Succeeding in Ping Pong - and in Life

Posted on November 10, 2010 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.

In their book, “Soar with your Strengths,” Clifton and Nelson share the example of how the Chinese have long been able to hold the Olympic gold medal in Ping-Pong.

At the 1984 Olympics, when they again captured the gold medal, the coach of the Chinese team was asked by a reporter, “Tell us about your team’s daily training regimen.”

“We practice eight hours a day perfecting our strengths.”

“Could you be a little more specific?” asked the reporter.

“Here is our philosophy: If you develop your strengths to the maximum, the strengths become so great it overwhelms the weaknesses. Our winning player, you see, plays only with his forehand. Even though he cannot play backhand, and his competition knows he cannot play backhand, his forehand is so invincible that he cannot be beaten.”

And so it is in our lives... Though we all need to properly manage our weaknesses - it will be as we continually develop and utilize our strengths that we will make the most effective and efficient progress toward our dreams and goals. Each of us have specific abilities, which if understood and leveraged, will enable us to quickly advance in almost any area of life, including our effectiveness as a leader.

In what ways are you developing your strengths lately?