheer willpower and determination, where they fought through every weakness to reach the top of their game?

Here’s the TLDR version:

• Introduction: Discusses how society often focuses on improving weaknesses rather than leveraging strengths, using the analogy of a small dot on a blank piece of paper, where people tend to focus on the dot (weakness) instead of the open space around it (strengths).

• Power of Strengths: Emphasizes the benefits of focusing on strengths, using examples like Steve Jobs and Michael Phelps. Steve Jobs focused on his strengths in design and innovation rather than technical skills, leading to Apple’s success. Michael Phelps leveraged his physical strengths in swimming and rigorous training to become the most decorated Olympian.

• Pokémon Analogy: Explains how playing Pokémon with your son reinforced the idea of focusing on strengths. Even a seemingly weaker Pokémon with the right elemental strength can turn the tide in a battle, just like in real life where leveraging the right strengths at the right time leads to success.

• Conclusion: Recaps the importance of focusing on strengths for personal and professional growth. Encourages readers to shift focus away from weaknesses and start embracing and leveraging their strengths to unlock their full potential.