“WHAT YOU FOCUS ON
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Why Most People Utilize Their Strengths And Weaknesses Incorrectly And How It Might Be Blocking You From Success

I haven’t found too many people that have inherent weaknesses of personality, or their way of being, that can fix them that easily.

I spent a lot of time when I was younger “working on my weaknesses”. The problem was that I kept finding more problems with myself, and I kept on getting disappointed about just how many flaws I actually had/have.

It finally occurred to me to stop trying to fix my weaknesses. Instead, I began focusing on my strengths and letting the weaknesses be where they are. If they go, they go. If they stay, they stay, and I’ll just manage them.

Focus on your strengths; manage your weaknesses.

“Oh, but I have to be better at this or be better at that.”

Listen, if you are able to utilize your strengths to a great extent…you’re going to be a super star. You’re going to be highly successful, and you’ll probably be very, very wealthy.

Let’s say we have 10 main characteristics about who we are, how we think, etc (10 just for conversation sake). Out of these 10 main characteristics, five of them are good and five of them are not so good.

What do most people end up doing? Well, we spend most of our time worried about the five that aren’t so good, right?

What does that do to the amount of time and energy that we put into the ones that are good and that are positive?

We’re putting all of our energy into what doesn’t work. Most people are not optimizing strengths because they don’t focus on them because they’re too busy trying to fix their weaknesses.

Now some of you might be saying, “To manage my weakness, doesn’t it mean becoming more dependent on others?” The implication with that kind of thought is that whatever it is you’re weak at, you’ll need others to compensate for that weakness.

Not necessarily. Your weakness could be lack of integrity or being late all the time. That doesn’t have to do with anybody else. There are all kinds of weaknesses that we can talk about here.

If you’re talking about a weakness in business, then you don’t necessarily want to depend on others, but can certainly delegate the activity to others and if need be, outsource what you know you’re not good at.

The idea that you need to fix problems to have a better life is incorrect. If there’s some major issue, like you have no money, should you try and create money? Of course you should, but if you focus on your lack of money, that does not earn you money. Focusing on a lack of money is not the answer to a lack of money. If you want to earn money, focus on earning money.

Our minds are crazy! The brain doesn’t default to, “Hey, I’m pretty broke right now. I think I need to go out there and earn some money.” Our minds play tricks on us, but only if we let that happen.

If you feel like there are things you want to get better at, then certainly it’s worth getting what you need from that. I just hope for your sake it doesn’t come at the expense of neglecting your core talents and skills that can really help other people.

What are your top three talents? Or what’s that one thing you are really, really good at; better than anybody you know?

Are there other areas of impact that you can have that might not require what you think you need in order to move forward?

Like, for example, you might not kill it in front of hundreds or thousands of people, but could you have tremendous impact in a small group setting, or one-on-one with people? Or from the safe distance of your computer keyboard or workshop?

In other words, where do your strengths lie?

Share your thoughts, comments, or experiences…we want to hear from you!

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29 thoughts on “Why Most People Utilize Their Strengths And Weaknesses Incorrectly And How It Might Be Blocking You From Success”

  1. Some great advice. I have been fed the mentality that I must focus on my weaknesses to turn them into strengths. However my current strengths were not being fed and becoming stronger or utilized. Would love to know more on this topic.

    1. Keysha says:

      I totally agree. I am changing my strategy now. Thanks, T Harv

  2. Javy says:

    Hello! Mr. Ecker! First of all i want to express my grattitude for all the value you bring to people’s life! Right now I’m training to become a Life Coach, I really feel that my purpose in life is to help people to become the best version that anybody can achieve. I think I need more training to start my first client portfolio, or at least I thought so before reading those words! So I want to thank you for inspiring me. I think that one of my strengths is that I’m good talking to most of the people and create a connection in a very confident level and just realize that after asking myself what are my strengths? It’s unbelievable how our brain is so trained to focus on what we do wrong instead of what we do right and improve it, so thank you very much for helping me focus!

  3. Elana says:

    Great reminder. I think we could connfuse focusing on weakness and wanting to improve a skill

  4. Mario says:

    Hi Harv,

    what are your strengths and what are your weaknesses? ( I am just super curious) and: How about values in connection with that topic?

    Mario from Gollaz

  5. G.M says:

    Great insight Mr Eker
    It totally makes sense to me and will shift my thoughts to my strengths instead and capitalize on them.

  6. Ирина says:

    Благодарю! Замечательный совет фокусировать внимание только на своих сильных сторонах!

  7. Attila Beres says:

    Dear Harv,

    I found most of your advice to be very wise and valuable. Except for this one.

    We all have dozens or hundreds of weaknesses, such as always being late, but there’s no need to improve on most of them. But we need to be fully focused on improving our weaknesses that are preventing our success in our important life areas. Such as healing our sexual traumas from childhood so that we can enjoy loving intimacy. This is absolutely crucial.

    On the other hand, focusing on our talents is usually a means to feeling good enough. Because we’ve developed them as a result of first learning in our first 6 years that we are not good/important/worthy enough and soon after we started to compensate for this belief by mastering an area that we received appreciation for from figures of authority. That’s the reason we feel so great pursuing them, because they finally make us feel good enough despite our core beliefs saying the opposite.

