Leverage your super strength
Be one of a kind.
Dear Fit Rich,
In this Master May, we discussed how to grow your career 10x faster. Last week, I shared how thinking out of the box helps you win at work.
Today, we talk about being a superman.
When I was a Product Associate, my senior gave me feedback.
“I was told that you are not technical enough. Some worried that you cannot work with the engineers,” he said.
“Which part do they refer to?” I puzzled.
“You lack the understanding of the system structure and interaction, which makes some of your requirements inaccurate. Engineers ask many questions during the meeting which shouldn’t be the case,” he commented.
Am I that bad?
Big giants like Google always require Product Managers to have a technical background. How can I compete with candidates from a Computer or Data Science background?
Perhaps I’m not a good Product Manager.
Perhaps I entered the wrong industry.
Perhaps I should quit.
When I read the book “Squiggly Career”, there is a line saying “Spend 80% of your time focusing on your super strengths and 20% of it mitigating weaknesses relevant to your job.”
What are super strengths? Super strengths are your strengths people come to you and bring you tangible results.
Here are my super strengths:
How can my super strengths help me become a better Product Manager (PM)?
User empathy helps me learn about users’ pain, needs and behaviours to build products they use.
Management skills allow me to manage multiple parties with different decisions in tight timelines better.
Resilience propels me to lean in and learn something I am unfamiliar with.
I didn’t quit.
I focus on what makes me a good PM.
Instead of seeing what you lack,
see what you add.
I am more user-centric and have a Marketing background.
There are different types of PM in the sea. All I need is to pick a type I can excel at.
Eventually, I landed on an opportunity in which I own Marketing software to help the internal Operation Team acquire, retain and convert users of the company’s core business via the tool.
Indeed, I am not bad.
I may be less technical, but that isn’t the only quality to be a good PM.
My super strengths allow me to build something people will use, get things done fast and solve problems despite constraints.
I have my unique value.
According to Harvard Business Review, you get praise and results when you play to your strengths. You feel more confident and are driven to excel continuously. You become the subject matter expert. People come and consult you. You stand out from the crowd and create a greater impact. You are fulfilled.
By focusing on what one is genuinely good at, most people get a high-value job offer or own a successful business.
Some may ask, “What is my super strength?” Use a table to map out:
What people come to me?: This is something people come to you often. For example, most friends, family and fellows asked about my physique 90% of the time. That is something that pops out in others’ eyes objectively.
What result did I create?: This is the quantified result that shows your impact, like the number of testimonials and awards.
My super strength: This is the common quality you identify from #1 and #2. Considering qualitative and quantitative evidence, you spot the strengths and can keep practising them to help you win easily.
You are always strong at something. Instead of seeing what you lack, see what you add.
Keep practising your strength to be better over time. It can be a game-changer that grows your career 10x faster and creates joy in life.
When you believe in yourself, more people believe in you.
Leverage your super strength.
You are one of a kind.
A question for you:
What is a strength that most people say you are super good at? How can you use it more often to create more impact?
Share with me by replying to this email :)
The Fit Rich is a community of proactive and growth minds. 1 monthly topic & 1 weekly insight - We share short and fresh takeaways to think fit & live rich with you.
Be super,
Ruby