You Get a Higher ROI by Leaning Into Your Strengths Than Fixing Your Weaknesses
You’re a home cook who’s got a real talent for desserts. Your chocolate cakes are the kind that stop conversations, and your fruit pies always disappear first at family dinners. But when it comes to main courses, things fall apart. Your pasta boils over, and your grilled chicken ends up dry as cardboard. You could sign up for every cooking class under the sun to get better at the basics. Or you could focus on those sweets, maybe start selling them at local markets and see where that takes you.
The smarter move? Play to what you’re already good at. In life and work, putting your energy into your strengths pays off way more than endlessly working on your weak spots. It’s not that you should pretend your flaws don’t exist. They’re part of the package. But your time is limited, so use it where it counts most.
The Appeal of Working on Weaknesses (And Why It Often Falls Short)
There’s something satisfying about tackling your shortcomings. It’s that classic story of pushing through discomfort, like finally nailing a presentation after weeks of practice. You feel accomplished, and yeah, you do improve a little. The problem is, you rarely get great at it. Real expertise comes from doing what feels natural, not forcing yourself through the tough stuff.
Research backs this up. Gallup looked at data from a million people in jobs, and found that folks who focus on their best skills are six times more likely to be engaged at work and three times more satisfied with life overall. On the other hand, always fighting your weaknesses just wears you out. It’s like trying to fix a car that’s always breaking down instead of driving the one that runs smoothly.
Building on What You Do Well: That’s Where Real Progress Happens
When you lean into your strengths, things start to snowball. It’s not flashy, but it works. Take Warren Buffett. He didn’t waste time getting better at things he wasn’t passionate about. He honed his eye for investments and turned it into a fortune. Or look at athletes like Serena Williams. She worked with what made her unstoppable, not what held her back.
To see the difference clearly, here’s a simple breakdown:
| Approach | Time Invested | Typical ROI | Real-World Perk | Pitfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixing Weaknesses | High (endless drills) | Low-to-Medium (survival mode) | Feels productive; avoids embarrassment | Drains energy; caps potential at “good enough” |
| Leveraging Strengths | Medium (refine what you love) | Sky-High (exponential growth) | Flow, joy, and outsized wins | Weak spots still trip you up occasionally—but who cares when you’re crushing it elsewhere? |
The point is, strengths give you leverage. A friend of mine in sales dreaded cold calls. We didn’t make her practice them until she hated her job even more. Instead, she focused on building relationships with clients she clicked with. Her numbers doubled in a year, and she actually started looking forward to work.
How to Get Started: A Quick Self-Check
If this makes sense, try this today. It won’t take long.
- Spot Your Top Strengths: Think about what you enjoy and what others notice in you. If you’re stuck, ask a couple of friends for their take.
- Look at Your Routine: Where do you already use those skills? Spend more time there. Hand off the rest if you can.
- Pick One Goal: For the next month, direct most of your effort toward sharpening what you’re good at. Keep track of how it feels and what changes.
You don’t have to be good at everything. People remember the things you excel at. So figure out yours and run with it. Your results, and probably your happiness, will show it. What’s one area you’re strong in but not using enough? I’d love to hear.
Responses