Hey, Runners!
I hope I’ve made it clear that I’m not trying to build an army of raging narcissists. I encourage you to focus on your strengths because I feel secure that you’ve got your weaknesses in a little mental spreadsheet that you review in your head constantly.
Think of it like a car. Knowledge of your strengths is the accelerator, and an understanding of your weaknesses is the brakes. When both of these things work in balance with each other, you can get where you want to go.
If you’re all acceleration and no brakes, you’re speeding through school zones, mowing down everyone in your path, and becoming a hazard to the entire community.
And if you’re all brakes and no acceleration… baby, you ain’t going nowhere.
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What’s your challenge?
It’s hard to know what our strengths and weaknesses are. Those of us, like me, who grew up with constant criticism struggle to perceive anything about ourselves other than our flaws.
That’s okay. This didn’t happen to you in one day, and it’s not gonna un-happen ever. This is gonna be a process. And I’m not asking you to go through your weaknesses one by one and figure out what’s real and what’s not.
I’m just asking you to think about your strengths as much as you think about your weaknesses.
I just want you to get comfortable saying, “Here’s what I’m good at.”
Today’s Comments Assignment:
In a private space, write down a list of your strengths and weaknesses. Try to keep the list balanced. Come back and tell us what you learned.
Your strengths are your accelerator. They have natural momentum, and when you lean into them, you gain that momentum.
If the time comes when you need the brakes—probably in revision—that’s fine. The brakes will be there.
Your brakes are not your problem.
Trust me.