Rounding Yourself Out: Good Idea, Or Not So Much?

Hey there, hero!

To piggyback on the video I released recently about taking the StrengthsFinder online assessment, I have a question: do you think it’s a good idea to spend time and energy increasing your proficiency in things lower on your Strengths list?

Or is it better to just stay in your lane, and concentrate on doing well things that you’re good at?

I have an opinion on that that I think might be useful.

Just a reminder that AMA II, Electric Boogaloo is in a few days, so ask me anything, in the comments, via email or however you like.

Hope this helps!

David

Responses

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  1. David
    I think you are spot on. So many times we get caught up in trying to
    improve everything, rather than focusing on making our main strength
    better. Yes if you see an outcome for improving the weaker go for it. However,
    I think if we just let the weakness flow their course the strengths will supplement
    the weakness and grow them as well.
    I do enjoy your messages, don’t always reply but they are part of my daily thought
    process. Thank you

  2. Question,
    The people we can’t keep repetitively saying no to is our agents. If they send us auditions to record on MP3’s how do we keep saying no to our weaknesses before they stop wanting to take chances on us or sending us anymore auditions. I have booked some that I never thought I’d get and didn’t book some I was certain I would. So how do you ever know?

    1. I think you might be conflating “weaknesses” with “roles I don’t believe I’d be good at.” That’s not what I meant. I rarely say no to an audition, and when I do it’s because it’s physically uncomfortable (yelling, stunts, etc) or the production performance dates are not open for me. I’d reframe things so that “challenging roles” are not thought of as “weaknesses”.

  3. I like this idea. One of the people I have a black belt under is an undefeated, full contact, middle weight kickboxer from the 70s who only trained his left leg. He thought that everything he could have done to train his right leg was effort that he should have put into his left leg. He was undefeated and went by the name Superfoot, so I guess what he did worked out pretty well. Thanks for the video David.

  4. I fully agree ‘play to your strengths’. Not to say you should not try and learn new things. However, if you try to be a good in all, you will be a master of none. It is ok to have a niche. It is your niche that others will come to you for. Then you can show them that you can do more. But if you do not get the first notice, you will never be noticed!