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On September 4, 2006, Tiger Woods won his fifth straight golf tournament. Just two weeks earlier, he won his twelfth major golf title, the PGA Championship. Both are amazing accomplishments for someone who's only 30. Some say that his current domination of the sport means he has nothing to fear and that his career has nowhere to go but up. How would you like to be at the top of your game and the undisputed leader in your industry? You would think that Woods could afford to coast a little bit and simply maintain his position. As the saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," right? Wrong. If you ask any expert, and even Tiger himself, to identify his greatest weakness, they will undoubtedly tell you it's his putting. Although he currently ranks #1 overall in the Official World Golf Ranking, for putting he lags far behind at #38. Let me tell you a story. Just before beginning the final round of the PGA Championship, Woods placed two golf tees about 13 centimeters apart, nearly one meter away from the hole on the putting green. He then began practicing putts by swinging the blade of his putter through the tees to hit the ball into the hole. He usually performs this drill until he makes 100 consecutive shots. Read that again...100 consecutive shots. Because Woods knows that he is vulnerable on the putting green, he makes it a priority to find a way to master the art of putting. He is not interested in making excuses or simply maintaining his skill level. He constantly strives for improvement. How does this apply to you and your business? Let's face it. You probably have an Achilles' heel, some particular area of business that you avoid because you either lack confidence and/or proficiency. And yet you suspect having expertise in that area would skyrocket the growth of your business. There's a school of thought in management that you should focus on a person's strengths and minimize his weaknesses. (Check out, "First Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently" by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman.) This is an excellent strategy if you have team members with complimentary talents at your disposal and you are comfortable delegating those areas of your business where you don't shine. But what if your weakness is essential to the survival of your business? Not only that, what if your active participation is non-negotiable? After all, it's not as if Woods can simply rely on his skills down the driving range and opt out of putting altogether. So what's the solution? First, CHOOSE to do whatever it takes to master the key to succeeding in your business. Next, use the following 4 steps to help you minimize your risks: "The 4 Keys to Conquering Your Weakness" 1. Identify Your Achilles' Heel: You probably already have a nagging suspicion of where you could use some improvement. Write it down. And by the way, you're not alone if you discover that your weakness lies in the areas of effective networking, customer follow-up, prospecting, or cold calling! 2. Don't Reinvent the Wheel: Look for and consult with others who struggled with and overcame similar challenges. Chances are there are multiple books, programs, and solutions out there that someone else has created. You can slash the learning curve if you find the one that fits you best. 3. Practice Makes Perfect: Just like Woods, devise a drill or system that allows you to develop good habits and dedicate yourself to an unwavering determination to get the job done. After a while, it becomes a sheer numbers game. The more you practice, the better you get until you wake up one day and realize that your execution is effortless. 4. Take Your Ego Out of It: It's not really about you...it's about your business. You'll probably be lousy at first. It will feel uncomfortable and you'll make mistakes. That's a given. Keep your eye on the big picture and get comfortable with discomfort. It's a short term pain that will yield long term rewards.
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