WBW 15: "Look Inward then Move Forward." Focus on Strengths then Change the World

It’s not enough for entrepreneurs to have a wild idea with the persistence to make a huge impact. People who wish to stand on their own two feet must be able to identify their strengths and passions, as this is what will make them stand firm and strong. In this episode, we explore these with Brian Quebengco, a visionary entrepreneur, instructor of entrepreneurial psychology, and the country’s only strengths coach. Listen as Brian breaks age-old myths about strengths and weaknesses, and see how you, too, can apply it the way he successfully did for his life.

Who Is Brian Quebengco?

Brian is someone who practices what he preaches. He always says that one must first "look inward before one must move forward". And indeed, this introspective approach is what enabled Brian to move forward greatly, so much so that he has become first in his chosen fields of endeavor – the country’s first and only strengths coach as read in Gallup's Strengths Finder 2.0, an instructor of entrepreneurial psychology and innovation management at De La Salle University, and the “Chief Inoventor” and founder of Inovent, Inc., a start-up industrial design firm responsible for the world's first LCD interactive television, Ilumina.

For someone who started out as a McDonald’s janitor in the States, and had a long bout with depression, even ending up at a psychiatric ward for a time, Brian has definitely gone a long way. And it all became possible because he first looked inward before he zoomed forward to pursue his passion and make his dreams come true.

When asked what's his greatest challenge?

When asked what's his greatest success?

Show notes:

Look Inward Before Looking Outward

• "Those who look outward dream, but those who look inward awaken." - Carl Jung
• A lot of people tend to look outward first. They dream about so many things, they want to do so many things, that they forget who they are.
• A lot of successful people, while they move forward, they never stop looking inward.

Follow Your Dreams to Success

• There was a 20-year study involving 1,500 people. They asked these people what their driving force was to become successful.
• 85% of them said, I want to work hard to make money. The 15% said, I want to pursue my passion and money is not important for me.
• After 20 years, they checked back on these same 1,500 people. Surprisingly, 101 of the 1,500 became multimillionaires. Just 1 person from the 85% became a multimillionaire. The rest came from the 15%.
• It says a lot about following your passion, following your dreams. You have to follow it so much, that’s why you must understand yourself. Everyone has dreams, but one must apply the best of himself to that dream.

Your Set of Cards

• When we were born, God gave us a set of cards, and you have to play it right.
• The challenge is, God didn’t tell us what these cards he dealt us were. You have to dig deep and find these strengths, like a diamond in the rough. When you find it, you have to polish it, sharpen it, clean it up, and take care of it.
• You have to align your strengths with the deep passion and dream that you have. That’s the secret of successful people.

Success: Being in Your Strength Zone

• Some people are very good at something but they don’t like what they’re doing.
• Success has a lot to do with being in your strength zone. Success has a lot to do with activities that make you feel stronger.
• Have a dream so big that your heart can’t hold it, and find the best in you. God gave you some telltale signs of what those strengths are, and you feel them.
• It could be an urge to do an activity because it makes you feel good. Or when it seems like time passes by so fast. Or there’s rapid learning involved in this activity. You just learn it so fast and you can’t wait to do it again.
• These are signs that a talent or strength is at play. If you have that strength and you understand what that is in you, and you just follow your gut instincts. If you align it with your passion, you will live a successful life.
• Most successful people know how to apply the best of themselves in their dreams.

Search For Knowledge: Lesson From Socrates

• The search for knowledge must be as natural as our need for air, in order to find it.
• Entrepreneurs must seek knowledge of their passion, and of who they are. If this search is not as deep as our need for air, one will not be a successful entrepreneur.
• Our talents are innate in us. You can’t stop doing it.
• Our beliefs, values and purpose may change. But our talents don’t.

Strength Psychology

• We were always made to think that a weakness was something we’re not good at, and strengths are things we’re very good at.
• But there are activities that one may be so good at, but finds draining. So it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a strength.
• Weaknesses are activities that make one feel weak, while strengths are activities that make one feel stronger, where their talents are at play. So listen to who you are.

Lessons

• Look inward and know yourself and your strengths, before you look outward to dream and pursue.
• Weaknesses are activities that make one feel weak, but strengths are activities that make one feel strong.

"The Board" message:

More about Brian

Here's a great interview article by the folks over Greater Good Philippines of Brian Quebengco. It provides a great view of who Brian really is. So after watching his video, check out the article here.