Take the Elevator
This podcast is purely about elevating people through individual life stories and experiences in the Elevator. In the Elevator, what's key is maybe changing your perspective; having self-actualization; embracing your purpose; and acting on it as we grow from one another. There is a whole different point of view when you look up to elevate.
Take the Elevator
337th Floor: Capitalizing on Shortcomings
Have you ever considered how your perceived weaknesses could be your greatest strengths? That's exactly what we're unpacking on Take the Elevator. GentheBuilder and Kory embark on a journey inspired by recent events like the World Series and, most of all, the election. Instead of making excuses for shortcomings, we explore how to embrace them as opportunities for personal and professional development.
Join us as we navigate the intricate dance of strengths and weaknesses. We share personal stories and insights highlighting the importance of self-reflection and its role in becoming the best version of oneself. From a pivotal lesson imparted by my mother to the inspiring story of Richard Branson turning dyslexia into a strength, we emphasize the need for mentorship and fostering a continuous improvement mindset. Celebrating differences isn't just about acknowledging them—it's about using them to fuel growth and innovation.
Drawing wisdom from icons like Steve Jobs, we discuss the power of authenticity, humor, and openness. By reframing our narratives, we can transform our unique traits and perceived insecurities into opportunities for success. Each setback is a stepping stone, each loss a lesson, and every perceived weakness a hidden strength waiting to be uncovered. We'll inspire you to take action and embrace your journey with confidence and resilience, reminding you that setbacks are temporary and the path to success is paved with learning and growth.
Hey, it's Jen the Builder and Corey, and welcome to Take the Elevator. Everyone, happy November. Oh, it's here. Well, yeah, but I think our episode before this one was in november.
Speaker 2:It just kind of feels like november just started, although we're almost in the middle of the month, oh wow yeah, I'm all confused because you know it's just been a whirlwind for us and hey, whatever day it is, um, it's a good day yeah, that's right.
Speaker 1:well, you know we're gonna have some small talk, but for those who are just joining us and you're like I don't know if I want to stay for the whole elevator ride until I hear what this is about, let me share with you what it is. Go on, give it to them, jen. So today's show is produced by Coray, and I'm here for the ride, and I'm excited about this episode in which we're going to explore the idea that our perceived shortcomings can actually be a source of strength, growth and new opportunities. So, instead of ignoring them or avoiding them or just focusing on the strengths, we're here to talk about what if we learned how to embrace and leverage our shortcomings instead?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so in regular terms, how to capitalize on your shortcomings?
Speaker 1:Yes, I think you've just titled this episode.
Speaker 2:I think I did.
Speaker 1:Capitalize on your shortcomings.
Speaker 2:I love it.
Speaker 1:I love it. So, anywho, it was a three-day weekend, right? We had Veterans Day, so we definitely want to say happy veterans day yes, to all of those who have served and who are serving.
Speaker 2:You know that that's a call in itself that you know a lot of people just can't answer. And then you have to be a special individual. First of all, you have to be physically, um, capable of handling that job, and then you have to be physically capable of handling that job, and then you have to be mentally capable of handling that job. So congrats to those who are able to do that. But thank you so much for your service. Yes, and it will never be taken lightly or forgotten.
Speaker 1:Never that We've got family. Corey, I don't know how much family you have.
Speaker 2:Quite a bit.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, same here, same here, um, and friends, and uh, I've got some nephews that are active duty, yeah, so yeah, shout out to them and we love you, miss you, all right, so get us going.
Speaker 2:Okay. So, um, you asked me what's the episode about, and it was just like within me, the shortcomings, the things that we fall short on. You know, growing up I was an athlete and I was very competitive, so competitive that I was actually a sore winner.
Speaker 1:Tell our fellow elevators what sports you played.
Speaker 2:I played volleyball, got very close to going to college on a volleyball scholarship. I played basketball, played football, ran track and field. Dang Track and field was probably the sport that I was most dominant in. Football was probably the second sport that I was most dominant in, but volleyball just came natural because I knew how to. Well, I had very good eye-hand coordination and jumping ability, so that made it really easy for me, and so, yeah, I was a very competitive individual to the point to where I just gloated.
