Strengths, special skills, and weaknesses…We all have them, but what are yours? Identifying your strengths, skills, and weaknesses when creating a personal vision statement and deciding what you want to do in life is essential. You also want to consider what is most important to you (not what is important to anyone else or that you think should be important).
Let’s start writing with a bit of brainstorming. Remember, this may (or may not) require you to list items on paper. The key is to write everything you can think of (relating to each element: Strengths, special skills, weaknesses, and what’s most important to you). Write everything you can think of…no judgment and no holding back.
Here are some things to consider: Are you strong (physically or psychologically)? Stubborn? Independent? Are you a freethinker? Are you good at helping people get along? Are you highly intelligent? Empathic? Are you incredibly organized? You have a list of strengths, just like everyone else. Please don’t stop with this list until you feel you’ve covered them all.
See your skills
What skills do you currently have to help you achieve those goals? How many of those are good to go, and which need work?
Evaluate your goals. Now, look at the list of goals once again. What are the strengths a person who reaches each of those goals must possess? Go down the list and evaluate them one by one. Take your time with this; don’t rush this process. When you’re done, do it again and write down the list of skills needed to accomplish these goals.
Weed out weakness
Compare your (Strengths and skills tasks) you already have versus goals lists the two lists you’ve created -one of the strengths and skills you already have- versus those you need to accomplish all of these goals you want to achieve. The differences between the two are your weaknesses. These are things you need to work on if you’re going to make all of your goals a reality. Circle all of these weaknesses.
If you like, you can add working on or developing some or all of these weaknesses to your vision statement. You don’t have to do so, but if you don’t, you still need to keep the list handy because you will have to work on these things to reach your goals.
Identify your Core Values.
Write “My Values” across the top. What’s the most important thing in the world to you? Your top priority, the item you work so hard for, the one rule you always follow, the one guideline you use to define everything else in your life.
It’s a challenging task. It may require some thought. Or maybe you know right away what it is. If so, you’re one of the lucky ones. The rest of us have to think about it for a while!
The answer, when you come up with it, might be simple, or it might be complex. It might be the Golden Rule. It could be taking care of your family. Making money is a top value for some people, while making a difference is most important to others. Some write a single word, such as “love” or “caring.” the key is, to be honest with yourself is the most important part of this process. And don’t write down too many; you don’t want and dilute the vision statement. Depending on your personality, you might want to do your second and third most important and maybe a few others as well.
When you’ve finished this step, set the lists you made aside -but keep them handy for later.
Come back tomorrow as we finish up with writing down your vision statement.
