Able: Being is the key to success

May 10, 2013 — Leave a comment
get things done

@ Fotolia

The word able isn’t a big word, but it makes big people. Those that are able to do things instead of being unable helps them achieve their goals, which eventually leads to success. The biggest thing to think about being able is that it’s a choice. You may be able to do something but chose not to. Why is that? It may be physical limitations, but that to, at times, is an excuse not to do something.

The word ‘able’ brings action, or inaction, to other words. I found almost 1500 words that end in ‘able’, here are a couple;

Accountable, actionable, adaptable, admirable, agreeable, approachable, available, believable, blamable, bribable, defendable, dishonorable, excusable, fixable, hirable, honorable, lovable, manageable, portable, profitable, probable, relatable, reliable.

It sounds like these are all choices, doesn’t it? If you put ‘un’ in front of most of those words it’s the opposite and negative aspect of the meaning.

Let me ask you a question, does being able to do something for someone else relational? If someone doesn’t have a great relation with you then do they feel like they are able to help? In reality, they either don’t like you enough to lend you their skills, are unsure of their skills themselves, or have other priorities, which is understandable. Have you turned anyone down when they asked you to do something? I know I have, and unfortunately I can say yes that it was because I didn’t care for the individual.

I read something interesting that stated people will only give their time, money, and influence up to the level of the relationship. The real lesson here is that building trusting relationships can bring you great results. As John Maxwell says, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

People also trust that you won’t waste their time and resources. They may value something that you have or do and may expect something in return, which you may not even know. Instead of giving their time and knowledge they are only lending it, they expect something in return. The problem is when they don’t express this and then when they need something they start the conversation, “Remember when I helped you, now can you …..?” They keep score, and if you are unable to help them for whatever reason, you have a fracture in the relationship.

So are you able to do something or not? But just because you’re able to do something doesn’t mean you should. I’m able to drink and drive, but I chose not to. I’m able to steal, but I chose not to. I’m able to do math, but not very good so at it may be better to have someone else do it whose abilities are better suited for the skill.

What are your strengths and weaknesses and how can you use them to become more able?

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