Comments on: What would happen if you were blind to your weakness? http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/18/what-would-happen-if-you-were-blind-to-your-weakness/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:33:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Antoine Clarke http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/18/what-would-happen-if-you-were-blind-to-your-weakness/#comment-134700 Antoine Clarke Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:11:18 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/18/what-would-happen-if-you-were-blind-to-your-weakness/#comment-134700 Your weakness in one context could actually be remarkably useful in an other. If you compensate by focussing on how people move, you would make a phenomenal spotter of disguises. Every casino and not a few security agencies would like to meet you. And if someone can make software analyse video footage the way you work, there's a big law enforecement/security market. Your weakness in one context could actually be remarkably useful in an other. If you compensate by focussing on how people move, you would make a phenomenal spotter of disguises. Every casino and not a few security agencies would like to meet you.

And if someone can make software analyse video footage the way you work, there's a big law enforecement/security market.

]]> By: Recruiting Animal http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/18/what-would-happen-if-you-were-blind-to-your-weakness/#comment-134676 Recruiting Animal Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:34:46 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/18/what-would-happen-if-you-were-blind-to-your-weakness/#comment-134676 PBS had a series once about the early Christians. As a result I came across a letter by a guy who signed his name as Leo, Sinner. My first impression was that this declaration is a big relief because if you acknowledge your weaknesses right off the bat, you don't have to worry about hiding them. The same sort of thing takes place at AA meetings when people introduce themselves by saying "I'm so and so and I'm an alcoholic." But while the acknowledgement of limitations will free you from the need to defend your faults it won't free you from the need to defend your competence. Because although you are imperfect you still need to be recognized for the things you can do. And once you admit a limitation, there are going to be people who will try to use it to disqualify you from responsibilities you are still fit to handle. PBS had a series once about the early Christians. As a result I came across a letter by a guy who signed his name as Leo, Sinner.

My first impression was that this declaration is a big relief because if you acknowledge your weaknesses right off the bat, you don't have to worry about hiding them.

The same sort of thing takes place at AA meetings when people introduce themselves by saying "I'm so and so and I'm an alcoholic."

But while the acknowledgement of limitations will free you from the need to defend your faults it won't free you from the need to defend your competence. Because although you are imperfect you still need to be recognized for the things you can do. And once you admit a limitation, there are going to be people who will try to use it to disqualify you from responsibilities you are still fit to handle.

]]> By: Tony Tallent http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/18/what-would-happen-if-you-were-blind-to-your-weakness/#comment-134626 Tony Tallent Sun, 27 Jan 2008 00:40:56 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/18/what-would-happen-if-you-were-blind-to-your-weakness/#comment-134626 <p>I think you're right-on here. Have you noticed that often people don't quite know how to take it when you just say, "by the way I know XYZ about myself..." Does it generally make others uncomfortable when we are ourselves?<br /> Tony<br /> I think you're right-on here. Have you noticed that often people don't quite know how to take it when you just say, "by the way I know XYZ about myself…" Does it generally make others uncomfortable when we are ourselves?
Tony

]]> By: Music Site http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/18/what-would-happen-if-you-were-blind-to-your-weakness/#comment-134621 Music Site Sun, 27 Jan 2008 00:21:39 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/18/what-would-happen-if-you-were-blind-to-your-weakness/#comment-134621 (If you say, “I’m disappointed that I have this weakness. I wish I were born differently,” then there’s nothing you can do to see things more optimistically. But if you say, “There are pluses and minuses to this situation, and I do get to have a different perspective on the world that is interesting,” then there is room not to live with such regret.) You have said well, that was wonderful, I wouldn't say better, you worth lots of credit for this saying. Keep the good work up. Thank you, Regards. (If you say, “I’m disappointed that I have this weakness. I wish I were born differently,” then there’s nothing you can do to see things more optimistically. But if you say, “There are pluses and minuses to this situation, and I do get to have a different perspective on the world that is interesting,” then there is room not to live with such regret.)

You have said well, that was wonderful, I wouldn't say better, you worth lots of credit for this saying.

Keep the good work up.

Thank you,
Regards.

