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Getting Honest About Strengths and Weakness

All right okay welcome back to our next segment lesson six getting honest about our strengths and our weaknesses we just finished up lesson five where we looked at ourselves in the mirror and we also looked at how other people see us so um here's the thing but when this came up in the last lesson contend to focus on our flaws we tend to focus on our insecurities and we also tend to focus on our weaknesses and not so much our strengths and I think our culture tells us that we need to build our strengths right if you're not so good at this you need to you know, work on that when I'm you know for example I'm not very good about grammar and spelling not ever gonna be except that about myself not going to stop writing I'm not going to stop doing those things but it's not my strong suit that's just not my strong suit and I could get better at it but I'm more interested in getting better at some other things so that's what I'm going to do and it's a different orientation right so this particu...

lar lesson is really an honest inventory so we took an inventory that was based on our physical appearance and other people's perceptions and our own perception now we're going to talk about our skill sets right and our maybe our creative expression um maybe um our ability to handle a sale our um our aptitude around money accounting. You know, some of these things come up when you're creating a business enterprise. Ah, lot of times. Um, it's, the word marketing or sales will make our to shrink nothing. I'm no good at that, but anyway, so these are things we're gonna focus on where? What's, where you at? In terms of your inventory of your strengths and your weaknesses. So you guys did a little inventory of her strengths and your weaknesses, right? And you all came here to build a particular strength, right? You came here to hope with hope of some positive outcome. Um, besides fulfilling your creative purpose, which is the title of the course, was there anything in particular that you're hoping to get better at to get stronger at yoni? Was there one thing that you wanted teo improve as a result of this course? Yeah, I think I wanted to be more focused so that my organization was better. And, um, you know what he wrote down the things that, uh, were my weaknesses. I looked at them and I was like, okay, they're all about procrastinating. So I wanted to be able to direct myself like a schedule like this if I was working for someone else instead of for myself, where I can do something being the boss and being the being a good boss and a good employee to yourself. So if you were an excellent boss and you're an excellent employee, you would show up differently, right? You'd show up in one year in one mode when you're important, your employees. But you also you also have to be your own boss. So sounds like time management, procrastination and maybe slathered on top of that is perfection. I'm gonna guess very good. You're starting to know me pretty well. Um, procrastination walks hand in hand with perfection. It really does. Ok, so that you you identify as a weakness, but you how also, I'm sure identified a strength. What do you think that isthe? Well, actually, I am very organized. No, um, when it comes to my own space, though, some of the things that I feel like I don't want to deal with because of that perfection. It's very easy for me to say, okay, I'm not gonna do that, okay? But I have to take on a huge project for somebody else I can organize and bang it out. So? So this is an interesting thing that comes up right, so and this is also core teaching of the course. You know, when you're when you have an obligation to someone else or you're acting in service to someone else, it is easier to get it done. You are going to meet that obligation, you're more likely to meet that obligation, but a lot of creatives air self directed, so then we have the same motivation to follow through to complete it, to be consistent. Do not give up, right? You notice that. All right. So, um, kathy, what did you arrive at this one of your weaknesses? That seems to be undermining your success? Um, I think it's not just monetizing what it is that I do, but even in that keeping that organized, like, um, this isn't so much on the craft into things, but more in the graphic design into things like I took on a project that I didn't even really want to take on anyway because I had trouble saying no. So what was that? So the weakness was trouble saying no, okay, this happens a lot trouble saying no, um and so you take on projects that drain you of time, you drain you of energy there often they're often you think they're gonna be for profit, they often wind up going sideways because you don't want to work these people in the first place. Well, and it wasn't so much the person it went sideways because I simply just was happy to be done with the project and kind of project was god's voice okay, now I remember I got the invoice but it's been weeks and it's embarrassing at this point, so okay, you know, I don't want this person to see that I wasn't that organized in my business, so so it's really is it being organized really? Just being able t the ability to say no in the projects just not a good fit? Yeah that's the trail better at that. Okay, all right, so let me give you a little tip, let me give you is there some criteria that you