Exploring the part of Dan Sullivan’s Capableism we don’t often talk about.
Dan Sullivan, co-founder of Strategic Coach and best-selling author of over 30 books on entrepreneurship and personal growth, is known for his innovative thinking around personal and professional development.
One of his most compelling ideas is something he calls Capableism, which challenges us to view our unique abilities not just as talents to acknowledge, but as powerful assets to take seriously.
In his words:
“Whether or not a person is successful in their life is a function of identifying and taking responsibility for their unique capabilities as well as taking them seriously and understanding their value. Being successful involves seeing your life on a day-to-day basis in terms of developing, expanding, and combining your capabilities, first in yourself, and then reaching a point where you can combine them with other people’s.”
This philosophy begs a simple but profound question:
Are you taking your capabilities seriously?
This is the question I explored with ChatGPT. In this post, I share our conversation and how it’s helped shape my own thinking.
But before we dive into that, let’s start by getting clear on what it actually means to be capable and what capabilities really are, using first principles thinking.
Defining Capability:
At its core, capability refers to our ability or power to achieve something. It’s the combination of our skills, knowledge, and resources that allows us to do what we do—or what we could do in the future.
Reasoning by First Principles
What is the essence of capability?
A capability is more than just what we’re good at; it’s a powerful tool for shaping our lives. It represents the potential we have to achieve something meaningful, both now and in the future.
Why is capability important?
Our capabilities determine what we can do—and, more importantly, what we could do if we fully committed to growing them. They’re the building blocks of our success and potential contribution.
What does it mean to take capability seriously?
Taking our capabilities seriously means recognizing their value and understanding that we have a responsibility to nurture and apply them intentionally. It’s about stepping up and owning the process of growth.
Why should one take their capabilities seriously?
When we fail to take our capabilities seriously, we risk leaving our potential untapped. On the other hand, embracing them fully allows us to unlock doors to greater success and deeper fulfillment, not only for ourselves but also for the people and projects we’re involved with.
Now that we have this foundational understanding, let’s dive into my conversation with ChatGPT. While you read, consider how taking your capabilities seriously might just be the missing link to the change you seek.
Exploration with ChatGPT
Kari:
Good morning, ChatGPT. I’m excited to revisit Dan Sullivan’s Capableism philosophy. I input his blog post on Capableism at the beginning of our conversation here.
ChatGPT:
Good morning, Kari! It’s great to see you back and revisiting Dan Sullivan’s Capableism philosophy. I have the input on his Capableism post from before, and we can definitely dive back into it! What aspect of it would you like to explore further today?
Kari:
I’d like to dive into this part specifically:
“Whether or not a person is successful in their life is a function of identifying and taking responsibility for their unique capabilities as well as taking them seriously and understanding their value. Being successful involves seeing your life on a day-to-day basis in terms of developing, expanding, and combining your capabilities, first in yourself, and then reaching a point where you can combine them with other people’s.”
I find it telling that he stressed the importance of taking our unique capabilities seriously. We often talk about identifying and cultivating them (reflecting on and identifying our strengths and seeking to get better at them), and also identifying skills we’d like to cultivate (and then making it an intentional, consistent practice to develop ourselves in this area), but we don’t necessarily often speak of the importance of taking them seriously.
ChatGPT:
You’re right—Dan Sullivan’s emphasis on taking our unique capabilities seriously adds a crucial layer to the conversation about self-development and success. It suggests more than just acknowledging or cultivating our strengths; it speaks to a deeper level of commitment, respect, and intentionality toward the abilities we possess and those we seek to grow.
Here’s a deeper exploration of what taking your capabilities seriously could mean in practice:
Respecting Your Potential
What it looks like: This involves recognizing that your unique capabilities aren’t just things you happen to be good at—they are significant assets that can shape your future. When you take your capabilities seriously, you begin to treat them as valuable tools that deserve your attention, time, and refinement.
The mindset shift: Many people downplay their strengths, either due to self-doubt or because they assume others have the same abilities. Taking them seriously means breaking free of this tendency to diminish or dismiss what you’re capable of and instead owning the fact that your abilities are powerful contributors to your success.
