Building on Your Strengths

Everyone has both strengths and weaknesses. The difference between great achievers and those that aren't is that great achievers have learned to capitalize on their strengths and not be limited by their weaknesses.

In order to begin to experience success it is important to take personal inventory of your life. Make a list of your strengths (what you are good at) and of your weaknesses (what you aren't good at). By having a clear picture of your strengths you have an understanding of what you can build on.

While it is important to seek to improve your areas of weakness, it is more important to continue improving your strengths. Great athletes have learned this secret. One reason Tiger Woods is such a phenomenal golfer is because of his burning desire to continue to improve his skills. After winning the 2000 U. S. Open, by a record margin, he was talking about things that he needed to do to improve. This is what sets him apart from his peers.

Michael Jordan became the greatest basketball player of all-time by continually striving to strengthen his strengths. The reason he could pull off seemingly impossible feats on the basketball court are because in practice he worked on developing his strengths. While some viewed his accomplishments under pressure as being lucky, the truth is they were the results of much practice and preparation. If he was lucky it was because he created his own luck by doing the right things consistently.

You too can enjoy extraordinary results if you will begin to spend more time developing your strengths than your weaknesses. Take your strengths and begin to improve them until they are stronger. In doing so you will begin to accomplish greater things then you ever expected.

Practice, practice, practice!

By continually working on your strengths you are constantly improving what you are good at. Just like Tiger Woods you become great not because you are lucky but because you work hard at improving what you are already good at. By honing your skills in practice you are insuring peak performance when the pressure is on. In the heat of the battle you will naturally do what you perfected in practice.

Don't focus on your weaknesses

You will always go in the direction of your dominant thoughts. If you focus on what you aren't good at you will insure failure or defeat. However, if you begin to focus on what your strengths are you will move towards success. Simply put, "accentuate the positive!"

Find a coach or mentor

Gain the assistance of someone that's "been there, done that!" Allow them to teach and train you. Learn from their experience and expertise. Let them motivate, inform, and correct you as necessary. Make yourself accountable to them.

Determine to do your best

Always give yourself 100% to what you are doing. Make the decision to do the right thing the right way consistently. Demand excellence of yourself. Don’t settle for anything less than your best. Constantly seek to improve. Keep raising the bar of what you expect of yourself. You will be amazed at the outcome.

Believe you are created for greatness

You have incredible potential and possibilities. There is no reason why you can't excel in life. God has given you the abilities you need to work with in order to succeed in life. You are made in God's image and likeness; therefore you have the right to greatness. You have the right to be a success.