Sometimes, what we consider a problem might actually be a strength.
This idea has resonated with me for years since I read Malcolm Gladwell’s “David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants.”
From my memory, at the beginning of his book, he retells the biblical story of David and Goliath from a viewpoint different from what has been shared throughout the years. Instead of seeing David’s size as a “weakness,” he sees his smaller size as an agility advantage over the much more gregariously moving Goliath.
That was a perspective I had not considered until I read the book.
Gladwell also discusses how many people with dyslexia might be able to see the bigger picture and, in an interview, shares, “…if you look at groups of successful entrepreneurs, you see rates [of dyslexia] that are way higher than the general public.”
In a different interview, though, Gladwell acknowledges that environmental factors also play a part in this.
But for a child who grows up in a low-income neighborhood, who has an average IQ, who has a troubled family life, and has dyslexia, it is not going to be desirable. You have too many obstacles to deal with. But if we start limiting the number of obstacles, then maybe it is different. So that is one idea.
In my opinion, one of those obstacles could be our viewpoint when working with others.
As an adult, I am pretty hyperactive, fidgety, and restless.
This can be seen as a detriment, but as a speaker, my ability to share information quickly with multimedia has received many kudos from audiences that may have a shorter attention span than in years past. Of course, some might say that I speak too fast, but I have also received many compliments on my pace over the years for keeping the attention of others. The same thing that might not appeal to some may appeal to others.
You just have to find your “others.”
This post was inspired by a video that was recently shared with me about a young person making a mistake, and although he did face consequences for the action, the mayor did his best to see the gift in the child and found a way to empower the seventeen-year-old and others in the future.
You can check it out below:
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I went into the comments, and they were interesting, to say the least. My focus is on the action taken by someone who has political authority and the hope that it not only extends others but also inspires others to think about opportunities when it would be easy to see obstacles.
One of the comments on the post stood out to me:
“As someone who has worked with juvenile offenders, I think this is amazing. Instead of setting them up to fail, we should be focusing on what they are able to do to succeed. I absolutely love how this situation was handled.”
If you look for good, you are more likely to find it—not only in others but also in yourself.