could use and that you could communicate about what makes a good fit? Because not everybody is a good fit? I don't work with all artists there's certain criteria that I need to know is in place in order for me to be successful and for them to be successful. So you know you can flush out this exercise later that's a little extra credit for all you overachievers, but what some criteria that you know, this is going to make this project or this this client a good fit or not a good fit what's one thing that whatever I'm charging them is enough or more than what I could be doing and making money doing something else like I'll take on something mohr because either it's it seems, uh interesting or I can't say no when really if I put that same amount of energy in something that paid a better hourly rate it's so one criteria is it has to be profitable yeah, bottom line has to be profitable care how much you like it or the project is interesting or the you know sounds you're flattered that they asked you if it's not profitable, then a business has no business taking that project on so that's great criteria number one it has to be profitable what's another criteria you would give whether or not this is going to be a good fit cause you a lot of opportunities, I think it would have to fall within my style or aesthetic or um, I wouldn't take on a creative project that just wasn't me okay, so it wasn't interesting creatively if it doesn't interest you creatively, you're going to have no energy to bring to that project or just doesn't even represent me as a brand, I suppose if that's the goal, you know, I'm setting us tow, okay, so it's not a brand it's, not a brand match, so if people ask me, is it it's mostly a joke like, will you paint dog portrait ce no offense the dog portrait painters but I am a landscape contemporary landscape painter and no, I am not going to do a dog portrait you're not gonna do it I don't want to do it and then over the other question I've received is where you paint golf courses it's a landscape now I don't like golf hate golf I want to do with golf I'm not going to paint a golf course is going to happen I just not gonna do it so it has to be and so it's not about you it's about your ability to bring energy enthusiasm to that project and it's also being consistent with your brand I mean creative life could teach many courses, but they're selective in their curriculum they're not going to just teach and they're going to allow any instructor on stage it has to be consistent with what they're trying to teach their broader audience okay, so that's great criteria um and one more piece of criteria this also speaks to your strengths and your weaknesses, right there's no sense in me doing dog portrait's it's not my thing so what's one other piece of criteria whether or not you would accept a job probably the time it would take how much time it would take which goes back to profit okay, so I'm a little bit off topic there but I think this is an incredible exercise is very valuable to be able to say no because it's one that a lot of artists are challenged with especially if they're not profitable yet it's harder to say no because you want to make some damn money and so you're scared to say no does anyone does that resonate with anybody? Not felix he's booked three months in advance but at some point it probably did right okay, so now that we're on felix so felix is their one weakness that, um you think is affecting your business right now. Yes. What is it? Well, procrastination uh putting things off a managing my time better I'm sort of a do it all kind of a person I clean I iron my clothes, do my own laundry I tried a laundry service and then do it the way I wanted it to I wanted them to sew yeah, you're spending your time doing an exhausting myself by the time I'm ready to work that has to change. Okay. Okay. So it's an awareness of these things that will allow you to change you know and that's is where we got to start going to figure out what is what's messing us up so procrastination and trying to do too much is interesting it's like opposite all am astride a clean freak I need everything to be exactly like the restroom and living room has to look perfect I don't know what that is not the highest and best use of your time and your talent oh, I know that right? And so this is the this is the balance now I know not all some of us can afford to hire it out. Some of us are still scrambling but you need to buy your time back whenever possible so that you can focus on your creative output and you can also focus on sales and marketing so you can bring some more money in okay. All right. So, jen, what is the weakness that seems to be undermining you right now? I mean, it's kind of embarrassing, but accounting and overdraft fees at the bank. Well, I thank you for being brave about that because you're not the only person who's listening who's had overdraft charges because they didn't balance their checkbook. You're not the only person we've all done it if we're honest. So, um, why is this a weakness? What do you think? Well, so it's not necessarily organization because actually that's what I do have some organization in place, okay? It's really more about the discipline of sitting down regularly and going through it and I know that because in the past when I've had a really clear goal, I've actually done it, okay, so I know what it feels like what I'm doing it okay and I have done