Last weekend, America celebrated her freedom on Independence Day. This event got me to thinking about our personal freedoms and how precious this gift is to us. But how many of us that live in free countries actually take advantage of that freedom?

As I speak to many people all over the globe, I am realizing that it is individuals who choose to keep themselves bound by not making good choices or knowing that they have choices to make.

Let's look at your last performance review. If it is like most reviews, your supervisor will sit down with you and go over the areas of improvement. Sure, some will tell you what they think you are doing well, but in the end, your development plan will be based upon your weaknesses and how to fix or improve them.

"Down on the Farm"

If you'll bear with me, I have a short story I'd like to tell you.  There once was this puppy named Sparky who was born on a large, beautiful farm. There were acres and acres of fields, a forest with trees and large rocks, a stream that flowed through the pastures, a large barn and farmhouse... everything you'd want on a farm. As the puppy grew up, she was encouraged to explore the different areas of the farm.  At first, the Sparky wasn't allowed to stray too far from the farmhouse and barn, but later she had the full run of farm grounds. It was fantastic!  She was free!  Free to explore and grow, run and jump, climb and dig. She learned a lot of excellent dog skills and was a natural at many of them. Then, her owners taught her how to catch balls and Frisbees. She became a fine retriever as she learned how to 'mark' (watch for falling targets that she will later retrieve) and perform blind retrieves (where she has to rely on her owner to tell her where the target is located using a whistle and hand signals). She sure was good at this... maybe even one of the best.  Retrieving made her happy; she seemed passionate about it. She was successful, still free to roam all over the farm, and loved to watch her owners take pride in her abilities.

Then, one day, Sparky's cousin pointed out that there was a fence that went all the way around the farm. He told her that if she really wanted to be successful, she'd find a away to get to the other side of the fence. For the first time, Sparky noticed the fence that went all the way around her incredible farm. It seemed to go on forever. Hmmm, she wondered... what was this? A barrier? Sparky became engrossed in the fence. Instead of practicing her retrieving and other skills, she would run off every morning and look for ways to get over, under or around the fence. She studied the fence (would've taken classes on the fence if she wasn't a dog.) She spent days trying to jump over it... weeks, trying to dig under it... months, trying to run around it. She didn't want to retrieve any more as she was determined to overcome this obstacle.  Finally after years of trying, when she couldn't find a way to triumph over the fence, she resigned herself to being a old farm dog. She didn't even want to retrieve any more. And retrieving just didn't seem to be as fun, especially knowing that she failed at overcoming the fence.

Freedom is in your strengths

Does your life experience sound a little like Sparky's? How often do you focus on what you can't do? Do you obsessively look for problems that you need to fix? How often do you allow others to set your expectations and define your goals?

I meet so many people who are shackled by their weaknesses. Their thinking habits are wrapped up in overcoming these "barriers" and rectifying their shortcomings. They set expectations around overcoming their weaknesses and fixing their problems. They forget to play to their strengths and look for opportunities to succeed doing what they really like to do (and are really good at doing.)

Do you have the expectation that "I can do anything" which is usually followed by the implication that "I can do anything and be successful at it." I know my grandfather told me that when I was younger. Sure it sounds good, but it's not the truth. I can't be successful at anything and neither can you.  (That doesn't sound like something a coach and motivational speaker should say, right?) But it is the truth.

I can't win American Idol; I'm not going to win an Olympic medal in artistic gymnastics; I'm not going to be the next Food Network Star. I can not do anything and be successful at it. I could try and try to learn how to sing. I could spend years and boatloads of money on a singing coach and a performance coach and an image consultant. But my chances of winning would still be zero - I can't and won't sing well (as this isn't one of my talents) and I'm too old to be eligible anyway.

But I can do something! You can do something too!! What are your strengths?  When I ask people that question there is often a full minute or more of silence. So I ask you, what are your strengths?.... Write them down on a scrap of paper.  Go ahead, take a few minutes, I'll wait.

Now, what are your weaknesses? Do those thoughts pop into your mind almost immediately? They do for most of the people I talk with.

Your brain readily retrieves the thoughts that you focus on the most. If your weaknesses come to mind faster than your strengths, you may be spending your time trying to get over, under or around your fences. Stop it! Turn around. There is a vast field of opportunity for you. It's right there in front of you.  It is your strengths... your natural gifts and blessings. Start to focus on them and you will soon find freedom and joy and peace and happiness in your life and in your career.

1. Look for your Strengths
   If you can't figure out what they are because you have focused on your weaknesses for so long, ask a friend, family or colleague for help. Even though your mind may disagree with them, give them the benefit of the doubt. Many times they know your strengths better than you do.

2. Ignore your weaknesses
   What you think about most is what your brain turns into your habits.  If you are focusing on your weaknesses, even to FIX them, you are actually telling your brain that you want to make your weaknesses stronger.

3. Take this free assessment
   The 6 Advisors free assessment will point out your natural valuing and thinking strengths. Plus you can schedule a free 30 minute consultation with me to discuss your results with me. We will put them into the context of your life so that you can start using your strengths immediately.

   Don't want to try my free assessment, then check out Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath. It's a terrific book about strengths that comes with an access code to take the online Strengths Finder 2.0 assessment.

4. Look for ways to strengthen your strengths
   Start with your dominant talent. Then add skills, knowledge, and practice to the mix. Building your strength will also help you to find your passion. Our coaching program teaches you the skills, knowledge and gives you the practice that you need to ignore the thoughts that are getting in your way and go into your mind to get a more balanced and productive thought. We help you to scientifically strengthen your strengths!

5. Help others to see their strengths
   Develop the habit of strengths-finding (in yourself and in others)! By helping others around you know and understand their strengths, you will become more successful... your team will become more successful. If you're a leader, don't try to get your team members to overcome their weaknesses, send them to training and workshops that focuses on their strengths... assign them tasks that are aligned with their strengths. You will be amazed at the progress you make when you take this approach.

I'd like to finish with a story from Mark Twain. He described a man who died and met St. Peter at the gates of heaven. Knowing that St. Peter was wise and met all of the souls that passed this way, the man asked St. Peter a question. 

He said, "I've studied military history for most of my life. So, can you tell me, who was the greatest general of all time?"

St. Peter responded quickly saying, "That's easy. It's that man over there."

"You must be mistaken," the man responded, "I knew that guy on earth and he wasn't a general. He was just a common laborer."

"That's right my friend," assured St. Peter. "He would've been the greatest general of all time if he had been a general."

What is your greatest strength? Claim it today! Every human being has talents and strengths that they were given at birth. These strengths are what lead you to feeling and experiencing freedom. Are you developing yours? Do you know what gifts you were given?  Your strengths are just waiting to be uncovered. If you'll allow me, I would love to help.

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