Written Response to Reading: Freak Factor

      Freak Factor: Discovering Uniqueness by Flaunting Weakness, an article written by David Rendall, essentially states that your weaknesses do not necessarily hinder you as a creative person. Conversely, they can actually be your greatest strengths, like a double edged sword. In the section, "What's My Problem," Rendall talks about finding your weakness and capitalizing on them. Weaknesses, which make you different and unique, should not be given particular close attention when trying to better yourself. Although weaknesses make one feel inferior, they are actually important clues in finding your strengths. For example, a messy desk, something that is usually frowned upon, often means that a person is more creative. I agree with this section because I feel that too many people are trying to “fix” or “find” themselves when the answers to the questions they pose have been within themselves the whole time. The next section I would like to talk about is titled, "Flawless: There's Nothing Wrong With You." People always say that addiction is a bad personality trait because of drugs and and unsafe behaviors. Of course this is a problem, but addiction can also be a very good personality trait to have. You just need to apply to the right things. Rendall also talks about dyslexia in this section. Dyslexia is often labeled as a disability in our society because people with this "disability" get letters and words mixed up, which leads to major confusion in regards to reading and writing. However, a recent study showed that 35% of small business owners actually have some form of dyslexia. Additionally, another study found that people with dyslexia are more likely than those without the disability to become millionaires. This is a perfect example to illustrate how your weaknesses can also be your strengths. The last section of the article I would like to address is titled, "Forget it: Don't Try to Fix Your Weaknesses." Trying to fix your weakness, although it seems like it would make you a “better” person, actually puts you at a disadvantage. Finding your weaknesses is time consuming and disrupts you from working on other areas that you excel in. It can also be painful for people to try to improve their weaknesses, which I agree with completely. For example, if I were to devote all of my time trying to organize things, I would not have as much time to work on the things that I actually love. I think my weaknesses include being disorganized, shy, and indecisive. However, being disorganized can equate to a sign of creativity. Additionally, shyness can equate to a sign of a reflective personality. Lastly, indecisiveness can equate to a sign of patience. In my opinion, people need to capitalize on their strengths and live with their weaknesses, because weaknesses can actually amplify your strengths.