Speaker 2:I love to win. I enjoyed the win, I love rubbing it in, I love to blow out, I love people to just be miserable, knowing I was coming to play or coming to compete, and so that was not a good situation in my life and I'm saying it like it was, but it really turned sour. I've learned how to be a much better winner later on in life, and where I'm going with this is as I begin to indulge in my winning streaks. I noticed that people would come up with reasons why I would win, and they did not. I'm too short, I don't jump high enough, I haven't been playing that long, my parents didn't pour into my athletics like yours did, you know. Just all these different reasons and excuses why I think I was just born gifted in that area and not so gifted in other areas. But I never made excuses for those shortcomings.
Speaker 2:And so we've been watching a lot of competition, from the world series to the presidential election to uh, you know, just everyday sports that you know are on TV, and so what we're noticing series yeah, yeah, um and so I'm just, you know, looking at how people are sizing up their competition and then the rationale behind why, or why not, someone is victorious, and it's complicated and it's very sensitive, and if you rub things in the wrong way, it's going to be real bad. Jen, I want to turn this topic of conversation over to you, because I know there's some things that you struggled with in your past that you may have felt like, oh, that's the shortcoming, but you've always capitalized, you've always found a way to make it work.
Speaker 2:You've always found a way to take on the challenge with no issues, at least on the outside. Maybe there's some serious things going on inside. Can you just share with us how you're dealing with your shortcomings and capitalizing on them?
Speaker 1:Man, that's a good question. So I'm going to go back to what you mentioned about playing sports, because maybe people don't know this about me. So, whereas you played sports and you were about the winning and you were very athletic, I played sports too.
Speaker 2:Were you any good?
Speaker 1:Four years in high school. I thought I was good, especially in softball.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Third base, third baseman or third base girl whatever Third base woman.
Speaker 1:And I played volleyball. And it's funny that your favorite sport, or what you excelled at, was track. Yeah, I hated running. I would get out of it at any chance I could have. So here's the deal I was decent. I wasn't a bench warmer, that's for sure. I was you. I was, you know, the first played, kind of thing. But all four years I was not at all ever voted most athletic or MVP, nothing like that. But what I will say is all four years I was most inspirational in every sport I played. So that's where I learned not really what I learned, I just learned throughout life, without even knowing that I was learning it, that okay, you're not the best athlete here, you're probably like sixth in line as far as athleticism.
Speaker 1:But what you can do is be motivational, be happy, you know, bring the team together oh my gosh I'm not saying the team appreciated that at the moment because, cory, it was over the top, like I'd be like it's okay that we're totally sucking right now, but we are having fun, we are learning teamwork, we are here for one another.
Speaker 2:Imagine are you and I can see your face. I can see your face and I know what you want to tell me off the team in a heartbeat, like she got to go yeah.
Speaker 1:So girls who were my friends would just look at me and say like shut up, shut up, shut up. We don't want to hear that, right, why do you even play? You know that kind and I'm like, oh, that's kind of mean, but anyhow. So to answer your question, I've throughout my life have never been number one, even in academics, and I love school, but I always was like second.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I graduated second, you know, and so you just, I just became okay with you're not number one, but it was always like my best friend. My closest friend was always the smarter one, and so I coupled the smarts with personality. Okay, you know what I mean. And then I? Okay, you know what I mean. And then I stretched myself into musicals and singing and became more well-rounded, which helped me because I wasn't focused on being number one or being perfect in a certain area. I just kind of made myself scarce and went in all areas. Okay, yeah, yeah, scarce and went in all areas Okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. So what I noticed about you in that you know joy and excitement and I don't even know celebratory way of being motivational I noticed that you've carried that into your adult life as well. You're always cheering people on, yeah, but yes, there's a big button there. You're not living in second place anymore. Can you speak to that a little bit?
Speaker 1:So through time, I've learned to be okay with being on top. I used to very much then gotten the mentality of, okay, I'm not first, I'm okay, and I would always find the person to give credit to or find the person to uplift. I didn't mind being second to that person. But as I got older, I started realizing there isn't really a person above me in this area. So I started realizing, hey, girl, you got some skills in this and it's okay that you're now the one mentoring or teaching the person. Second, third, fourth, whatever and I hate to place people like that, but I'm just doing this as an analogy, you know? Yeah, I hear you.