it and I have reached financial goals and right now I just like it's like it's like I'd rather do the laundry like when I have to sit down with quick and I'm like what else can I do besides go to quicken so somehow it's just not it's not high on my priority list like in my head okay this course is about purpose passion and profit way can't leave that out because that's the essential part of the formula um is there one thing you could do to help you with this? You don't incur overdraft fees and it's such a cz the fees I mean the fees add up but it's also kind of stressful yeah that's it because you're hitting rock bottom and your checking account and so the other thing about that that I know just from paying attention is it's it becomes this thing if I can't afford that when I don't really know if I can afford it or not uh right because I'm not looking I'm like going like this all the time and so when I'm honest and I'm looking at and I'm going through and I'm like making better choices because I can take that class ro I could do this you know, aiken I can find the money for that, but when I'm not looking and I'm putting it away then I'm I'm almost like not making a choice so yeah so we have been undermining your ability to take a class or to take a trip I mean that's undermining a lot right? You're not coming from knowledge you're not coming from power that's it and money is a huge charge topic not just for creative people it's charged topic for everybody so knowing where you stand is um the way you can alleviate a whole lot of stress even if you even if you are in debt just knowing what that number is can alleviate a lot of stress and knowing how much can I can I really afford this dinner out or maybe uh maybe not or maybe actually I can and it's yeah just changing colors your whole world really your relationship with money and this is not a course about your relationship with money um but any one of these perceived weaknesses could be a whole course unto itself what I want you to do is just identify what they are and think of one thing you could do to make it better and tell your master mind buddy or someone you trust like here's what I'm gonna dio I'm gonna balance my checkbook right invoice that client and get that done put the bed right okay, felix, maybe you could try another laundry service you could do something like that I don't know stop your ironing cut your ironing out you know anybody else wanna volunteer? John um I'm actually just hearing everyone else talk has helped me realize that my real weakness isn't what I thought it wass okay, I thought it was a I have too many interests and a lack of focus, but I realize that that's a product of my actual weakness is a lack of belief because I have a vision for what I want to create an accomplish and it's so big that it's like scary too it's scary to even like look at it all at once because it feels like that shouldn't be possible but there's no actual reason it shouldn't be possible I just it's not there there there's no way you know, but that's I realize the belief is my actual weakness that's a brilliant insight thank you for that. Um I do hear from creatives well, I have all these interests have all these interests and I don't want to abandon them so it it brings up the question is that really it? Are you just afraid to commit to a bigger dream because that's going to require your full attention and energy? Is that really the problem? Were you just entertaining this b s that I have all these interest have always interesting if you were real successful and you're making a lot of money and you're making a huge impact on people's lives, you're gonna get real interested in that sole focus just quickly write that's great insight thank you. See you all smarty pants here I don't have to do this alabama sale all right um so we've covered we've covered weaknesses unless anyone wants to volunteer anymore. Anybody feeling good? Okay, let's talk about strengths, okay? All strengths and, um you got some positive feedback from people, but what john will start with us? We just left off there. What do you think is a core strength that you possess? I think I understand people I think that's a core strength, I think that's why when you asked me earlier or what? My creative skill wass and it's like what's your creative expression, I asked john what creative expression wass and you were reluctant to answer, directed to say, I'm a writer because for me that's not even for me that's the tool but what I'm really trying to do is deeper than that. Or maybe I'm just connected to the the result that I want to help people achieve. Now I happen to do it with writing ok, what I really want to do is be, uh, an agent of change for people and I guess an instigator in that way yes and that's tied to a strength that you've mastered for yourself because you have been able to do these monthly experiments where you've made changes so it's a problem you've solved for yourself we're going to get into this is what what problem have you saw for yourself? Because that's a problem that you could help other people solve, yeah, that could be your mission. It is your mission, actually, in every case of every artist I've worked with, what problem have you saw for yourself? So your core strength is this is really, I think, it's about understanding people, I'm a good writer, but if I didn't understand people, it wouldn't make it so understanding people as it