All failures are not created equal. Some are easier to digest whereas some are like fish bones caught in our throats. While failure will always be part of our lives, accepting it as a necessary process will be much more beneficial. Having said that, what many of us forgot, or unaware is the other side of the coin.

Everyone of us has experienced moments of success, large and small. Those are the moments that are very fulfilling and the secret to strong lives is to repeat those experiences. Make it a habit to re-visit past victories, replay the thoughts and feelings associated and eventually repeat our personal victories!

We need to keep in mind 2 fundamental assumptions too:

1. Every person’s talents are unique and enduring;

2. Everyone’s greatest room for growth is in his/her greatest strengths.  (By strengths we mean the dominant patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors.)

With that two assumptions, it is therefore our duty to evaluate, identify and emphasize on our strengths. Why? For a simple reason that people recognize excellence as those who are top or expert in their fields. To achieve that we should only focus on what we are already good at, i.e. our strengths and excel in it.

The most distinguished person in any field is often only marginally better than the second best. Yet, the rewards – in financial terms, recognition, fame, benefits – are always many times more than the second best. This is what they call the “Winner’s Edge”.

To be that No. 1 or top 1%, the only way is to work on our strengths, not our weakness or incompetencies.