Success Inspires, But Failure Connects

“You are human and mortal; we are the sum of our weak moments and our strong.”
Mercedes Lackey

“To share your weakness is to make yourself vulnerable; to make yourself vulnerable is to show your strength.”
Criss Jami

“Failure makes your story worth telling.”
Jer Monson

How we portray our success as well as our failures has a great deal to do with how we relate to others.

It took me years to get this. I grew up with the “never let them see you sweat” mentality. And, because people only saw the polished success, they only got half the story.

“Success and failure are two halves of the same coin.  If we want our lives to be as impactful as possible, it’s important to share both!  By presenting a full picture, we can use our experiences to help other people acknowledge their individual potential, mitigate their fear of failure, and capitalize on their opportunities.”
Jer Monson

Success inspires, but failure connects.

So, what do you stink at?  Tell you what – I’ll go first.

I Stink At:
High tech stuff.  Yep, I haven’t the slightest talent for speaking computerese. No hablo techno!

Checking my email regularly. It’s nothing personal, folks. I just stink at it.

Not good at Small Talk.  Beyond the “How are you?” and “Nice weather we’re having” pleasantries, the awkwardness kills me.  I’m like a caged cat and look for the nearest exit.

I’m not great at Apologizing.  Listen, I’m the first to admit when I am wrong, but when it comes to screw-ups that involve someone else’s feelings, well, the shame looms heavy and I don’t know what to say, so I avoid and hope that it all dissipates. I am getting better, though!

Yours Truly is the biggest chicken regarding Business Venture.  Yep. Sticking my neck out may get it on the chopping block.  Bgack!

Outside of my family, I’m lousy at Delegating.  Rather than inconveniencing anyone else, it’s just easier to shoulder it all and do it myself.

Oh, believe me, there are a bazillion other things I could list, but the actual point of the activity is that of awareness.  Take note of discomfort levels.  Is there a common thread in the dread of what you are lousy at?  It can be very telling.

But, there is another reason why listing the “stuff you stink at” is worth admitting.  It helps you connect with others.

“You actually don’t have to be awesome at everything… When you cop to your shortcomings a number of wonderful things can happen.  You become more accessible to the people around you, you invite other people to step up and shine, and you create space for support to come into your life.”
Danielle LaPorte

Putting your weaknesses in plain language places us all on the same playing field and invites others to join your team. Only when we relate to others can we truly inspire one another.

It’s okay to be less than.  It’s okay to ask for help.  The mere fact of acknowledging your personal “I really Stink at this” list, calls forth those strengths in others to fill in where you lack.

“Effective leaders know their primary job isn’t to amass personal accomplishments, but to accomplish as much as possible through the gifts of others.”
John Maxwell

The deficiency in me is met by the ability in you.  Who knew that relinquishing pride in favor of honesty and objectivity would be so liberating? – For you and for others.

Now then, What do You Stink at?

 

 

 

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