Finding Strengths Through Weaknesses – The Cracked Pot

I think that some people will find this hard to believe, but people are not perfect. All of us have inadequacies and deficiencies that others may look at in a negative light but what individuals don’t realize, is that in many, many ways, some weaknesses in people can, in fact, be used in positive ways! This is true in all areas of life whether it be at work, schools, businesses, etc. We should learn, especially if you are a leader, how to find strengths through weaknesses.

Consider the following story…

There was once a man who had two large clay pots which he would hang on the ends of a pole he carried across his neck when he went to fetch water from a stream.  One of the pots had a small crack in it while the other was perfect.  The perfect pot always brought home a full pot of water while the cracked pot returned home barely half full.

For years, the man would always return from the stream with only one and a half pots of water.  The perfect pot was very proud of its accomplishment; however, the cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfection.  It felt terrible that it only accomplished half of what it was intended to do.

One day while kneeling by the stream to fill his two pots, the cracked pot spoke out, “I am sorry Sir and want to apologize.”

“Why?  What are you sorry about?” asked the man.

“Because of my flaw, I can only give you half a load.  Never ever have I given you what you expected,” said the cracked pot.

The man continued to quietly fill his pots.  When he put his pole over his neck with his two pots attached, he looked at the cracked pot and said, “Today as we walk home, look down at the path as we walk.”   As they walked, the cracked pot did what he was told; he looked down at the path.  By the time they arrived home half the water in the cracked pot had leaked out and it was feeling sorry for itself again.

After the man put down his pole, he asked the cracked pot, “What did you notice along the path on our way home?”

“I noticed beautiful flowers growing along our path,” replied the cracked pot.

“You’re right,” said the man.  “Flowers do grow along our path.  “However, did you notice they only grow on one side of the path and not the other?”

You see, I have always known about your flaw and I decided to take advantage of it.  I only planted flower seeds on your side of the path and every day as we walked back from the stream, you watered the seeds for me.  Because of you, I have always had an abundance of beautiful flowers to decorate my home and share with my friends.  Without your flaw, I would never have had all this beauty in my life.”

Remember, the people we know are just like the cracked pot. They all have flaws. Rather than complain about their imperfections, maybe we should acknowledge their flaws and take advantage of them to make our lives and places where we live and work, better places to live. For example, in the working world, imagine how much better a work environment could be or how much production would improve, if leaders looked upon their employees with this kind of mindset! Maximizing strengths through weaknesses is a true sign of a successful person!