limits – Mark S. Brown

Control Your Strengths

Your strength can be keeping you in your comfort zone or limiting you in some other way and preventing you from reaching your full potential. If you know your strengths, ask yourself how they are limiting you. They do, and it deserves some thought. Let’s walk through an example.

My number one strength is my learning ability. I have the ability to learn new things quickly and effectively. This strength is very useful when I am faced with new challenges, or I want to pursue a new path. You may be thinking that this strength would create few limitations, but you would be wrong. Here are some potential risks:

1. Lack of Focus: Since I like to learn new things, I learn a lot of different things. This drive to continue learning can lead to a lack of focus. There are so many subjects to learn about in this world, and I find them all fascinating. I must use discipline and systems to keep myself focused. If I don’t force myself to focus, my attention easily wanders.

2. Lack of Depth: Without focus, I may also develop a multitude of general knowledge without developing any expertise. Or as an alternative, I may find myself developing to be an expert in disparate topics.

3. Lack of Delegation: At times I find myself doing a task because I want to learn how to do it, even though I would be better served if I delegated it, or hired someone else to complete it. In some cases, I should know something about how to do tasks I delegate, but it is not always required. This can keep me from working on more important issues.

These three potential risks are real for people that are strong in learning ability. These people find the process of learning enjoyable no matter the topic, and it results in real problems.

This week, think about your greatest strength, and the risk associated with it. Try to define three real potential road blocks based on your greatest strength. If you discover questions that you need help to pursue, feel free to contact me.

What Belief Is Limiting You?

Limiting beliefs live in your head, and therefore are invisible. They are filters that shape your world, and are built over a lifetime, but they are holding you back. You create these filters as protection. They keep you in your comfort zone. They keep you from being hurt, embarrassed, or being a failure.

If you are going to tap into the unlimited potential that exists within you, you will have to kill these limiting beliefs. Here are a few methods.

1. Disprove them. Just jump beyond your comfort zone and prove that you can do whatever you thought you could not do. Want to be a better speaker? Join toastmasters. Want to be a better leader? Join a John Maxwell Team mastermind group.

2. Live outside your comfort zone. This is much harder because we all naturally want to be in our comfort zone. If you can purposefully stretch yourself beyond the edge of your comfort zone each day, you will grow beyond your dream.

3. Find a coach. Most of us don’t even know our limiting beliefs. They are part of our view of the world. A coach can help you find your barriers, and then step through them. A coach can help you articulate your dream, and hold you accountable to achieve it. The reality is that most people will not be able to conquer their limiting beliefs without a coach. The John Maxwell Team is a great place to start.

Paul R. Scheele said, “Humans, with the capacities of higher-order thinking, can overcome limiting behaviors and fears.” Animals act on instincts an feelings, humans act on the thoughts that originate from within their sub-conscious mind. We have the ability to change our thoughts, change our actions, and change our results!

Beware of Your Strengths

Vic Braden has said, “Learn to think like a winner. Think positive and visualize your strengths.” Most of us will be more successful if we focus on our strengths and delegate to others in areas we are weaker. But we should be cognizant of both our strengths and weaknesses.

We can over use our strengths to the point that we begin to lose our flexibility. As leaders we need to maintain a level of versatility which allows us to better assess our current situation.

How do you play to your strengths but still not lose your edge?

1. Know yourself. Constant reflection, personal development, and learning will help you be fully aware of your capabilities in different situations. It will help you learn how to change the intensity in which you use your strengths.

2. Accept yourself. Being humble will allow you to stay in your weak zone on those occasions when it is required. Accept your limitations, and learn from others.

3. Serve others. Use your strengths to help other people. If you are only helping yourself, then you will probably be viewed as a domineering, selfish, control freak.

So the best advice is be aware of your strengths, not beware of your strengths!

Stop Limiting Yourself

When do you let limitations control you? Peter McWilliams once said, “When we argue for our limitations, we get to keep them.” To be successful, you must think of obstacles as opportunities. When you approach life with a positive attitude, the challenges you face will make you stronger.

Napoleon Hill has said, “There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge.”

This week’s reflection exercise is to think about the limitations you have placed on yourself. Select the largest and determine how you can eliminate it from your thinking.