Speaker 1:So I learned to focus on my strengths, but I didn't ignore my weaknesses. And you know, corey, that's the popular thing right now is focus on your strength. Your weakness is your weakness. Don't let that be a thing. But it's beautiful when your weakness actually becomes the strength, because there's something that comes in and complements it. Do you know what I mean? So, if you're not, I'm very competitive. By the way, people don't know that about me.
Speaker 1:Oh no, I know very well, I know you know, but a lot of people don't see that in me. So although I'm okay with not winning, I try to win, see. You see what I'm saying. So my shortcoming may not maybe she doesn't place first a lot, but she's gonna try her darndest and so I've just done that. And when I started feeling on top and being the smarter one at the table and it took me a while to say that, right, gory like I was, like a long time, a long time to say that and it's okay.
Speaker 1:It's okay there. I mean, there are going to be people that are quicker than you and certain things are no more than you and certain things. That's all right. But it's also all right to notice when you're the one bringing the ideas, when you're the creative spark, you know.
Speaker 2:When you're the one bringing the ideas, when you're the creative spark, you know, when you're the one who's able to build, and not just build, but sustain right yeah so, and I love how you broke that down, because, again, a lot of people don't know where that struggle to capitalize on something that you're not as gifted talented at, and so I love that you broke that down and how you turned it around to be able to use that. Mine was a little bit different. Oh, did you have something else?
Speaker 1:I just wanted to say the importance of self-reflection, because you were mentioning all the things that are happening on the world platform.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:And I think that's a big miss. When you don't get what you were aiming for, it's so important to pull back from the blame game and reflect on what were my shortcomings Right? Where didn't I pull through? What didn't I communicate well? What was lacking?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Because you don't learn from that experience unless you're able to see your shortcomings and where your mistakes were.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. And that's kind of what I was going to allude to, because in all these situations that I named, you know, even with the political thing, I just never had this give up quit mentality, right. I just never had this give up quit mentality, right. My mom told me something that I didn't believe in as a child and as a younger person. She said and I'm going to briefly say it the way she said she said, baby, there's always somebody better than you. And in my heart I said, hell, no, I'm the best, and I meant it. And I and I I would do things like prove to my mom and dad that I was the best. And I said I might not be the best in the world, but I was the best today. And so my ethic of working to get better was always in that same vein I may not be the best overall, but I'm the best today day.
Speaker 2:And with that mentality it allowed me to obviously grow an ego that was way too big and cause much more problems later on in life when I can't do some of those things. But at the time it just allowed me to push myself harder and further. But the good thing that came out of it was. I was able to mentor other people when they started thinking these thoughts of I'm not the best, I'm not where I need to be, I'm not where I should be. I didn't mind saying, hey, you might not be, but you're going to be that today. Today we're the best, today we're going to capitalize on being as good as we can possibly be, and I think if a lot of people took on that mentality, it would change. Well, I like this saying it would move the needle Anytime. You see, change for the better.
Speaker 2:You got to mark that spot, and that's what I'm a firm believer in. I feel like I'm rambling, but I know exactly where I'm trying to go with this, so I'm just giving you the main points right now.
Speaker 1:Those are really good points, really good points on. I love what you're saying about being your best, yeah, and so people think there's a difference being the best, yeah. Being your best, being my best yes. And so I'm going to name some people throughout history that have learned the same thing about weaknesses, right. So I love this concept, corey, where people tend to hide their shortcomings, or they're embarrassed of it or they're shaming it. What I say is highlight them, don't hide them. Expose them. Highlight them, yes, yes, I say is highlight them?
Speaker 1:Yeah, don't hide them, expose them. Yes, yes. So, for example, richard Branson, founder of a virgin group Um, I don't know if you know this, but, uh, he attributes his success in part to his dyslexia. So because of his dyslexia, he says he was able to think differently and simplify complex ideas. Right, and I love that, because here is a weakness that I'm going to not hide, but instead highlight, and some people, I don't think it's my weakness, actually it's what people might label as a weakness. So my education is very limited as far as formal education in university. Right, and we've always said this, there's more than one way to get an education, and when you feel not equal or not as important or not as highlighted as other people, you tend to let your light dim, and it wasn't until later on in life that I thought it is cool to be different. It is needed to bring another perspective one that's completely out of textbook, but out of experience, right?
