Majoring in Minors

majoring

Are you majoring in minors?

We all have them; those things we aren’t so great at.  Often referred to as weaknesses, they can keep us from getting what we want, performing as expected or showing up as we would like.  They get in our way or in the way of others.  But do you own your weaknesses?  Or do they own you?  Are they a major or minor part of your life?

Consider the commonly heard refrain “oh, that’s a weakness of mine.”  This can apply to your lack of willingness to avoid sugary treats or your inability to show up on time.  Minor in nature, yet major in effect, you feel the weight of the sugary side effects and tarnish your image by being consistently late.

A weakness?  Okay, but only because it gets in the way of performance.   I prefer to call the above bad habits or poor hygiene, simply…a lack of good maintenance.  Can these things get in the way of success?  Absolutely!  If you don’t have these minor things under control, start there.  Anything more complex or challenging will be hard to overcome until you have these things fixed.

While you are working on these maintenance issues, stop calling them weaknesses.  You are giving them far more power than they deserve and undermining yourself in the process.  It is easy and convenient to give these items the name of “weakness”.  It lets us “hide” a little bit from facing the truth that we have the ability to stop majoring in minors.  Save the term weakness for those things for which you truly lack natural talent.

How do you move from majoring in minors?

  • Identify where you use excuses to explain behavior
  • Commit to change just one minor thing
  • Commit out loud to change one minor thing to someone who will support you in that change
  • Do it!

It is within your control and power to stop majoring in minors.

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