Do you remember the last time you took a test? For me, it was six weeks ago for a class in the Certified Risk Manager (CRM) designation program. If you’re like me, studying isn’t the first thing you love to do. For this class, it was torture.

It was all about the subject I liked least in school – math. OK, I’ll be honest…I hated math. This class was 2 1/2 days of probability, statistics, and analysis. Even though I actually found the concepts interesting, taking a test on them was another thing. I don’t recall studying this hard for a test since college.

Yesterday, I received news that I passed! Needless to say, I was ecstatic. I did not want to take that class over.

As I look back on my testing strategy, one thing was very helpful. I knew how many points I needed to pass; this was a Pass/Fail only. I also knew where my strengths in the subject were from my intense studying. When the test came, I carefully read each problem and answered them to the best of my ability at that moment. If I needed to come back later, I did. There were some questions that I really had problems with…and knew I would. I left those until the end, and in one case, couldn’t even answer the question. I decided to leave that one and concentrate on making the most points out of the ones I knew.

Is this a metaphor for business? How many of you have ever tried to stretch yourself into areas that you weren’t very good at, while not perfecting the areas you were strong at? I know I’ve been guilty of this. In an effort to be all things to all people, I unwisely tried to be and do too much. Like a points based Pass/Fail test, you need to find where your strengths lie and make the most out of those. Leave your weaknesses behind and let those who are experts in that field tackle them. You may find that you are more successful AND have more time.

Dan

P.S. Are you perfecting your speaking skills? Now is the perfect time to improve your confidence and skill. After all, we all have to talk, right? There is less than 2 weeks left for my Birthday Special on my Panic to Power Boot Camp in March. To learn more and to register, click here

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