We all have weaknesses.
As teenagers, we think we know everything but then we grow up and realize that’s not quite true.
Whether we’re 15 or 50, young or old, male or female, a president of a company or a teacher we all could benefit from a little studying.
Studying provides our mind with knowledge. The more we know, the less we fear.
And believe me, we all fear something.
In today’s world, many people fear losing their jobs. Some people fear not being able to support their family. We fear rejection. We fear death. And the number one fear – public speaking.
But fear can be overcome by simply facing the truth.
Once we accept our shortcomings we can then take actions to correct them.
5 years ago I accepted that I needed to change myself if I were to become the man I wanted to be so I sat down and looked at what I had to do.
I knew I needed to study.
I knew I needed to make some changes.
I knew I had to “man up.”
So I did. I took responsibility for my own future and haven’t looked back since. I started studying business, psychology, history, time management, leadership and relationships.
The results astounded me.
The wonderful thing about accepting our own faults and then taking actions to remedy them is our faults can become our strengths.
If we know we are weak in one area and decide to turn things around then what often happens is we go full out.
By devoting ourselves to improving that one area we become somewhat of an expert.
And I say this from experience.
The best story I ever read that illustrates how we can turn a so-called weakness into a strength was about a boy learning judo so I thought I’d share that with you today.
I hope you’ll be as inspired as I was.
Till tomorrow,
Adrian Shepherd
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A 10-year-old boy decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident. The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master.
The boy was doing well, so he couldn’t understand why, after three months of training the master had taught him only one move.
“Sensei,” the boy finally said, “Shouldn’t I be learning more moves?”
“This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you’ll ever need to know,” the sensei replied.
Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.
Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament.
Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches.
The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match.
Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals.
This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched.
Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened. “No,” the sensei insisted, “Let him continue.”
Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him.
The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.
On the way home, the boy and sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind.
“Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?”
“You won for two reasons,” the sensei answered. “First, you’ve almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm.”
The boy’s biggest weakness had become his biggest strength.