Love and Work

The Excellence Curse

Your Strengths Are Not What You’re Good At

Since you were very young, you have been told that “your strengths are what you’re good at and your weaknesses are what you’re bad at.”

Seems eminently sensible, doesn’t it. If you get good grades in a subject, or if you perform really well at a certain sport or instrument, then this is a strength. It’s something that might set you apart from others, that might guide you as you think about what to study in college, or what career to choose.

But what happens if you’re really good at something that you hate? Or that bores you, or frustrates you, or drags you down? What should you call ...