A Weakness Is A Fantastic Opportunity

Every once in a while, you hear someone say something so profound that you think, “Wow!” That happened to me recently when my friend Joshua Talbot spoke at our Toastmasters Club in Southlake, Texas.

Every weakness is an invitation to a relationship. We are all better when we depend well.

Joshua Talbot

Wow! 

What is “Weakness”?

Merriam-Webster defines the word as

1. The quality or state of being weak. Also: an instance or period of being weak
2. Fault, defect
3. special desire or fondness (has a weakness for sweets) or b) an object of special desire or fondness (pizza is my weakness)

Is Weakness “Bad”?

It seems many people tend to think so. Yet, we can’t be equally good at everything. There are bound to be some areas of weakness in every one of us.

Let’s consider what we can do about it:

1. Hide our weakness/es
2. Work hard to improve ourselves to overcome the weakness
3. Ask for help
4. Pay someone to do it for you

Which Of Those Options Are Helpful?

I think we can rule out #1, even though that is what we often tend to do. If someone knew that I’m weak in area X, they might think less of me. For example, it takes me a while to remember names, especially when I’m new to a group of people. I admit it. 

But since remembering the names of people is essential, I work on it. I focus on it more and that makes a difference. I’m far better at it now than I was.

Marketing used to be a weakness; I had very little skill in that area. Marketing was not part of my Ph.D. program in chemistry! Yet, as every business owner knows, marketing is essential. No marketing, no business. 

In that area, I’ve applied a combination of options #2, 3, and 4. If you are a frequent reader of the Brilliance Nuggets, you know how tightly I work with Robert and irene Donnell from P5 Marketing.

• When we met years ago, marketing was a significant weakness of mine. I have learned so much from them.
• Yet, I don’t do everything myself. For example, I have learned a lot about Search Engine Optimization. But I would be ill-advised to do it myself when Robert is so good at it.

What Josh spoke about, ” Every weakness is an invitation to relationship. We are all better when we depend well.” applies to this situation very well. We have helped each other and formed a fantastic relationship while doing it.

A Weakness Is A Fantastic Opportunity

My hunch is option #3; asking for help is the trickiest for most people. We don’t want to be a burden. I feel that, too. And that is the biggest reason Josh’s statement struck me as a “wow.” 

Instead of succumbing to feeling shame about a weakness and hiding it, and tackling it on our own, we have an opportunity. The opportunity is to reach out to someone and build a relationship with them. A real relationship is fulfilling for both sides. 

Brian Tracy wrote a book titled “What You Seek Is Seeking You.” Yes. In my experience, what is also true is “Whom You Seek Is Also Seeking You.” By hiding our weaknesses and not seeing them as an invitation to relationships we are not only depriving ourselves. We are depriving others, too. Now, that puts a different spin on it, doesn’t it?

I’m Curious

• Which weakness/es do you have? 
• How do you feel about them, and how do you handle them?
• Which relationship/s could your weakness/es invite?