Using Your Strengths - We Are Made this Way for a Reason

Last Sunday I went to my favorite church (where they haven't seen me much this summer I have to admit), at Unity North in Marietta, GA. I think I was wanting to be in community with others who were wanting to feel gratitude for our world and be together through the suffering going on around us.

I was delighted to hear Rev. Nancy Worth share this "animal story". It highlights a foundational skill I believe that we need to succeed as Joyful Entrepreneurs (in fact, as human beings) which is "Maximizing Your Strengths".  I enjoyed this story that illustrates this point beautifully and thought you might too...

I thought you might also enjoy it...

   Once upon a time, the animals decided they must do something heroic to meet the problems of the new world. So they organized a school. They adopted an activities curriculum consisting of running, climbing, swimming and flying. But they realized it was difficult to administer the curriculum, so they required that all of the animals take the same classes.

   The duck was excellent in swimming, in fact far better than his instructor. But he made only passing grades in flying and was very poor in running. Since he was slow in running, he had to stay after school - and also drop swimming - in order to practice running.  This was kept up until his web feet were badly worn and he was only average in swimming. But average was okay at that school, so nobody really worried about the duck except maybe the duck and his family.

   The rabbit started at the top of the class in running, but had a nervous breakdown because so much make-up work was required in swimming.

   The squirrel was excellent in climbing until he developed frustration in the required flying class, where his teacher made him start from the ground up instead of from the tree-top down.  He also developed a charley horse from over exertion and then got a "C" in climbing and ended up with a "D" in running.

   The eagle was the problem child from the beginning and needed to be disciplined severely.  In the climbing class, he beat all the others to the top of the tree but his instructors insisted he did it the wrong way.

   At the end of the year, the abnormal eel that could swim exceeding well - and also run, climb, and fly just a little - had the highest average and was class Valedictorian.

   The prairie dogs stayed out of school and fought the tax levy because the administration would not add digging and burrowing to the curriculum. They apprenticed their children to a badger and later joined the groundhogs and gofers and started a very successful private school.

...George Revis

As the story illustrates, we all have different strengths and the world desperately needs us to embrace our own strengths (and stop worrying about what we don't have) and step into our brilliance of what we can do. 

This is especially pertinent with all of us asking "How can I help the evacuees impacted by Hurricane Katrina?".  I have been quite amazed at how people in crisis will come from their strengths naturally.  I know a woman who after spending 2 days cooking for a big Labor Day pool party for the neighborhood - and then continued on to donate the leftover hamburgers and hotdogs to our local Salvation Army to help feed folks from New Orleans coming through or/to Atlanta.

Others have used their company trucks to show up in New Orleans with bottled water and axes - just knowing they would be needed and not knowing if they could get through. (Indeed they couldn't for 2 days) And when they could get through, it was very needed.

Another woman in our neighborhood has arranged and coordinated for our neighborhood to cook dinner for 100 evacuees staying in a hearby hotel 2 nights this week. And, while my strengths isn't cooking - I can buy supplies!

And the owner of the hotel, La Quinta, is coming from his natural strength and is givign discounted rates for his hotel to those impacted by the hurricane. He has also gotten local restaurants to donate extra food and is partnering people up with no money with folks that do have money and want to help. 

Coming from strengths isn't about "showing off" - it's about contributing to the world what we each can contribute easily and naturally and FULLY.

So, I ask you, What are your strengths? What do you KNOW that you do really well?  This is not the time to be bashful. What do people come to you and ask you for help with?  What can you give easily to others?

I've received emails from others who love animals. Thank God for them as they are heading up efforts to find homes for family pets that are homeless.

There's emails circulating in several coaching communities with coaches asking "How can we help?" and they are pooling their efforts with others to make the most impact. 

Here are some sites that may help you find you place of strength to give from:

http://www.networkforgood.org/topics/animal_environ/hurricanes/

I know this is but one place to go. There are many places. Just find your strength and offer it....

Lots of hugs,

Laura