Identifying My Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) As A Writer
Do you know what your strengths and weaknesses are?
That was the question that was posed to me and the attendees of a Zoom private group chat by our moderator not too long ago. I thought it was an interesting inquiry because some people are not aware of these factors. In the past, I completed a similar personal development exercise identifying my strengths, but I always had trouble listing my weaknesses. Perhaps it was too painful to acknowledge the latter because I didn’t want to admit my shortcomings? Hmmm.
I know successful businesses not only identify their strengths and weaknesses, but they also ponder the opportunities and threats that could occur through a technique called the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis. This tool enables an organization to determine the things that are working well; the areas that need improvement; the advantages for growth; and factors that could impede their success. Can the same principle be applicable for people, especially an individual like me whose lifetime goal is to be a successful writer whose literary works will make a positive impact in the lives of others? Absolutely!
In my opinion, I think every artist — writer, musician, poet, actor, etc. — should complete a SWOT analysis. This tool is necessary for anyone who desires to grow and flourish in their creative aspirations by gaining insight about his or her artistry. As someone who spends much time engaging in personal development, I need to know what’s working and what’s not for me. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life journaling about my potential when I can be proactive with writing and/or publishing new materials.
So, taking the initial question and incorporating two additional factors, what are my strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats?
My Strengths
· I’m a talented and passionate writer.
· I have an amazing, creative, and talented group of individuals who are part of my positive social support network.
· I’m willing to learn from the mistakes I make or have made.
· I love to read, which is essential in my creative growth by studying the works of other writers, poets, authors, etc. for inspiration.
· I do my best to have an optimistic, receptive mindset.
· I have great focus when I consistently engaged in my writing.
· I have other creative outlets (e.g., painting, photography) that inspire my writing.
My Weaknesses
· I struggle with the fear of success.
· I tend to put too much on my plate, causing me to lose focus.
· I can be my own worst enemy.
· I can be and have become distracted by social media.
· I can be a procrastinator.
· I sometimes do worry about the future.
· I’m sometimes haunted by past, painful memories.
My Opportunities
· I can spend less time on social media.
· I can be more proactive and engage in less procrastination.
· I can write something every day.
· I can be my greatest ally, advocate, cheerleader, coach, etc.
· I can engage in mindful exercises to help me stay focused on the present.
· I can practice forgiving myself and/or others about what occurred in my past.
· I can create a writing routine that fits into my daily schedule.
My Threats
· I can have a stressful workday that takes its toll on my well-being.
· I cannot be in the mood to either write or read.
· I can be in the same room with my iPhone surfing the Internet when I should be writing.
· I can ignore my daily needs (i.e., nutrition, sleeping, exercise) when I’m inside my creative zone.
· I can become too complacent with my creative endeavors and find myself trapped inside a comfort zone.
· I can allow success to make me egotistical.
That’s not a bad SWOT analysis for this writer. I’m planning to revisit the SWOT analysis every three months to measure my momentum. Okay, maybe in another six months, but at least on an annual basis. It’s important to complete this task so I can recognize if I’m staying on track towards becoming the best writer that Bill Holmes can be. Yes indeed!