Improving Strengths versus Improving Weaknesses - I'd like your input

[Inthon]

I am at a crossroads and I would love your input.

I am performing average at my job, which I am not in love with.

I am not doing exceptionally well since I have some weaknesses that are holding me back.

Here are areas of my life I need to improve:
Shyness - I am not comfortable confronting people with errors or questions I have.
Afraid of looking stupid - I don't want someone else thinking I am a dummy for not knowing their elementary job procedures or protocol.
Timidity - I don't want to be disagreeable, so whenever someone gives me an answer, I take it for face value instead of asking further probing questions.
Initiative - I am not particularly motivated to find new work to accomplish.

I also have many strengths:
Humor - I find it extremely easy to crack people up and make people laugh. I think it is the best feeling in the world.
Growth oriented - I love growing as a person by volunteering my time, hearing what others have to say and attempting to help them. I love writing in my blog and sharing what wisdom I have earned.
Compassion - I try to reduce the suffering of others and love helping others however I can. My volunteer work has reinforced this belief.

My weaknesses are rooted in fears which hold me back from excelling in a field I find interesting (finance).

My question is: How much time should I spend overcoming my weaknesses? Or should I focus on building up my strengths?

Here is my rationale for both:
I believe I should fix and rebuild these weaknesses since they are universal and I need to develop these skills since the lessons I learn by working through these will help me in other areas of my life.

By building, I mean reading about how to improve these skills, applying what I've read and making a sincere effort to break out of my comfort zone.

However, I'm not sure I should focus my time on fighting a potentially losing battle and if I spend the same amount of time working on my strengths, the payoff might be greater.

I can't easily find a well paying job with my strengths, especially in this economy, although, to be fair, I have not tried looking at all the potential opportunities. I am trying to be as practical as possible. I work for a fantastic firm and I am aware that the current economic climate will worsen.

So, shall I attack my weaknesses or focus on strengths?

[Brutha]

My question is: How much time should I spend overcoming my weaknesses? Or should I focus on building up my strengths?

What activity would you do to "improve your initiative"?
What activity would you do to "reduce your shyness"?

If you would work on your strength and therefore feel successes your self confidence would increase. Higher self confidence means usually lower shyness. The issues of being afraid to look stupid and timidity are similar.

[Jerry Grinkmeyer]

My German Shorthaired Pointer points birds beautifully and loves doing it--that's what he was designed to do.

He's really smart and if I tried hard enough I could teach him to dance on his hind legs while wearing a tutu. But there are two problems with that. First, he wouldn't do it nearly as well as one of those little poodles that seem to be bred to do such things. And second, he'd be miserable doing it.

My advice to you is to lose the tutu and get out there and start pointing birds.

[Inthon]

Originally Posted by Brutha

What activity would you do to "improve your initiative"?
What activity would you do to "reduce your shyness"?

I would read about overcoming irrational fears and put ideas into practice.

Originally Posted by Brutha

If you would work on your strength and therefore feel successes your self confidence would increase. Higher self confidence means usually lower shyness. The issues of being afraid to look stupid and timidity are similar.

My strengths are not totally in line with the work that I am doing. I know this.

I'm obviously doubtful that my job is a perfect fit for me, however, it feels like quitting by not making a concerted effort to get over my fears in the workplace. I don't want to leave without struggling and overcoming some of these fears that are holding me back.

[Brutha]

I would read about overcoming irrational fears and put ideas into practice.

While I don't think that it hurts to read a bit about those things I don't thing that it will fundamentally change your situation to read more.

Reading about motivation doesn't make you motivated. Having something to be motivated about makes you motivated.

I don't want to leave without struggling

If you like to struggle that's perfectly fine but it's an activity that most people don't enjoy and it's also not that productive to struggle for the sake of struggling.
People who struggle are usually less productive than those who don't and have lower self confidence.

[Inthon]

Those're wonderful answers Brutha, but something tells me it's wrong to run from my fears.

Anyone else have any ideas?

[supertom]

Arent your weakness just the flip side of compassion.

Shyness - dont want to brother other people
Afraid of looking stupid - You actually dont want others to look stupid, because they might be making a mistake
Timidity - I dont want to hurt others by being disagreeable
Initiative - Dont want to make the people look stupid because i left

theres a books called the compassionate warrior, take a look at that

[Brutha]

Those're wonderful answers Brutha, but something tells me it's wrong to run from my fears.

What is it that you really fear?
Change? Changing a job and finding a job that makes you happy isn't easy.
It's difficult to imagine.
Humans always fear the unknown. You could even say that the problem is to take the initiative to leave your comfortable place.

Your weaknesses come from low self confidence. You don't cure low self confidence by reading books. You cure it by having success.
You have success by doing something you are good at.

[magi13]

Originally Posted by Inthon

I am at a crossroads and I would love your input.

I am performing average at my job, which I am not in love with.

I am not doing exceptionally well since I have some weaknesses that are holding me back.

Here are areas of my life I need to improve:

Shyness - I am not comfortable confronting people with errors or questions I have.

Why?
My suggestion is that you face this fear. The quick way is to be angry, but a controlled anger.

Afraid of looking stupid - I don't want someone else thinking I am a dummy for not knowing their elementary job procedures or protocol.

Everyone makes mistakes, the sooner you accept this the better you'll be able to move forward.
My suggestion is that you observe the successful one's in your business and emulate how they behave.

Timidity - I don't want to be disagreeable, so whenever someone gives me an answer, I take it for face value instead of asking further probing questions.

Your opinion matters, voice it out and explain why it's a good idea.

Initiative - I am not particularly motivated to find new work to accomplish.

This isn't a bad thing, it tells us that your cautious, but to much of it is a bad thing.

I also have many strengths:
Humor - I find it extremely easy to crack people up and make people laugh. I think it is the best feeling in the world.
Growth oriented - I love growing as a person by volunteering my time, hearing what others have to say and attempting to help them. I love writing in my blog and sharing what wisdom I have earned.
Compassion - I try to reduce the suffering of others and love helping others however I can. My volunteer work has reinforced this belief.

My weaknesses are rooted in fears which hold me back from excelling in a field I find interesting (finance).

My question is: How much time should I spend overcoming my weaknesses? Or should I focus on building up my strengths?

Concentrate on what factor that will make you stronger in your desired field. Use your strengths to boost your weaknesses.

Here is my rationale for both:
I believe I should fix and rebuild these weaknesses since they are universal and I need to develop these skills since the lessons I learn by working through these will help me in other areas of my life.

By building, I mean reading about how to improve these skills, applying what I've read and making a sincere effort to break out of my comfort zone.

However, I'm not sure I should focus my time on fighting a potentially losing battle and if I spend the same amount of time working on my strengths, the payoff might be greater.

I can't easily find a well paying job with my strengths, especially in this economy, although, to be fair, I have not tried looking at all the potential opportunities. I am trying to be as practical as possible. I work for a fantastic firm and I am aware that the current economic climate will worsen.

So, shall I attack my weaknesses or focus on strengths?

You seem to know what to do, does your strengths focus on your desired job? Does your weakness focus or necessary on your desired job?
You have to specify which factor is necessary for your desired job and work on it. :3