Taking Responsibility for Your Strengths
What it looks like: Sullivan talks about identifying and taking responsibility for our capabilities. This means more than just acknowledging that you have certain skills; it’s about taking ownership of your growth. You’re responsible for what you do with your potential.
The mindset shift: It’s easy to coast on natural talent or assume that success will come without effort. But taking your capabilities seriously means recognizing that you are the steward of your strengths. If you don’t nurture them, expand them, and apply them purposefully, they won’t reach their full potential. This level of ownership drives intentional growth.
Prioritizing Time for Skill Development
What it looks like: When you take your capabilities seriously, you prioritize time for their development, much like you would for anything else that’s valuable to your success. You carve out time in your daily or weekly routine to refine these abilities, expand on them, and find ways to apply them more effectively in your work or life.
The mindset shift: Instead of allowing your personal growth to take a backseat to more immediate tasks, you prioritize it because you understand its long-term importance. Whether it’s a natural skill or one you wish to cultivate, you give it the same weight as any critical aspect of your life or business.
Applying Your Strengths with Intention
What it looks like: Taking your capabilities seriously also means using them intentionally. It’s not enough to just recognize them—you need to leverage them strategically. This could mean focusing your energy on projects that align with your strengths, delegating tasks that don’t, or seeking out opportunities that will allow you to combine your capabilities with others to create something even more powerful.
The mindset shift: The key here is being strategic about where you apply your strengths. You stop spreading yourself too thin or engaging in activities that don’t maximize your potential. You align your efforts with what you’re uniquely suited for, allowing for more impactful and sustainable growth.
Valuing Collaboration
What it looks like: Sullivan talks about the importance of combining your capabilities with others. Taking your own capabilities seriously means recognizing that you bring unique value to the table, but also understanding that others’ capabilities can complement and expand yours. This is how innovation and growth happen.
The mindset shift: Rather than seeing collaboration as a potential dilution of your own skills, you start to see it as an opportunity to amplify your strengths. When you take your capabilities seriously, you seek out others whose skills and expertise elevate yours, making collaboration an avenue for exponential growth rather than competition.
Seeing Your Capabilities as a Path to Contribution
What it looks like: When you take your unique capabilities seriously, you also see how they can be used to contribute to others—whether it’s clients, partners, or the broader community. You start to think beyond personal success and consider how your skills and strengths can serve and uplift others.
The mindset shift: This moves the focus from purely self-improvement to contribution and impact. By taking your capabilities seriously, you recognize their potential to create positive change in others’ lives. You’re no longer just investing in yourself; you’re building a legacy through your unique abilities.
The Consequence of Not Taking Capabilities Seriously
One of the most important takeaways from Sullivan’s idea is the consequence of not taking our capabilities seriously. When we neglect, downplay, or avoid developing our strengths, we leave potential on the table.
- Underutilized Potential: Ignoring your capabilities or treating them as unimportant leads to underperformance. It’s like having the tools for success but never using them to their full capacity.
- Frustration and Inaction: Not taking your capabilities seriously can lead to stagnation, frustration, and even imposter syndrome. When we don’t fully commit to our potential, we may feel a gap between what we’re doing and what we know we’re capable of doing.
What now? Ways to Start Taking Your Capabilities Seriously Today
- Reflect on your unique capabilities: What are your natural strengths? What are the skills you’ve developed? Acknowledge them, and stop downplaying them.
- Commit to growth: Choose one of your unique capabilities that you want to intentionally expand. Set aside dedicated time to develop this skill or strength.
- Find ways to apply your capabilities: Look for opportunities to leverage your strengths in your business or personal life. Where can you make the most impact with what you’re good at?
- Seek out collaborations: Identify people whose strengths complement your own. Find ways to combine your capabilities for mutual growth.
- Take ownership: Recognize that the responsibility for growing your strengths is yours. No one else will take your capabilities seriously if you don’t.
Self-Exploration Journaling Exercise: Take some time to identify your capabilities. Are you taking them seriously? Not sure? Click here to download a journaling exercise to help you get started.
Resources:
- Dan Sullivan’s blog post, “What is Capableism, and Why Is It So Important For Entrepreneurs?”
- Visit Dan Sullivan’s website to download a free copy of his e-book, Capableism, watch the video series, or listen to the audio
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