Sunday, May 10, 2009

How to Think Like a Fool #10: Use Weaknesses as Strengths

RISK: Use Your Weaknesses as Strengths
Right now I am sitting in the airport, waiting for my delayed flight home. I am getting so sleepy, it's difficult to type, but at the same time, the writing is flowing faster because I'm too tired to censor my thoughts. Zzzzzzzz...

If you haven't noticed by now on this blog, I have taken something normally associated with stupidity and disaster—thinking like a fool—and advocate that there are positive benefits to thinking foolishly, especially in the realm of creative problem solving. Water can drown you or save your life. And there are two or more sides to your perceived weaknesses as well.

My onstage persona is one example of marshaling personal imperfections for professional achievement. My continuing hair-loss becomes a source of power and pride as the remaining hairs are sculpted and fearlessly featured. I also transform my everyday shy and quiet behavior into onstage silence occasionally punctuated by vocal emotional expressions. And I'm very pale (don't know how this makes me stronger, but it doesn't kill me).


Your alleged weaknesses may be physical, intellectual, emotional, behavioral, imaginary, defined by yourself, defined by others, or just the baggage we share as humans. There's probably at least one skill you think you could never learn or are terrible at.

If you can't eliminate your imperfections, put them to work.

Think: What flaws do I have or other people think I have? When can I champion them? How can I use these for good instead of evil?

Tomorrow: How to Think Like a Fool #11: Fix What Ain't Broken

Previous "How to Think Like a Fool" Posts


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