    This becomes impossible to realise when we start focusing on contribution that is extremely rewarding and has the effects of being on drugs or using distractions like playing computer games. That obsessed pursuit of the feeling of the ‘helpers high’ will mask everything we should learn about ourselves and our motivations. Real quality growth that lasts throughout lifetimes comes from this and not from improving our skills and wealth. Contribution is natural and healthy when there is no addiction to it.

    1. Edward says:

      Read the text again please. ALL is correct, think about it: The main idea of the text is “You must focus on your strengths not in your weaknesses” For example: if you are spending 80% percent of your time, your thoughts and your energy fixing your weaknesses you are wrong! and Harv explain it better than me, However is obvious that focus only 20% in your strengths is losing your own power, also we will ever find new “weaknesses” so this way to do things is wrong and is getting us to nowhere.

      For me the idea is very simple: change the relation: 80% fixing weaknesses/ 20% working on your strenghts TO: 80% Working and taking advantage of your main strenghts / 20% working or fixing your weaknesses. This strategy is very good to long term.

      I hope this help you to understand better the concept. Sorry for my English xD.

      Greetings from Colombia.

  8. Andrea says:

    So true and absolutely fundamental to grasp if you really want to make genuine progress towards any goal at all.

  9. Vincent Chan says:

    Yes, agree with most of what you said. However, there are certain weaknesses which definitely need to be overcome if one were to be able to serve others using the in-born strengths that we have. For example, if we have the habit of always showing up late at every appointment and is inconsiderate toward others, no matter how good we are at any one thing, most people will be put off and not be too happy to be associated with us. Integrity and how we conduct ourselves as a cultivated person is crucial in whatever we do. We certainly do not want opposing forces working against us no matter how genuine we are in our intentions and actions.

  10. Abdul Mannan says:

    Thanks for sharing ! mind indeed plays a lot of games but only if i let it

  11. Елена says:

    Здравствуйте Харв Э Ваша книга “Думай как миллионер” неповторима!!!!! Всем рекомендую С ув Е К

  12. Leandro says:

    I got the main idea and I totally agree with it.

    Focus on what I’m good always excites me, it’s pretty clear to me how my humor gets better than when I’m “trying” to do something in some area that I’m not very good, I always have some kind of frustration.

    I JUST (in this exact moment) realized that it can be associated with “do what you love”, because if we explore what we are good (our best talents) naturally we’ll be doing things that we like, and maybe it can help and guide us to find our purpose in life. It’s just a guess!

    Thanks for sharing!

  13. Bp says:

    I definitely agree with you on this Harv. While obviously some things you may need to fix, there are usually many others that you need to move over rather than allowing them to burden your momentum. Personally I can get in analysis paralysis mode, so this is great! Refocus on your strengths and move forward!
    Thanks Harv

  14. Lucy says:

    Trying to fix my weakness of struggling to make decisions, has been a crippling focus. After considering this suggestion of Harv’s to focus instead on strengths, I notice that I am good at seeing all sides of a problem; I generate lots of ideas and options, adding to the obvious possible outcomes. Especially when it is not my own problem, I’m good at asking probing questions that spur the person who has the problem, on to find a solution.

  15. Alyona says:

    Great. True in each word. Thank you. I must make friends with my strengths.

  16. Audrey says:

    Dear Harv
    I do understand that analogy but that works if one knows their strengths
    What if one spend so much time on their weaknesses that ones is not even aware of their strength how does one find out

    1. Rick Resch says:

      StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath

  17. bishop steve says:

    Hey i am bishop steve,
    i bought a copy of your book to read during chrismas,thanks for powerful insight on the millionaire mind.The declaration are very powerful i feel free already may God bless you

  18. Miriam says:

    As usual, you are right on target. Focusing on my strengths is a new way of thinking. Getting the mindset right is so important. Your work should be required reading and learning for every high school student in the world!

  19. NoelsArt says:

    Re-reading Secrets of the Millionaire Mind. I look forward to helping others with my new financial success

  20. JV says:

    Thanks very much Mr Eker! You are simply the BEST!!! My family and I are your faithful followers. We need reminder from time to time though….Thanks again and Happy New Year!!

  21. Vibe Bendix says:

    Thank you so much for this beautiful and much needed reminder, Harv <3

  22. Michael says:

    Hi Harv,
    I look forward to receiving your emails. I find them inspiring & educational.
    However I feel with this one I both agree & disagree with you.
    It all depends on how important your weakness is to your business. If it affects your service & or your income, then I feel you should strengthen your weakness. You don’t need to be an expert at it, but you certainly need to be competent at it. If not you will be dependent on other’s for the rest of your life.
    Your input would be much appreciated.

  23. brenda says:

    thank you harv!
    have been doing the
    opposite.. will refocus
    on what i m good at-
    photographing pets
    & horses & get help
    with the technical..

  24. TUSINGWIRE JULIUS says:

    so nice
    i have learnt alot and now i feel rich
    i have learnt money should work for us rather than
    we working for money.
    be blessed day by day.

  25. Peggy F. says:

    Wonderful. Much better to focus on the positive. I love this way of approaching things.

  26. Nat says:

    Thanks Harv,
    Yes I think what should I do is focus on my strengths and make it better and better and don’t worries about my weakness much as before.
    Thanks
    Nat

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