Ignite Your Passion, Chart Your Course, Own Your Life by Dave Yarnes

Author:Dave Yarnes [Yarnes, Dave]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Destiny Image, Inc.

Be intentional about identifying and focusing on personal skills with the greatest potential

Identifying your individual strengths and skills and the areas where you have the ability to achieve exceptional mastery can be a significant journey. In fact, it will take purposeful, focused effort on your part. There are several reasons for this.

As individuals, we can tend to be self-deprecating. We underestimate our skills, and we think, “If I can do it, anyone can.” There is a built-in tendency toward unpretentiousness and believing others are equally as skilled as we are in any given area. Humility can be a virtue, but a continual self-deprecating mindset that devalues our personal strengths is a detriment to our prosperity and success.

There are skills that you possess and operate at a higher level than those around you. As you chart your course to a fulfilling and prosperous life, you will recognize areas of strength among your personal traits and recognize that you have the ability to become extraordinary in these areas. Sometimes it helps if you realize that you are not prideful, but you are accepting the gifts that God gave you. I have used the question “what can you become the best in the world at” in executive coaching exercises.

Many people fail to identify their own areas of extraordinary skill where they have the potential for greatness because they operate in those areas naturally, with little effort, and wonder why others are struggling. They are dumbfounded when someone else can’t see it because the solution is so apparent to them or the physical task is so easy for them. This natural ease can cause us to not see our signature strengths or undervalue them because they are so easy.

INTENSE PRACTICE: THE 10,000-HOUR RULE

Malcolm Gladwell in his book Outliers: The Story of Success popularized a scientific finding by researchers who discovered that those who become the world’s master craftsmen spend a minimum of 10,000 hours in training and practice of their skill. That is the equivalent of ten years of preparation at about 20 hours per week.

Gladwell outlines the stories of the Beatles and Microsoft as examples. In both instances, he argues their world-class success was not due to chance, but development of skills. They identified, honed, and practiced for 10,000 hours the thing they could be best in the world at.

SKILL AND TIME MANAGEMENT

One foundation in fulfilling 10,000 hours of practice needed for mastery as defined by Gladwell is skillful management of your time. For the past 2 years, I have led many seminars and workshops on the topic of time management. Because of the importance of the time necessary to develop true expertise, successful individuals are those who have significant time-mastery skills.

At different levels, we often have too much to do and not enough time to accomplish it. In order to continually develop our skills, we have to make tough choices. Time is inflexible; therefore, we must adapt and employ self-management and discipline if we are to possess expertise in any skill.

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