GREATER STRENGTHS

If you're like most of us, failure is not your best friend! But I like
the attitude of one man. "I don't say I have strengths and
weaknesses," he asserts. "I say I have strengths and lesser
strengths." That's me! Lots of strengths...many of them "lesser
strengths!"

One of my "lesser strengths" may be in the area of art. But the day my
three-year-old asked me to draw a picture of a horse on his
chalkboard, I agreed anyway. And it wasn't too bad.... Well, it wasn't
very good, either. It reminded me a little of a mongrel dog with
hooves, but as they say, I've seen worse. (My own drawings, of
course.) However, I did feel better about the picture when his
preschool friend stopped by to play, looked into his room and asked,
"Who drew the horse?" I even felt a bit proud! So I gladly announced,
"I did!"

There was a moment of silence as a look of confusion swept her face.
Then she asked, "Did you draw it when you were a baby?"

Everyone's an art critic!

But I'm thankful to my son's friend for reminding me about my
strengths. Sure, I'd starve as an artist, but I don't have to excel at
art. I have other strengths. And I can marvel at good art while I
pursue other activities.

John Wooden said, "Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what
you can do." There's nothing wrong with a list of things you are not
able to do. These are just your lesser strengths. The key is to choose
your greater strengths well. What is important to you? What must you
excel at? And what can you do well? Focus on these priorities and your
lesser strengths won't matter much.

But don't ask me for a picture of a horse.
__________

Steve Goodier Publisher@LifeSupportSystem.com is a professional
speaker, consultant and author of numerous books. Visit his site for
more information, or to sign up for his FREE newsletter of Life, Love
and Laughter at http://LifeSupportSystem.com .