Knowing Our Strengths

All my life I’ve been a person who has embraced constant learning and most of my learning has been self taught. It began with how to train dogs, then horses, and how to draw the animals I loved so much. I dove into Grant MacEwan’s books to learn everything I could about animal husbandry. My career in business was the same way: continually taking courses & workshops, honing a range of business skills, including professional fund raising. Everything I’ve ever had an interest in, I’ve read voraciously and have incorporated hands-on practice. As I get older, the learning curve seems to have this tendency to slow down the process though I continue to be nearly obsessed with learning how to do new and different things. But I refuse to simply skim the surface — I want to learn how to do things and do them well, in-depth. Settling for, “It’ll do,” or “that’s good enough,” simply is not within me. Anything I do, I must be-or-get very adept at or there’s no point in proceeding.

That takes me to my photography. When I decided to get serious about my photography, that growth curve swung so swiftly that it nearly caused whiplash! That’s a good thing. My self education in using the more advanced features in Photoshop, however, moves along at caterpillar speed. I need to take a great deal of time packaging it up with plenty of practice to really fine tune those more advanced Photoshop skills. It’s such a great feeling when I finally am able to accomplish one of the more complicated elements. It’s so gratifying that I’m now able to create some of my own designs for my boutique products such as the press printed books and cards. But all of these things go hand-in-hand when running a photography business in this digital age. Despite forging ahead with new and interesting aspects of learning, it doesn’t hurt to slow down to realize something else that’s just as important: knowing our strengths.

In photography, if we remove all the aspects in the digital darkroom, my strengths are in capturing vivid colours, quiet contemplative expressions, the spontaneous moments, and the details found in Mother Nature. Earlier today I realized I haven’t focused much lately on acknowledging my strengths. I have been so busy devouring, chewing, and swallowing all manner of new tasks related to my business that I haven’t slowed down enough to soak in what I am already good at; what comes almost naturally to me. So today I’m slowing down long enough to inhale, acknowledge the importance of knowing my strengths, and taking some time to revel in those strengths.

What are your strengths? Take some time to consider them and appreciate them this weekend.

Hard work without talent is a shame, but talent without hard work is a tragedy. ~ Robert Half

I believe that life is a journey, often difficult and sometimes incredibly cruel, but we are well equipped for it if only we tap into our talents and gifts and allow them to blossom. ~ Les Brown