'Getting Naked' with our Strengths and Weaknesses

Have you looked in the mirror lately? I know it sounds like an odd question at this point but it occured to me today that it's a question I need to ask you. And definitely before we go any further with building our Business Basics list together. Let me explain why.

One of the first things my now-husband commented on when we first started dating was my 'squat legs'. Charming I know. Now I'm 5'10 and the comments usually made about my legs are that they are 'long' - never 'squat'! But the truth is he was right. You see, I've always known that I have a long torso and shorter legs for my height. So I compensate this with how I dress (which no doubt explains my heel festish). The problem is my husband is a physiotherapist and when he stood next to me he immediately noticed it. Drats!

The reason that the world is fooled into thinking I have long legs is that I know my body shape. And dress accordingly. If I didn't, then I wouldnt know what to hide and what to emphasise. You see, while I may have shorter legs, they are shapely and toned. So throw on a pair of heels and viola - for all intents and purposes - great assets!

That's why as business owners we need to spend a bit of time getting naked!

Now I'm not going to ask you to strip down in front of the mirror. Unless you're like many of the men I know with oodles of self confidence or Jen Hawkins, it's just plain mean. But I do want you to take a good look at yourself.

Why bother torturing ourselves? Well so far we've looked at all the 'stuff'' (and probably too much time was spent reminiscing about certain pair of brightly coloured green cropped skinny jeans with zipper down the side that was culled. Sigh. )What we haven't looked at is who is inside the stuff. We've written lists about what we do and don't do as business owners and what we would like our business to look like but we've ignored our own strengths and weaknesses.

By getting naked (either literally or metaphorically) and truly looking at ourselves we know what to focus on and what to develop. As business owners we need to know our natural gifts and strengths and start developing and using them. If my strength is client relationships and being able to talk their language then I need to stragtegise about ways to get in front of my clients. When you focus on something that is already a positive you can strengthen that and turn that into one of your greatest assets. (I can almost hear Whitney playing in the background...!)

You also need to be aware of your weaknesses. In the same way that I know how to minimise my squat legs you need to know how to manage your weaknesses. Maybe you're not great at confronting people or managing book-work or developing systems. You can only manage or work on these weaknesses if you acknowledge them.

So take a seat in front of a mirror. Pour a glass of wine if necessary and start getting naked with yourself. Write down up to five strengths and five weaknesses. If you're struggling grab a good friend to help. Then just look at the list again over the next few days and make sure it still feels OK.

Getting naked is tough. But there's no point creating our basics list if we don't know what we're dressing. So deep breath, grab the glass and start writing!