We are taught in k-12 school to constantly strive to strengthen our weaknesses, pointing them out with red pen. Parents scan our report cards and focus on the subjects that need to improve. Employers write performance reviews on how we have opportunities for improvement. Taking the time to discover your strengths and focus on perfecting your skills is a crucial part of your growth. When you truly use your strengths, you will stand out from the crowd. Today we will teach you how to discover your top 5 strengths and use them to better your life as a creative entrepreneur.
As a creative entrepreneur, it goes without saying, you’re probably pretty damn good at what you do. You have spent years perfecting your skill, and strive to be seen as an expert in your industry. But imagine if you could really narrow down what exactly you’re good at.
What Is A Strength?
A strength is the ability to provide a consistent performance or result for a given action. A strength begins with a talent. A talent is a naturally recurring pattern of thoughts, feelings and behaviors that are consistently applied. Every human being on this planet has some sort of a talent that lives inside them. Your talent is what makes you unique!
However, your strengths are not your “passions” so please don’t confuse your love for knitting as the same as your strength. Strengths are much more than that. They are embed into your daily life.
Every creative entrepreneur will have their own path for achieving success, and use differing tools to do so varies. The difference will be the core strengths they possess. The best way to get ahead is to focus on developing your strengths. You are wasting your time and energy trying to fix your weaknesses.
Stop trying to be what you aren't and start being who you really are. Find your strengths. Share on XWhen you are able to do something very well, at least one of your talents is involved. Most people will realize they have many talents! You can do them over and over again. Your greatest area of talent, is most likely your source for a strength.
Strengths give you confidence and optimism and focus. Your talents are already in you. Finding your strengths is a quest to discover, develop and apply who you truly are.
How To Find Your Greatest Strengths
Determine Your Talents
- Watch for what excites you.
- What makes you feel alive?
- What motivates you?
Observe what you do differently than everyone else. When you use your talents, you will stand out from the crowd. Identify the moments where you really feel like you’re doing what you were born to do. if you haven’t experienced those yet, that’s ok too. That may just mean you are in the wrong field of work!
Seek Feedback
Identify 10-20 people who know you well from different areas in your life. Ask them to write down a time when you were at your best. Notice the papers, and common themes amongst the answer.
Take The Strengths Finder Assessment
The Clifton Strengths Finder Assessment will help you discover your greatest strengths. Many years ago, I took this assessment myself and it completely changed my approach to creative living. This test takes about an hour of uninterrupted time to complete. The test will identify your top five strengths. And believe me when I say, you will not be able to forget them! They will become your new obsession.
- Buy the strengths finder 2.0 book and take the test. Inside the book you will find an access key that enables you to take the online assessment.
- Review your customized report and reflect on your strengths. Do they sound like you? What do they say?
- Evaluate your creative business in light of your strengths.
- Develop a strategy to align your strengths and your business. You may find you need to delegate certain tasks to focus better on your strengths.
- Share this blog post with a friend!
Important Note : Make sure to buy a brand NEW Strengths Finder 2.0 book or you risk the unique code being invalid since it was already used.
If you’ve taken the strengths test, what are your top five strengths?