Catapult Your Cap-ability... Do what you do well, better!

Cap-ability is a cornerstone Success-Ability that enriches our
experience of work, and increases our value in the marketplace.

As we enhance our cap-ability, we boost our confidence and
enhance our market-ability, service-ability and value-ability.

How do you catapult your cap-ability?
Do what you do well, BETTER!

When coaching people, we often ask a question:

"If you got nine "A's" and one "C" on a report card, what would
get your attention?"

For most people, the answer is the C. Then we ask, "Why?"

The answers vary, but not much. They are all a derivative of
the same answer. I want to get all "A's". In other words...

I want to be perfect!

This striving for perfection is at the heart of much discontent,
dissatisfaction, and disillusionment. It's also a major source of
unhappiness, lack of fulfillment and contributes greatly to
the epidemic of low self-esteem that plagues our planet.

The old school model of success is to get straight "A's." That
requires us to put a lot more attention on the subjects in which
we have less talent and ability. We work on our "weaknesses"
and in the process, try to be good at everything. Unfortunately,
we carry that same old school model into our work and career.

The problem is, getting straight "A's" is not a real world model.
Few people are good at everything, and many who try to be never
fulfill their unique potential nor do they find personal fulfillment.

Mozart didn't do ceilings, and Michelangelo didn't play the piano!

When we strive to get all "A's" we are trying to become perfect,
trying to live up to some ideal concept of who we think we
"should" become. This forces a major value decision.

Do we put our time and attention on accepting who we are
(with all our shortcomings), loving who we are (warts and all),
and valuing ourselves for what we attempt and DO accomplish
(rather than where we fall short)?

Or, do we put our time and attention on "what's not perfect, yet"
and focus on strengthening our weaknesses? Do we, in the
process of trying to strengthen our weaknesses, weaken our
strengths? For most of us, the answer is yes.

Cap-ability is the Success-Ability of competence, but it's also
the ability to know how and where to direct our energies. We
spend a lot of time trying to fix ourselves of what we think is
broken, so we have little time left over to unwrap our gifts and
live from what we value most and do best.

The "old school model" of getting perfect grades is not only an
illusion, it has potentially detrimental consequences when used
in the real world. In the real world, you are paid best for what
you do best. That's not to say you cannot do many things well.
Most of us have multiple talents, and as required in the 21st
century, have become adept at multi-tasking.

The ability to multi-task is a good thing. It just doesn't pay
well. People who are paid best are not those who do a little of
everything pretty well, but those who do one thing exceptionally.
High market value people bring a higher level of cap-ability to their
work.

Although things in life and work may seem to be neutral, most of
what we do either adds or detracts from our value. If I add words
to this message just to bulk it up, it detracts from its value (it takes
me longer to write, and you longer to read for no added value).

A good way to test your communication is to look at every word.
Then ask, "Does this add value?" If not, it probably takes away.
Eliminate it.

The same is true for business: whether it be company brochures
(people read only 20 words of the average brochure), proposals,
advertising and promotion, marketing materials, sales letters,
customer service, hiring, selection, training, development, team-
building, promoting employees, even downsizing and firing.

This simple concept holds true for most aspects of life.

If something doesn't add, then it usually takes away.

A UNIQUE TRUTH ABOUT CAP-ABILITY

Cap-ability doesn't exist in a vacuum. If you don't continuously
improve this Success-Ability, it will atrophy and you will fall
behind. If you needed a life-saving operation, would you trust
your life to a doctor who hasn't read a medical journal in 20 years?
Do you want to do business with people who are still using old
worn out sales scripts, approaches and closing techniques?

THEN DON'T BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE.

If there is ONE investment you can make that has the highest
leverage of all, it's an investment in your Cap-Abilitiy.

Don't strengthen your weaknesses.
STRENGTHEN YOUR STRENGTHS.

At this time of year, we take stock of what we want to improve,
upgrade, enhance, change, do better or differently next year.

For many of us, this becomes a "weaknesses to strengthen" list.

This year, take stock of your strengths. Block out time and identify
what you do well.

Then decide to do what you do well, even better next year.

If you want a big boost in market value, income, performance,
and personal satisfaction in 2002, then put less attention on
fixing yourself, and more attention on releasing yourself.

Strengthen your strengths.
DO WHAT YOU DO WELL, BETTER.

What do you do well? Which of your talents, skills and abilities
can produce the highest quality of life for you and living for your family?

Are you being and doing what you value most?

Have you truly taken stock, objectively, of your tool-box?

Nothing can match the return on investment you will get in
assessing your talents honestly and objectively, and leveraging
those talents for all their worth.

Make "doing what you do, better" the centerpiece of your year-end
and new year planning.

Focus less on what's missing, and more on what's present!

That's not only a business skill for life.
It's a vital life skill for life!

This Week's Business Skill for Life:

Do what you do well, better.

STRENGTHEN YOUR STRENGTHS.