Be aware of what you do not know and are not good at

My dad once told me something important when he saw my not-so-great essays: “It’s okay if you’re not the best speller, as long as you know it. Then you can use the dictionary when you’re not sure.”

He was right about spelling, but it’s true for lots of things. Like at work, I might not be great at editing, but if I know that and ask for help, it’s better. Same with organizing stuff for a big talk—I can get someone else to do it well. It’s smarter and usually saves time and money. The only problem is if I pretend I’m good at everything, which I’m not!

You’re good at some things and not so good at others—that’s just how it is. And that’s okay! You can always learn new stuff or get better at what you already know. But it’s best to focus on what you’re good at and what helps you succeed. Doing things you’re not good at can make you feel stuck and unhappy.

My dad once told me something important when he saw my not-so-great essays: “It’s okay if you’re not the best speller, as long as you know it. Then you can use the dictionary when you’re not sure.” He was right about spelling, but it’s true for lots of things. Like at work, I might not…