Why are most of us drawn to things that are not for us? We’re always attempting something we saw someone else do because it looked cool.
Let’s use sports as an example. I notice this a lot in basketball. How often have you seen the tallest guy on the court attempting to shoot long three-pointers or dribble down the court, only to get picked by a shorter player? It happens all the time and everyone in the arena is yelling “Nooo”.
In most cases, everyone in the arena wants the guy to focus on what he is good at because it would be better for the team and them too.
The best example of someone in basketball who understood what they were good at and focused on it was Dennis Rodman. Say what you want about his antics and off-the-court activities, but he is considered one of the 50 greatest players to ever play the sport and he only averaged seven points. There were some games where he didn’t score, but his impact in other areas made him invaluable.
Many of us need to take the Dennis Rodman approach.
Work
Have you ever worked at a job where someone overstepped their boundaries and attempted to do something they had no business doing? Maybe they took on a task that was too big for them or they decided they would come in and start barking out orders when that wasn’t their role.
There is nothing wrong with being proactive and taking initiative, but sometimes people will attempt certain things before they have earned the right to do so. This usually leaves everyone involved feeling uncomfortable and problems down the line.
Instead, these individuals should show their worth through their actions. In most cases, if your performance is up to par, more responsibilities will follow. Rushing into situations before you’re ready can be detrimental to your career.
In this case, they should keep learning and taking care of business and the rest will follow.
Life
Not focusing on what you’re good at happens in our home lives too. Think about it, how many times have you attempted to do something, trying to save money, only to end up wasting more money and time?
The best example I have of this is cutting your hair. Grant it, there are plenty of people who cut their hair, and it looks professional, but we all know someone who’s botched their head and were forced to wear a hat or even worse, shave it off.
What about trying to make repairs to your home or car? If that’s not what you do, and you can afford to pay someone else to do it, stop wasting time and money and hire a professional. Not only will the job be done correctly, but it’s going to look better (even if you were able to do a botch job) and you may even get a warranty.