What strengths are you using to achieve your ambition?

No matter how sexy you look in a cape and tights, you're not perfect in every way. Every superhero has weaknesses, but her strengths are majestic and the reason the bad guys tremble.

In his upcoming book, Tools of Titans, Tim Ferriss (@timferriss) delivers a parallel truth. "You don't succeed because you have no weaknesses; you succeed because you find your unique strengths and focus on developing habits around them."

Abraham Lincoln didn't enter politics with wealthy and influential supporters lining up to back his candidacy. The strengths he employed to engage the local Illinois voters were common sense, self-deprecating humor, storytelling, and a sharp wit.

In 1832, a 23-year-old Lincoln closed his first political announcement, announcing his candidacy, with a clear description of his ambition. "Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition... I can say for one that I have no other so great as that of being truly esteemed of my fellow men, by rendering myself worthy of their esteem." While a broad ambition; history would judge Lincoln a success.

It is only fair that since a comic book hero and a real-life hero relied upon their strengths to accomplish their goals, we should follow their lead.

We must apply our strengths to our indwelling ambitions and take action. Strictly pursuing our list of weaknesses will confine us to a mental culdesac strengths languishing, and our best work carried to the grave.

Every individual brings a new combination of background and vision to each endeavor. If you want to be a musician, identify what differentiates you from the others. Your skill, personal style, stage presence, and genre you seek to master, culminate in a unique blend.

No one else brings the same tools and applies them in the same way. Identify and capitalize on this difference; the ambition is waiting.

Going Further: What strengths are you using in the pursuit of your ambition? How are you strategic about this process? How will you leverage your strengths to attain your goal? Are there elements of your strengths that need to beef up to get you across the finish line? What question was missed?

Who taught you how to meditate?

The self-made man is a myth. No one stands alone; we all stand on the shoulders of our predecessors.

Those who are honest will gladly admit this truth. Additionally, they will be quick to point out the kindness of a mentor who used their influence to open a door, or a trainer pushing another rep out of our spent muscles. Those who have tread the path and achieved a level of success can peer into our lives and steer us clear of the dangerous chasms ahead.

During primary school, classrooms were assigned and with a bit of luck, you didn't draw the mean-old-hag that would smack your knuckles with a ruler. Evading the monotone and stubborn college professors, was the best you could request.  Upon completion of school, geography no longer constrains our options of teachers, and the Internet makes the connection that much easier.

Meditation is an intimate activity and to invite someone near to shape how to conduct the practice is an extension of a gift of trust. These teachers are distinctive and must be carefully selected. The age-old adage, "when the student is ready, the teacher will appear," has proven true.

By providence, I met Pat and extended this gift of trust to learn about the Scriptures and prayer. His humble study and reflection of the Scriptures laid a foundation for me to approach my personal study. He patiently taught me how to approach a genuine prayer life informed by faith.

I met Tara Brach (@tarabrach), through the Tim Ferriss (@timferriss) podcast, and came to enjoy her online mindfulness meditation archive. I attended one of her weekly classes outside of DC and was not disappointed in the session. Tara introduced a new language to add to my vocabulary and a new way to approach the meditation practice.

Whose shoulders do you stand upon?

Charlie "Tremendous" Jones said, "You are the same today you’ll be in five years except for two things: the people you meet and the books you read." How can you trace the influence of your meditation teachers from five years ago to whom you are today? Following this heritage confirms you were right to trust these teachers, and they were worthy of your gift.

Well done, now is a good time to express your gratitude.

How does your dream provide service?

I know you want food on the table, kids in college and a little bling on the finger, but how does fulfillment of your dream serve others? Does realizing your dream primarily build the empire for you or does it have a primary mission to provide service to others and fulfill your dream along the way?

This inquiry surfaced when Tim Ferriss discussed life lessons with Shep Gordon, an influential manager to many in the entertainment and celebrity chef worlds. He has been near to the famous and those that have lost their way during the last half century.

Shep sees his life as a manager, as a way to serve his clients and fulfill the vision they have for their career. He has resisted the temptation to make his career primarily about his success, but recognized serving was the way to make the greatest impact.

