The glow of New Year’s resolutions still shimmers, though after a week it may be fading.

Often, our self-improvement plans focus on overcoming weaknesses. But what if, instead, we put all of our energy into developing greater competency within our strengths?

Michael Hyatt is blogging today about a book that changed his life (and mine): Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton. Their simple but profound premise, (and I’m quoting Mike here):  The best way to get ahead in your career and be satisfied in your job is to focus on developing your strengths.

A year or two ago, my husband and I took the Strengths Finder test and a class on it to understand it. We took it hoping for career direction, it unexpectedly helped us to better understand each other. Knowing my strengths has also helped me to move forward in my career, in the way I parent,even deciding how to spend my time, the relationships I cultivate, etc.

 

 

 

My strengths are:

Strategic–this theme, “enables you to sort through the clutter and find the best route… This perspective allows you to see patterns where others simply see complexity.”

Learner –this is someone who likes to learn, who is drawn to the process of learning. It often doesn’t matter what topic you’re studying, you just like the process of learning.

Intellection–this is someone who enjoys mental activity, likes to stretch their brain in solving problems.

Acheiver–as it sounds, this strength means you are driven and want to achieve something tangible every day.

Relator–this describes an attitude toward relationships, which pulls you toward deeper friendships with people you already know (as opposed to other strengths that are more about getting to know new people)

Do you know your strengths? Are you using them in your job, in your parenting, in your ministry?

Read Mike Hyatt’s blog, which gives more detail about the Strengths, then let me know what you think. Do you know your strengths? Are you using them in your daily life?