Speaker 1:So anyhow, there's that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and if I can just jump in there real quick, you know we've sat at many a table and never once have we not been able to communicate or have a intelligent conversation due to lack of education or too much education. I'm not talking about, you know, just to have a good meal or just to, you know, talk. We've been in business together for a good amount of time. In our 20 year relationship We've delved into case management in the medical field. We've delved into being a registry in LA County yeah, being a registry in LA County, which you just said, and that just blows my mind even saying it. But we, we created a business without any formal training. We, we set our books up and did our taxes.
Speaker 2:And we're writers and we're writers. So, um, I I'm saying this not to brag, and I'm saying this not to um, to to our horn, but just to say you make your shortcoming, whatever it may be.
Speaker 1:Yes, instead of fixing these weaknesses, see them as unique differentiators. You're different.
Speaker 2:Or fixating on them.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, trying to fix them or fixating on them. I love that. Here's another story that I love. Yeah, trying to fix them or fixating on them. I love that. Here's another story that I love too Michael Jordan. You know that he didn't make it on the varsity team in high school.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I've heard that Isn't that nuts. It's bananas.
Speaker 1:One more because I love I don't know if y'all use Post-its Corey I just bought another stack of Post-its. I'm a freak. Use post-its, Corey. I just bought another stack of post-its. I'm a freak for post-its, so I have pastel colors because of how I've done my office. By the way, if you haven't seen my office, I've shared it on Instagram. It's a real. I love my space. Anyhow, post-its was a failed project. What it was supposed to be was a super adhesive kind of tape, right, and because it failed and it was such a, it was light but it was well enough to stick.
Speaker 2:Thus post-its came up, yeah, and that I just I love stories like that indeed, you know, and we can go down the list from Steve Jobs to Walt Disney, to just all the greats and you say, well, those are anomalies, those aren't the norms of people, but we don't think that we're norms. Yeah, and we've never considered ourselves the norm. So it's when you decide that I'm going to be a part of the norm and this is why I'm not successful or I'm not exceeding in these, you know, acts in life. That's probably a lot of the problem. I've never looked at myself as a normal individual. When I approach anything, I approach it from so many different angles of who I really am, from inside to out. I think I have an advantage. I feel like I have an advantage. I've never walked into a room and felt at a disadvantage.
Speaker 2:And I'm saying these things so that you who are listening can do the same thing. You know, a lot of people focus on their physical attributes, and that usually has absolutely nothing to do with anything. Most people don't look at you in that way, in that negative light, anyway, and so we focus on those things that we feel like are holding us back.
Speaker 1:But they're probably the thing that's making it most accessible for you in the first place. Man, you're saying some really, really good things, and you did mention Steve Jobs. I wanted to say this because you know my heart well. Part of my heart is for leadership. Oh yeah, so when you think of Steve Jobs and his transparency, he knew what he was great at and what he wasn't great at.
Speaker 1:And he was able to ask for support. And when you're a leader and you're able to do that, Corey, what kind of culture do you think that creates within a team and an organization?
Speaker 2:A very comfortable but successful culture, because you feel good about doing what you do and you're not being looked at to do something that you know you cannot.
Speaker 1:That's right. So, in other words, people feel safe to do the same Right. So what I love about Steve Jobs there's many things I love about him but when he brought on Tim Cook to be his operational partner because that was a weakness of his, so here it is your weakness has opportunity to be your greatest personal and professional developmental area, like period. So people always say you know, corey, I coach. And people come in and let me tell you, nine times out of 10, their goal is based around a weakness that they want to get stronger in.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:You know, and I love when that happens. I just love when people see failures as a new destination instead of a roadblock, or they see the roadblock but they're going to figure it out. You know, so, gory, in your opinion being that you've been one that recognizes your shortcomings and thrives through it what are some practical steps that we can give our friends and people? Listening right now to you know, seeing shortcomings as a good thing and capitalizing on them.
Speaker 2:As you said before, just acknowledging and knowing what those are, and not trying to hide them. You walk into a room and whatever you're trying to hide is probably what people see first. Anyway, yeah, if you have a stain on a white shirt and you're trying to hide it, that's the first thing that everybody notices.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:So, instead of trying to hide this thing, just walk in boldly and live in it, and usually that allows you to have an advantage, because most people are going to be focused on the wrong thing. People are going to be focused on the wrong thing, and then, when you pull your real talent, your real gift, your real ability out, they're blindsided because they're like all you were were a red stain on a white shirt. But here you are, shining like the brightest light in the entire room. That's right. That's your first win. That's your first victory. The second thing you can do is when um, this is, this is something that I love to do. I love to play on the weakness. Play on the shortcoming sounds like a good strategy, and and and that way people don't feel the need to continuously.