You pour creativity and innovative energy into the vision you have that will change your world. The blood, sweat and tears, late nights, and missing the kid's sports games to turn this dream into a tangible asset you can hold in your hands. The sacrifice is real, as you juggle the responsibilities of life with those you love and the lives you seek to impact the lives at the other end of the Internet.

The time spent in penthouses and fancy cars is no doubt fun, but the opportunity to significantly impact another life is an awesome privilege. If you are reading this, you qualify as one that can impact lives through love, care, empathy, and service.

In your pursuit of making a positive impact in the lives of those around you, you will be taken advantage of, and you will be wronged. This doesn't mean it is not worth the risk. The privilege that comes with the opportunity to pursue and realize our dreams is great and must be used for good.

Going Further: Is service part of your dream? How can service be realized while pursuing the dream? How do you intend to provide service to others through realizing your dream? What is the worst and best outcome on others when your dream is realized? How will you tip the scales for the best outcome? What question was missed?

What results do you demand of your physical training?

A friend broke up his physical training regime with play in the local kickball league and scored a wife. We have expectations for anything we invest our lives into, and our training is no exception. Be it general fitness to stave off a heart attack, fit into the wedding tux or have broad shoulders for the girlfriend to rest her head upon, these are the motivations that get our butts off the couch.

Your training plan is not a one-way transaction. Articulating what expectations you have of your training is necessary; otherwise, you won't know if you are getting proper results. A lovely bonus to physical training is that as you pursue one benefit, hard work delivers many other perks for free.

The Mayo Clinic outlines seven benefits of regular physical activity, and two include performance in bed, both sex, and sleep. It is a safe bet that most readers would enjoy a performance boost in both categories.

Tony Robbins recently mentioned during a Tim Ferriss podcast that he would use exercise to reset his mind and jumpstart his creativity when he is mentally stuck.

The community that emerges from any particular activity adds to the joy of doing the activity. The camaraderie and encouragement are a huge help to both you and the tribe.

I am playing the long game. The lifestyle disparity between those who have had an active life and those that haven't is significant. Given the option, I choose to be healthy enough to do full squats and move how I desire until I am dead. 

The inquiry comes back to a proper definition of requirements. What do you want in return for your effort? If the training does not deliver, change. 

Going Further: How did you decide on your current training routine? Is it getting the results you expected and if not, is it you or the routine that is falling short? Do you like the principles and people that make up the community? What training result surprised you? Where have you seen the greatest gains? What training do you want to try? What question was missed?

What question scares you?

Note: This is an uncomfortable post, brace yourself. And yet, another question I have been afraid to post. I hate being afraid. I don't watch horror movies as I have no desire to invest time in something designed to spike cortisol levels or engage fight or flight. If I want to be horrified, I can find plenty of real-world examples that don't require a $15 trip to the movies. I live in an isolated little bubble that doesn't require me to face the things that scare me. I live near I-95 and I am certain that tonight human traffickers are transporting terrified people up and down the east coast to be delivered for terrible purposes to the lowest bidder. What am I doing to stop it? The question scares me because I hate the answer, and I like to think I am better than the honest answer.

Inquiries were not designed to be easy, but to bring about an understanding of one's self and any necessary change. These questions get to the operating system level of who we really are, not the photo-shopped images we post in our profile. Many questions involve those around us both family and co-workers. What employee needs the constructive feedback to improve? What discussion needs to be had with your partner or child? What tough-love needs to be given to that friend who is abusive? What steps do you need to take to face your own fears? What help do we need to change to stop the self-destructive spiral in our own lives?

We have to be intellectually honest with ourselves; if we answer the fun inquiries, the difficult inquiries also get their time in the sun. During a Tim Ferriss podcast discussion with Shay Carl, of YouTube fame, they discussed having a discussion with our 10-year-older self. For example, if you were ten-years-older, what would you say to your current self? This hit me hard. I always have spectacular advice, I would humbly submit, for someone else, but what would my future-self require of my present self and what action is non-negotiable? Yeah, this takes a second to grasp. If we are going to care for our future selves, then fears need to be confronted now, so our future isn't burdened by the same weight as we bear today.

You know the questions, and in most cases, the answers. The question is designed to offer hope that things can be different. Now is the time to answer the question and implement the plan, your future-self anticipates the action.