I have an extremely serious question for you.
What do you do better than anyone else you know? If nothing comes to mind immediately, that's okay, but think about it some more. It can be very important for you.
If you figure out what you do better than others (and it doesn't mean you have to be the best in the world, or even in the country, just better than anyone you know), that can be a huge career or business clue for you.
In some cases, your answer to this question might be an actual business. For example, if you arrange flowers better than anyone you know, you might want to consider a business as a floral designer.
Other examples might point to abilities you can use in multiple businesses or careers, but knowing your greatest ability, particularly if you do it better than most others (at least everyone you know), you can look for ways to excel or prosper by using that strength. For example, if you negotiate better than anyone you know, there are many businesses that could use your skills, but you would be best served to present and use your specific ability, not just be in a business that can use it.
What if you can do several or many things better than anyone you know? First off, I'd suggest doing a reality check to be sure, and then maybe widen your range a bit to find out how far your prowess extends. Imagine, if you are the best in the world at something, wouldn't it make a lot of sense to pursue it, both to serve others and to profit from it?
If it turns out that you really are better than anyone you know at multiple skills or activities, then you're fortunate in general, but also in this important exercise, because next you get to choose which of the things you are really good at you'd like to do. Prioritization is important here. If you're multi-talented and multi-gifted (and many folks are) self study is important to prioritize and choose a course of action that can eventually incorporate all your top skills and gifts with a plan that lets you give sufficient focus and attention to one at a time so you can develop each to a satisfactory level.
It is possible, of course, that you are the best of everyone you know at a particular skill or activity that you don't enjoy. If that's the case, look wider for other applications of your skill that you would enjoy, or if that just doesn't work, find another of your top skills and focus on that.
Maybe you can't think of something at which you excel. And no one says everyone has to be the best at something...but first really check it out to be sure you're not missing something. Ask your family, friends, co-workers, anyone you know who will give you a straight answer. If you're serious about discovering your strengths, you're much more likely to get good data from people because most people love the opportunity to help others, and you are giving people a chance to help you and say something nice, which for most folks is a double win.
If you're stuck making a business, career, or life decision, your position of strength won't be to look around to see what's available. Doing that could result in selling yourself extremely short. The best tactic is to do some self study, to find out what you do best!
Have fun finding what you do better than anyone else!!
If you know this process could help you but you aren't sure how to start or if you don't think you can be "tough" enough with yourself or that you might sell yourself short or if you aren't sure what you'd do with the information once you found it, well, that's what coaches are for, and that's what Marge and I do to help people in their quest to live extraordinary lives. See www.AskBruceBrown.com for our range of coaching services, or email me at Bruce@QuantumResultsCoaching.com
