I saw this quote on the Women of Faith page - a few weeks ago, and it was one of those things that made my heart leap (ever have that happen to you?) and I knew I had to share it.
“Conventional wisdom tells you to push yourself beyond your comfort zone. Yet when you study the most successful people you discover that they do something quite different: they push themselves within their strengths zone. They certainly aren’t complacent. It’s more that they realize they will be at their most productive, their most creative, their most generous, their most collaborative if having found their edge, they spend their life sharpening it.”
Marcus Buckingham, author of StandOut
I want to shout this out to the world!
Find something you're good at; something God has created you for - and go for IT!
Forget that our society tells you to be "well rounded". Forget that your competitive spirit tells you to sign your kid up for everything under the sun. Forget that you get bored easily.
What has God put inside of you that you're passionate about? Find that ONE thing and do IT; not 15 other things plus IT.
I've heard parents say they want their kids to be "well rounded". No wonder kids are suffering from A.D.D.! For the sake of "well roundedness", the parents are dragging the poor kids around; expanding their little horizons, yet, the kids aren't focused on any one thing. They grow up not knowing what they want to do with their lives. They've been exposed and involved, but never focused. Their lives have consisted of moving from this activity to the next; never having time to just be good at one thing.
Think about the Olympians we watch on TV: they have devoted their entire lives to that ONE thing and perfected it to the best of their ability. Think of musicians - they devote themselves to the music; it's in their blood and they can't NOT play or sing or write. And artists - they HAVE to create and they spend most of their time thinking on their next creation.
Nine times out of ten - those who focus and succeed in one area, are there because they didn't divide their time up between 5-6 other areas of interest. They chose the one that held their passion and that's where they stayed and it paid off.
So next time someone says to "step out of your comfort zone" - give it some thought. Will stepping out help you grow in your IT area or will it take your focus off what you were called to do and set you back?
Don't let those who live scattered lives, derail your focus. If God has shown you what He created you for - stay there! Grow there! Focus there!
In the end - you will find satisfaction in knowing that you put your all into what you loved, and you did it well.
Blessings,
Debbie
Good post. Those who succeed are the ones that don't give up.
ReplyDeleteAnn