I think we should focus on strengths.

 

We should spend time working on our strengths rather than our weaknesses.

 

So, I have been captured by the good work the people at the Gallup organization have done to create STRENGTHSFINDER.

 

I own copies of all the books written by Marcus Buckingham and by Tom Rath…and I am re-reading all of them.

 

While doing this re-reading, I was slowed down by one section of Marcus Buckingham’s book ‘Now, Discover Your Strengths’. Marcus talked about brain neuroplasticity and he had a strong view that brain neuroplasticity is overrated. His words made it clear he knew the facts – ie, the 2001 facts – about brain neuroplasticity. He knew about neurons and lost-limb work [I immediately thought about Ramachandran], etc.

 

Marcus made it clear he thought people were overestimating the value of using ‘brain plasticity’ activities/exercises to create better results at work. He stressed, at the very least, this is an inefficient way to go about self-improvement.

 

Rather, he recommended [I am using my own words here]:

• Focus on Strengths…that’s the best place to improve one’s performance
• When the job/role requires it, patch up Weaknesses…or work around them if that is possible.

Also, Marcus talked about:

• Talent Themes…how they are innate and cannot be changed
• Values…how we can choose to adjust them [and adjust our character]

Marcus Buckingham got me thinking.

 

First 

 

I believe people only do 3 things.

 

I believe if we boil things down then people only do 3 things:

• Good Habits
• Bad Habits
• New Things

That’s it. Whether I do things voluntarily or in reaction to some unknown drivers in my involuntary back-up systems, whether I do things in reaction to subconsciously-driven emotions, or whether I logically plan out things and do them…every single thing I do can be sorted into one of 3 categories:

• Good Habits
• Bad Habits
• New Things

Not to get too bogged down in detail [assuming it isn’t already too late], some examples:

• I breathe whether I want to or not…that’s a Good Habit because it tends to keep me alive
• I look both ways before I cross the street…that’s a Good Habit my Dear Mom taught me
• I eat too much ice cream…that’s a Bad Habit because it removes my ability to buy smaller belts
• I have trouble getting to sleep…that’s a Bad Habit because it wastes time, annoys me, etc
• I read books…depending on the book that’s a Good Habit [re-reading Napoleon Hill’s ‘Think and Grow Rich’] or that’s a New Thing [when it is my first reading of the book]
• I took the STRENGTHSFINDER test…that was a New Thing that led to some Good Habits
• I read plenty of books about the brain: de Bono, Ramachandran, Doidge, Schwartz, Amen, Glynn, Lynch, Maltz, Ratey, Robbins, Calvin, Begley…etc, etc

 

  

Yes - I read plenty of books about the brain and I am specifically interested in reading about brain neuroplasticity.

 

Putting Marcus Buckingham’s thought together with my philosophy about Good Habits, Bad Habits, & New Things…

 

Is that a Good Habit or a Bad Habit?

 

What if I asked Marcus Buckingham, “Marcus, is that a Good Habit or a Bad Habit?”

 

I wonder if Marcus would say, “Rick, that’s a Bad Habit”.

 

I wonder if Marcus would say, “Rick, that’s definitely a Bad Habit because you are not focusing on one of your Strengths!”

 

Ouch!

 

  

 

 

- Good Habits, Bad Habits, & New Things

- Marcus Buckingham