This is a call for all of us to be honest with ourselves about what we are and are not good at - what we know, and what we really don't know.

A lack of knowledge or competence in a particular area is not necessarily a weakness - or at least not necessarily a permanent one.  If we can admit that our skill set is lacking, then we have the power to do something about it.  Learn.  Practice.  Read.  Take classes.  Do something to improve your abilities - but first you must admit they need improvement.

Research written by Dr. David Dunning of Cornell University states that the "incompetent are often supremely confident of their abilities. They are blissfully ignorant, because the skills required for competent assessment are also the ones they are missing."

I recently realized that I could use some help in social situations - particularly meeting and striking up conversations with new people.  Not only is this an important skill in our personal lives, making it possible to meet new friends, it is an absolutely essential marketing tool.

In business situations, we are each called upon to market ourselves and being too nervous or shy  to strike up a conversation is certainly not a winning marketing strategy.  So, I'm trying to learn, to move from relative incompetence, to competence, to (hopefully) mastery.

What skill set do you need to improve?  Are you being honest enough with yourself to admit it?  I plan to examine other areas - particulary those where I currently believe myself to be very skilled - and see where I can learn to be better.  I hope you'll do the same.