It just won't go away! There's stuff about you that's just not like most others.

• You keep reading blogs on health and fitness.

• You keep being the last one out of gatherings.

• You keep playing video games.

• You keep learning about leadership.

• You're addicted to info.

I think the final "aha" came for me this weekend when I learned that my twenty-year old son, the one we couldn't drag away from video games, was selected by his organization to become the leader of their "video game ministry!" Yep!

Now, his "expertise" is slated to help others!

Now his quirk is seen as "expertise," "experience" and "aptitude!"

WHAT!? After years and years of "Would you do something productive!" and "Do you think there's anything valuable to what you're doing?" Now he's ACTUALLY got something value-giving to do with his investment! (Or is that MY investment?!)

A CLUE FROM YOUR QUIRK

Incredibly, your own quirky fascination with stuff may be a great clue to what you best offer others. Unleashing it might even motivate you to do your greatest things!

I think of my cousin Brian, who was always literally locked in the attic creating new electronic gadgets, who eventually became invaluable to inventions for Xerox.

Then, there's my brother-in-law Mike, who was always fishing when everyone else was working." NOW Mike gets paid to fish as am environmental consultant dealing with wildlife and fish populations.

Since I was a kid, I was constantly reading books on every president, general and world leader... I wanted to know what made them tick and why they succeeded or failed. Hmmm, might there be a connection to my leadership coaching and development passion?

What's your nature?

• Are you a dawdler?

• Are you infatuated with some topic?

• Are you drawn in to some cause?

• Do you get drawn to certain people?

THE "SO WHAT"

The so what is that you might, just might, need to stop berating, dismissing or even minimizing your quirks.Your quirks may be the keys to unleashing your greatest strengths. Your greatest success! Who knows, you might even free yourself from needing to change or become more "normal."

Of course, as long as it's not destructive or truly irresponsible, you might do MORE of it, instead of less. Find ways to make your quirks your work!

Want to help your child? Notice what naturally attracts them. Then, start asking them to dream of ways to do great things with that "terrible" habit.

Want to motivate an employee or co-worker? ENCOURAGE them to lean in to their quirk!

But, let it begin with you!

Got quirks?