While working with a client many years ago, there was a full-time employee named David. David was a con artist, or at least he was in my mind.
He had an incredibly powerful way to convince people he was excellent at his job. He talked-the-talk and walked-the-walk. And although the executives loved him, I saw right through his “act”.
His ability to talk so smoothly, to sell himself and his accomplishments so easily, irked me greatly.
After spending WAY too much time thinking about him, and after some considerable soul searching, it finally dawned on me: I am not David. I will never be David.
What I mean by this is, David had a certain skill set that I will never have. He’s marvelous at selling and I am not.
However, I’m pretty decent with technology and solutioning.
So instead of focusing on things I’m NOT good at, I started focusing on things I AM good at.
Acceptance of weaknesses is challenging. But we only have a certain amount of time per day. We don’t have time to be excellent at everything.
The takeaway
If you want to improve something about yourself, great – DO IT.
But if you think you need to be great at EVERYTHING, think again. Consider leaning into your strengths and separate yourself from others in a way in which you’re already ahead.