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I have often thought that “thinking outside the box” is sometimes the only thing that is socially acceptable these days. It’s a great buzz-phrase. When you hear of someone thinking outside the box, they sound progressive, cool, and sexy.

But here’s a thought: what if you thought inside the box for a moment? Use all the knowledge you currently have, and live in that moment. You have all these tools you have acquired over the span of your life: practical tools, social tools, etc. Why not put them to good use? Don’t avoid what you do well.

I have a problem: I am really good with working with computers. It’s something that my friends sometimes take advantage of. But I know that skill is something that I do well. Being the “Computer Guy” can sometimes be annoying, and I have tried to avoid it, but those skills keep coming to the forefront. So I have stopped ignoring it and have embraced what I do well. By continuing to be the “Computer Guy”, I have been able to branch out relationships just because someone needed help with their computer. I have received gifts, life lessons, and most importantly, rapport, from not ignoring what I do well.

You do things well. Put those things to work at first before you move forward.

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