You will never be the best person to do everything.

This is a liberating reality.

It means that inevitably we will struggle. The question is what option you choose when you encounter a weakness and struggle. From Ray Dalio’s book Principles he presents four options.

1. You an deny them (what most people do).
2. You can accept them and work at them in order to try to convert them into strengths (which might or might not work depending on your ability to change).
3. You can accept your weaknesses and find ways around them.
4. You can change what you are going after.

The first option, denial, will only lead to a circle of pain.

The second, is the best path IF it works. However, there are some things you’ll never be good at and effort to attempt it is wasted. For example, any time I’d spend pursuing a career in the NFL.

The best single clue as to whether you should do something is by evaluating if it is consistent with your nature, e.g. your natural abilities.

The third path is the easiest and most viable, yet the least followed.

The fourth path is a great but requires flexibility to get past your preconceptions and enjoy the next good fit when you find it.

So the next time you encounter a weakness, I hope you choose one of the last three options.