How to Find the One Thing You Are Good At

I think I am good writer. People have said nice things about my blog posts, my book-in-progress, and my countless documents I've written for business processes. I enjoy writing; I volunteer to write for others; and I do a lot of writing. Does that make me an expert? Does that make me good at it? What is your top one or two skills? Unfortunately, it just might not be what you think it is. Here are some staggering statistics that might make you think otherwise. (Source)

• 78% of people consider themselves to be above average performers
• 96% of people think they have an above average sense of humor
• 84% of people think they have an above average ability to get along with others

What does this mean? That your perceptions may be off. What others perceive may actually be aligned with their own activities and goals. How can you weed out the bullshit and narrow down your real strengths from your colleagues' strengths? These ideas might help you:

1. Identify the Honest Answers
• If asked directly if a person thinks you did a good job, you will almost always get a positive answer because no one wants to admit you did a poor job to your face. Look for the compliments that are paired with constructive criticism. Don't get defensive but instead be receptive; realize that if someone goes out of their way to give advice, it may be because they think you will benefit from it. Great practice is giving two positives and one room for improvement using the sandwich method.
2. Keep it Out of Context
• Right after you do something is not the best time to receive feedback. We as humans love immediate gratification (sweets over exercise, lust over love, etc.) but those impulsive responses are probably not the most realistic perspectives. Give it some time and ask for opinions at the end of the day or even in a couple days. Don't wait too long though; we are busy people and might forget any specifics.
3. Get Examples
• Generic and general "good job" comments aren't helpful or truthful. If you receive one of these remarks, thank the giver and ask for a specific occurrence in which they based this on. Like the Toyota Five Why's Method, you need to dive down into the details to get the true meaning.

I probably must admit that I am not the funniest person in a room but I do like to laugh. Like my dad, I have a unique sense of humor that is lost on most. I will probably stick with writing and not the comical stories but rather the informative posts like this one.