Last week the TRAINER taught Sam about NEXT STEP THINKING. This week, Sam will learn about pursuing his own strengths and not someone else’s. If you need to catch up on the entire book, you can start by going back to Sam’s Crumbling World and following the links to catch up.

YOUR STRENGTHS

“YOUR STRENGTHS means you SHOULDN’T spend your time trying to be someone else. Of course, I have to be careful here. I don’t want to jump ahead and get into the PROFESSOR’S territory.”

“Who’s the PROFESSOR?” Sam interrupted.

“You’ll meet her later,” replied the TRAINER. “She’ll help you get from SHOULDA to SHALL. Right now, let’s suffice it to say you CAN only do what you CAN do. There is no need to try to do what someone else CAN do, even if that someone is your hero. In other words, just because you and I really like Dave, doesn’t mean we should start trying to run restaurants. Think about what you’re good at and realize the world needs people like you.

“My dad was good at fixing mechanical things. My brother inherited that strength and I didn’t. I never understood why on earth they liked working on heating and air conditioning units every day. I tried doing that sort of thing with them for a while, but it’s just not my cup of tea. We were all frustrated during that time. I now understand they like doing that because it’s their strength. It’s who they are. But it’s not who I am. Now, when my air conditioner breaks, my plumbing leaks or my lawnmower quits working, I call my brother.”

Sam started laughing, remembering his old job, “I know just what you’re talking about. It used to frustrate me so badly when my superiors wanted to promote someone for doing a good job and all they thought about was that people in my sales division made more money. They would promote someone who COULDN’T sell a coat to a naked Alaskan and wondered why sales went down.”

“That’s exactly the point,” the TRAINER said, happy that Sam was starting to see the benefit in all he was telling him.

He handed him the next card. Sam glanced at it quickly.

Come back next Thursday in which the TRAINER teaches Sam about TIME and how that will get his COULDAS to CANS.

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