Make Your Weaknesses Your Strengths!

Make your weaknesses your strengths! I've recommended this to some as they are writing down their goals for the next year. Now there's nothing wrong with that. I'm all about goal setting. However, let me give you something else to focus on this time around. How about taking a weakness you have in 2019 and turning it into a strength for 2020. We know you didn't make every sale, achieve the promotion, get the raise, the jobs, or all the clients you were hoping for. No one bats a thousand. Odds are there is something you can improve on to increase those chances for 2020. The correct mindset going into every New Year should be there's always room for improvement. No matter what the current year was like because even if you're winning, complacency can work against you and cause you to lose.

For instance, during my first year in the NFL, I quickly learned of a weakness I needed to correct. I struggled to beat the "man to man" technique when my opponent was right up in my face. I had problems getting by them — the players at the professional level were not only superior athletically but also technically sound.  If I could not get by them, the Quarterback would not throw me the ball. If they can't throw me the ball, I'm a liability to the team, and you know that means. It means the NFL would stand for "Not For Long" and my career would be over before it starts.

 Here’s what I did and what I recommend for you:

1. Identify the weakness - Being honest and humble is the only way you get by this one. You're going to need to check the ego at the door.
2. Implement a plan to correct it - Who can you learn from that does an excellent job in this area? Do you have a mentor? Co-Worker, your boss, friend, or someone who is setting the right example. Researching on the internet is a viable option as well
3. Master it – Take what you've learned and master it. Mastery is all about practice. You've got to be willing to put in the time and practice. Be ready to mess up or be bad long enough until you get it right. 
   Click to Tweet!

These steps helped me take a weakness I recognized, and I turned it into a strength. It took me some time, but I mastered it to the point where it became my competitive advantage. It's one of the reasons I had a nine-year career when the NFL average career is two years.

No matter what goals you have from year to year, raising the bar of performance should be a yearly goal. Every year, you're either getting better or you're getting worse. There is no in-between. Give it a try and see what happens next year when that weakness which might have slowed you down becomes the reason your business goes to the next level.

BRING JJ BIRDEN IN TO SPEAK TO YOUR TEAM!