pertains that the broad topic as it pertains to their struggles and goals and desire to change resistance to change resistance, the fear, the battle's with finding one's own courage to make anything different in your life. Um, because maybe it's, because I'm constantly challenging myself to change different things about my life that I'm so in tune with what that process is like and all the stumbling blocks that come up and all the mechanics of it, the mechanics of it, yeah, how it works, where, where I failed like so many times, and how to avoid that, right? Okay, yoni, is there a core strength that you identified about yourself, not what came from other people, but from what is you? What is your belief about what your core strength iss no, this has got nothing do with art we have talked about art I was thinking that I am good at seeing the essence of things around me and that means well it I was thinking of it more in terms of art actually like being able to visualize something and photograph it and then interpreted through digital painting or whatever um and I feel like her so a personal strength the core personal search not a creative expressive, not a strength is it pretty obtains to your creative expression but as a person what's a course train I do believe it's a creativity ok? And I know that you know relates to being an artist but it also just relates to how you live your life um so I would say that creativity okay? All right? I'm gonna ask you to think of another one okay together all creative right that's a default you wouldn't be here and you are creative what? We're all creative here, but what I want you to do is dig deeper into what what else remember I'm always saying creating are about, you know, creating value above and beyond the art and that's why I'm pushing you to push past that so you can think have a think on that as they say ok, alright jen what's one core strength that you possess um so I I really connect with people and I can live in different places and really sort of be there and being a whole new community and start all over again and actually really connect with people and really be a part of the korean do there you are you're able to adjust to new environments you know, just being fully present and not get homesick or totally and I've been doing that since I was a kid okay like I've always been that way okay I never really saw it as a strength but actually realizing it iss I think in the strength I don't I don't think I have that ability yeah I don't like to sleep in a strange bed okay like my own bed I like moment she sound my top own towels I don't like any of that so it is not very flexible not that is the strength okay like I'm really flexible you can put me in a whole new community with just a suitcase and a whole new group of people and I'll stay for months and not be on sick and totally make it work so I mean this might be a glimmer of your purpose right? Yeah you see that yeah okay. Yeah core strength cathy what is it? What is it? I think I'm a pretty good problem solver okay? Whether that's fixing something around the house or helping a friend with an issue or our uh having um I just like I like the challenge of fixing something that isn't obviously flexible right um so notice everyone I'm deliberately asking you with your strengths are yours frank's are that are not related to your creativity so we can just keep keep this in mind people watching keep this in mind I know you are great painters and great photographers I get that but I'm pushing you past that to consider more of your unique core strength. So problem solving I like the challenge of trying to figure things out for the better okay, that makes sense you know, I just kind of title that problem solver so whether it's something with my children or our home or write a friend's you know, okay, we're talking about something or is this part much more fun to talk about than the weaknesses of the great? Well, the point is the point is to feel the difference and to emphasize put your emphasis on your strengths that does feel better don't feel more empowered you sit up a little straighter when you're talking about your strengths then your weaknesses right that's it that's the idea it's to become aware of what they are these air these retreats you guys aren't exaggerating I know these is these things they're true about you felix um last but not least really quickly what is a core strength of yours? I'm empathic I am sensitive I don't know. I mean, I said sensitive before, so I kind of want a very little would empathy. We should say empathy. Okay, all right. Okay. So in pant and patrick is actually a type of psychic ability and em for right and so but we're talking about a core empathetic, being empathetic and towards others. All right? So we're gonna wrap up this lesson, which was getting honest about our strengths and our weaknesses, and I'm gonna ask you to get your workbook out. Check off this exercise this if you've done it, if you haven't done it, put it in your calendar and make yourself a date to do it. And if you haven't, um, if you have trouble doing this jump go to join dot artist who thrive dot com joined the mastermind group. Find someone to connect with who will hold you accountable and cheer you on when you finish it. So our next lesson is lesson number less number seven and that's, where we're going to examine our three fattest failures. All right, everybody, thank you so much.