Speaker 2:I'll give you something, something that a lot of people thought used to so when I was a younger kid. Having the last name body is one of those things that it's going to be a strength or it's going to be a weakness. Oh, I know, and so I'm saying this really loud and clear, because there are people that have asked me straight to my face how did you live with the last name body in school and I'm thinking to myself what the heck do you mean? It was not optional. I didn't get to pick and choose what my last name was. That's the one thing you don't get any say-so in. In being born into this world like, you get names that someone else has clearly chosen for you, and so, as as a younger kid, it would bother me that you know when they would call my name in the role, kids would giggle cory body it's awesome his body and it's like, oh, but as I got older I realized I have no choice.
Speaker 2:This is me, I'm gonna live in this and make it work. I'm gonna make this work and I made it work. I did not care and people would call me body, mr body, hey, but, and I'm like, give it to me, I want all the smoke, and so, in the same way, if it's something that you have an insecurity about, play on it, live in it, build it up, and that might have been one of the things that have helped you become who you are.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, you grew up in school with the last name body and you're just like big, freaking deal. Oh yeah, now we already know the story. With me in the last name body, it was just like how do I carry that name right? And it's funny and that's what I love is you find the humor in these things. So you and I will be somewhere and our last name is body, clearly, and they look at us and, my goodness, they just don't want to say that word as if it's an offense bodie by day everything under the sun.
Speaker 2:No, it's a body, just like it's okay it's gonna be okay.
Speaker 1:So yeah, in what you're saying, my um advice on this is identify the one weakness or the shortcoming that always comes up for you yeah. Yeah, you know, and you know what that is because you think it the moment you're in a certain predicament or situation. Yep.
Speaker 2:Oh boy, here we go, it's. I'm about to be exposed and everybody's going to know.
Speaker 1:And it's like, yeah, it's okay Because everyone's got theirs too Everyone. And so the second step is reframing that narrative. Right, and so the second step is reframing that narrative. So how could it be seen as a unique quality or skill? To make it simple body, that's a unique name. You can have a lot of fun with that one yeah especially having the nerve to call myself jen the builder.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay, no, and they're out here in the last name's body, so they start to say bodybuilder. Well, duh, no, like that's a clear fail. But anyways, it's reframing that narrative and then leveraging it.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Strategy is so much fun. Yeah, so you use that perceived and I use that word on purpose that perceived shortcoming, and do what with it. Make it your advantage.
Speaker 2:There you go.
Speaker 1:They won't see it coming. Nope, no, no, no, no no, no.
Speaker 2:Now I will say this this kind of advice, this kind of material is usually sold. It's not told, and people don't just give this kind of great information away. Please, please, if you're listening to this, utilize some of these tactics. Utilize this knowledge for your benefit, Take it in and run with it. It's yours, and the reason why I'm saying it like that is because a lot of times I notice people listen to motivational speakers, they listen to podcasts, they listen to YouTube channels, and it's just for entertainment purposes only. Speakers and listen to podcasts and listen to YouTube channels, and it's just for entertainment purposes only. This one is not just for entertainment. This one is for you to take in and do as you please to make your life a little bit easier and a little bit smoother.
Speaker 1:Beautifully said.
Speaker 2:Thank you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's how we learn is through each other's experience, right? Absolutely so. We just want to thank you all for being here with us, um, and joining us on this journey of growth and elevation. Remember your weaknesses are what, not your flaws to be fixed or to be fixated on. Right, love that one, but features to be harnessed to be fixated on Right Love that one. But features to be harnessed, to be highlighted and not hidden.
Speaker 2:And I want to leave with this Everybody loses from time to time, but we live to fight and win another day.
Speaker 1:That's right. You lose today, another day comes and that's your win. There you go. Hey Well, you know us to take the elevator. We say look up and let's elevate Every day, elevate Every day, elevate Every day, elevate every day, elevate every day.
