“Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade?”
— Benjamin Franklin
Do you have the opportunity to do what you do best every day?
“Chances are, you don’t. All too often, our natural talents go untapped. From the cradle to the cubicle, we devote more time to fixing our shortcomings than to developing our strengths.” This is the premise of one of my favorite coaching books: Strengthsfinder 2.0 by Tom Rath.
Trying to be a well-rounded person can wear the edges off a person’s dream. Sometimes our attempts to erase our weaknesses can wipe out our dreams all together.
Our dreams are erased because we are focused on the wrong thing. We become focused on what God didn’t give us instead of what God did give us. We forget that God made us part of a bigger body of people, each of whom carry unique and specific strengths, talents, and gifts.
We begin to believe the lie that we were meant to conquer the world alone.
God places people in your path to build partnerships with the potential to change the world. God wants to partner your strengths with others so you will not grow tired and weary of your cause. He places people in your life so that you can enjoy the dream of your journey!
Dr Clifton, the father of Strength Psychology said: Don’t try to put in what God left out. Instead, try to draw out what God put in. That is hard enough.
Like the sundial, your talents should not be hidden. They should be a light unto the world. Are you ready to take yourself out of the shade and ask yourself the question?
Do you have the opportunity to do what you do best every day?
What do you think?