How do you know what you can excel at? The other day I told you how important it is to pursue the right skills. You want to choose something that lets you escape “average”. Ask yourself these five questions to guide yourself to the right pursuits.
1. What “common sense” do you have that seems to escape other people? Much of your “common sense” knowledge isn’t actually common sense. If you’re consistently noticing things that others don’t see, that’s probably a result of your skills or aptitude in a certain area.
2. What do people ask your opinions about? Sometimes we think we are good at something when we aren’t. But our friends can usually spot our talents. Even if they don’t verbalized their findings, their pleas for help often indicate what they think you’re best at.
3. What are you willing to try that others aren’t? Often what sets above-average people apart from average people is the willingness to do something. It’s the willingness to take a risk and put yourself out there. You may have a buddy that’s smarter and faster than you. But if you’re the one who does something with what you have, you are the above average individual. Action is everything.
4. What are you really bad at? Examine the things you’re horrible at. Identify specific elements and eliminate everything that includes those things.
5. What were you passionate about as a kid? Often the things we love as children are results of natural aptitude. Kids are very sensitive to positive affirmation. If you felt good about doing something, you were probably praised for it. That means you were probably good at it. Your above-average skill will probably be something similar to what you were passionate about as a kid.
What are these questions telling you to pursue? You might not know immediately, but the pursuit is important. Seek out the pursuits that will let you escape “average”.
Great post with excellent insight.
My favorite is #4. I am a strong proponent of making your best things better and eliminating/delegating the things your not so good at. Trying to get better at them only serves as a distraction.
most definitely 🙂
Great post with excellent insight.
My favorite is #4. I am a strong proponent of making your best things better and eliminating/delegating the things your not so good at. Trying to get better at them only serves as a distraction.
most definitely 🙂