]]> By: MsKim http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/18/what-would-happen-if-you-were-blind-to-your-weakness/#comment-134468 MsKim Wed, 23 Jan 2008 06:02:20 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/18/what-would-happen-if-you-were-blind-to-your-weakness/#comment-134468 Thanks for the post! I have this condition as well and absolutely no one I know can understand how I can meet someone and then see them the next day and not recognize them. It's nice to see how others deal with this condition. Thanks for putting a postive spin on this :) Thanks for the post! I have this condition as well and absolutely no one I know can understand how I can meet someone and then see them the next day and not recognize them. It's nice to see how others deal with this condition. Thanks for putting a postive spin on this :)

]]> By: Rick http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/18/what-would-happen-if-you-were-blind-to-your-weakness/#comment-134394 Rick Mon, 21 Jan 2008 18:26:14 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/18/what-would-happen-if-you-were-blind-to-your-weakness/#comment-134394 MJ and Todd raise good points on this issue. You need to recognize and rely on your strengths when you need them. But what if you have a glaring (at least to you) weakness that gets in the way of your career advancement or healthier relationships? Are you introspective enough to recognize that weakness and become mentally "locked in" to overcoming it? That personal discipline, plus the degree of importance you place on overcoming that weakness, can help you overcome it. (That's why I also like PT's post last week on social skills.) Our society, unfortunately, tends to dwell too much on someone's "negatives," or weaknesses, rather than on his or her strengths (Does politics come to mind, anyone?). And it takes a lot of work to overcome those weaknesses and turn them into strengths. You need discipline and self awareness. MJ and Todd raise good points on this issue. You need to recognize and rely on your strengths when you need them. But what if you have a glaring (at least to you) weakness that gets in the way of your career advancement or healthier relationships? Are you introspective enough to recognize that weakness and become mentally "locked in" to overcoming it? That personal discipline, plus the degree of importance you place on overcoming that weakness, can help you overcome it. (That's why I also like PT's post last week on social skills.)

Our society, unfortunately, tends to dwell too much on someone's "negatives," or weaknesses, rather than on his or her strengths (Does politics come to mind, anyone?). And it takes a lot of work to overcome those weaknesses and turn them into strengths. You need discipline and self awareness.

]]> By: MJ http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/18/what-would-happen-if-you-were-blind-to-your-weakness/#comment-134383 MJ Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:01:33 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/18/what-would-happen-if-you-were-blind-to-your-weakness/#comment-134383 Now we just have to get our educational and work cultures to change - the MO still seems to be "beat the weakness to death, and if you destroy the strength in the process, oh well." How much productivity do we waste ignoring natural strengths to agonize over a weakness counting for about 1% of our productivity> Now we just have to get our educational and work cultures to change - the MO still seems to be "beat the weakness to death, and if you destroy the strength in the process, oh well."

How much productivity do we waste ignoring natural strengths to agonize over a weakness counting for about 1% of our productivity>

]]> By: Todd Schultz http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/18/what-would-happen-if-you-were-blind-to-your-weakness/#comment-134325 Todd Schultz Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:23:03 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/18/what-would-happen-if-you-were-blind-to-your-weakness/#comment-134325 Focusing on your strengths is a great way to work, because it increases productivity. It minimizes the time we spend worrying about what we can't do and increases the time we spend doing something. Great Post. Focusing on your strengths is a great way to work, because it increases productivity. It minimizes the time we spend worrying about what we can't do and increases the time we spend doing something.
Great Post.

]]> By: john http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/18/what-would-happen-if-you-were-blind-to-your-weakness/#comment-134317 john Sun, 20 Jan 2008 11:31:41 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/18/what-would-happen-if-you-were-blind-to-your-weakness/#comment-134317 If you have not already, read the classic essay called "Compensation" by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Addresses brilliantly the same subject, as you did also I might add. If you have not already, read the classic essay called "Compensation" by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Addresses brilliantly the same subject, as you did also I might add.

]]> By: Karl Goldfield http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/18/what-would-happen-if-you-were-blind-to-your-weakness/#comment-134306 Karl Goldfield Sat, 19 Jan 2008 20:46:37 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/18/what-would-happen-if-you-were-blind-to-your-weakness/#comment-134306 Nothing has brought me closer to understanding my weaknesses than marriage. My wife is my mirror and now that I have helped her work through the fear of hurting me, she keeps me in check. It is great to have her there to tell when I am not listening, or have become overbearing. She is the brakes on this rail car and has hepled me mature immensely. When I look back at how much I have changed, the thought often crosses my mind that many of these defects of character were unknown to me. Through caring about what someone close to me thinks, and having her candor has been amazing. Nothing has brought me closer to understanding my weaknesses than marriage. My wife is my mirror and now that I have helped her work through the fear of hurting me, she keeps me in check. It is great to have her there to tell when I am not listening, or have become overbearing. She is the brakes on this rail car and has hepled me mature immensely.

When I look back at how much I have changed, the thought often crosses my mind that many of these defects of character were unknown to me. Through caring about what someone close to me thinks, and having her candor has been amazing.

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