This post is coming to me at a great time. It’s time to look back at 2010 and see what worked and what didn’t. Why and why not. It’s usually just as simple as you say. The things that didn’t work were things I wasn’t interest in!
Martha Giffen\’s last blog ..How to Increase Readers to Your Blog

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Terri Zwierzynski and Solo-e Feed, Michelle Shaeffer. Michelle Shaeffer said: Blog: Are You a Fish Climbing a Tree? http://bit.ly/aqIhXi #blogboost [...]

And then Mike Murdoch said something like “everyone is a genius somewhere” which i love, love, love.

what that tells me is if you’re not a genius yet, then you haven’t found your correct environment yet :)

P.S. You are a GENIUS with websites and wordpress. I keep raving to people about you!!!

Alice Seba began a new course this week. The first lesson included a list of how people share differently online. It was such an eye-opener. It was interesting to see how 7 bloggers can be talking about the same thing, yet have a totally different approach in how they are sharing that information.

Identifying the way I share from that list was a great reminder of the “pond” this fish belongs in. :) I am most comfortable doing things one way, there’s no point in trying to be someone else.
Angie @ Home Business Solutions\’s last blog ..Holiday Networking- It Is That Time of Year

Excellent point – it’s not just what we’re good at but also what we’re really interested in… adding that to my list of things to think about as 2010 ends…
Michelle Shaeffer\’s last blog ..Are You a Fish Climbing a Tree

I like that quote!
Michelle Shaeffer\’s last blog ..Are You a Fish Climbing a Tree

Thank you, Marcia, I appreciate it.
Michelle Shaeffer\’s last blog ..Are You a Fish Climbing a Tree

Glad you know your “pond” – being in the right place really makes things easier. :)
Michelle Shaeffer\’s last blog ..Are You a Fish Climbing a Tree

Hi Michelle,

Thanks for sharing the quote and the thoughts that it provoked. I completely agree (except the baseball, which I’ve never tried!). WE all have aour strengths and we must learn to play to them and most importantly, not to under estimate them..

all the best

Rob

Great post Michelle! I say, break the mold rather than try and fit into it! My folks were such a great example to me as a young child. I have 2 brothers and one is literally a math genius and the other is a sweet soul and has lived with autism. My parents always developed different standards for us and just helped us surpass our own goals (not each others). It’s a lesson I continue to learn from as a mom now myself and home business owner.

You get the Great Headline of the Day award.

More and more, I’ve been working on focusing toward my strengths and subbing out the stuff that I do poorly don’t enjoy/find interferes with more crucial activities. Ex ample: we have a housecleaning come in every two weeks, and what they can do in two hours would take Dina and me four.

BTW, I can’t hit a ball either (though I haven’t tried since doing a couple of years of vision therapy, which has definitely helped my depth perception).
Shel Horowitz\’s last blog ..IAECM Changes Its Name

Michelle, I think you’ve hit a nerve. I think most people know when they’re not playing to their strengths – even if wildly successful. It’s a drain to be doing something day in and out that doesn’t feed your soul or allow you to shine. Sometimes, the answer is as simple as outsourcing those things that don’t work, so you can focus on the things you love. Other times, it means walking away. As entrepreneurs, there will always be those things we don’t love to do or do well, but that must get done. Learning to differentiate and compartmentalize the yuck stuff can make more room for the joyful stuff. Warm thoughts to you as you mull over your strengths and how to stay in them most of the time. :)
Lisbeth Tanz\’s last blog ..An Article Writing Primer

Hey Michelle, thanks for the great blog post!

For those who like tests as a way of finding out their strengths, I highly recommend Tom Rath’s book, Strengths Finder 2.0.

By doing the test in the book, you’ll learn your top five strengths. I’ve used it with many of my clients and they’ve found it very valuable, as have I.

Best,

Kathy
kathy\’s last blog ..Be A First Class Version Of Yourself- Rather Than A Second Class Version of Someone Else

Ooooh good point! It’s easy to underestimate our strengths. I think this post needs a part 2.

It’s so valuable to have parents (or teachers, or other role models in our lives) who understand that, Dani.

*curtsy* Thank you for the award. :)

Great point – we need to not only know our weaknesses but figure out how best to outsource them or otherwise reduce the amount of time we’re spending on them.

I didn’t realize that was part of the vision therapy. Might have to check into that sometime. I know reaching for a glass or mug without my contact lenses in is a very bad idea. :D

Yep, there’s that uncomfortable feeling that keeps popping back up and reminding us that something doesn’t fit quite right. It’s rather annoying, but valuable if we listen to it.

And thanks for your encouragement and listening ear lately… you know where this post came from. :)

Thanks Kathy, I’ll definitely check that book out.

What got to me in your post was the question: “Are you happy in your business?” So many people forget that the whole point of being an entrepreneur is to be happy in their business. If you aren’t, it’s time for a business check-up. Your advice, to change one thing to fix the problem, is the best!
Jeannette Koczela\’s last blog ..Joe Vitale’s 30-000 Watch

Is there something in the air or in the water lately? Almost everyone in my circle of influence (myself included!) is taking time to contemplate your message, Michelle.

And it’s a darn good one, to boot!

I’ve been having second thoughts (and third thoughts and fourth thoughts) about “who” I’m serving and “why” in my business. Can’t spill the beans right now (in the midst of doing my niche homework) but I can definitely feel it’s time for me to focus, solely and exclusively, on my years and years of experience, very specialized knowledge, and my passion in life.

Thanks for an extremely provocative and compelling post!

You don’t do mind reading on the side, do you? :)

Michelle,

It has been a time of refection for me too. I really enjoyed this post. Your post and comments have given me pause to look deeper and not just take a cursory look.

It is easy to get on the treadmill of what we think works or to pick up ideas from others and think they will work for us.

It takes courage to create and let your own light shine.
Sheila Atwood\’s last blog ..The Weekend Web

Loved the article, I just hope that your high school gym teacher didn’t feel she was a failure because she didn’t teach depth perception. I do believe that what you said here is so over looked that some of us hit our heads against a brick wall way too long after the first encounter before we adjust. We get over committed to something and keep going instead of taking a new path. And the longer we continue the harder it becomes to adjust.Ever heard someone say “I’m going to do this even if it kills me”? That does not seem like a good plan to me. Thanks for sharing an eye opening article.
william chaney\’s last blog ..Cookies for the Holiday Wine Party