Now it’s time to take a good look at yourself and identify your strengths, advantages, and weaknesses.

Why?

Identifying your strengths, advantages, and weaknesses will give you a better understanding of where you are now (strengths), what resources you have to help you (advantages), and what skills and foundations you need to work on (weaknesses). You will gain a better understanding of yourself.

In order to do your SAWA (Strengths, Advantages, and Weaknesses Analysis), find a piece of paper, a pen, and a quiet place.

Then, read the following questions carefully, and answer them as honestly as you can. Remember, this is to help you understand your strengths, advantages, and weaknesses!

Strengths and Advantages

1. What advantages do I have to help me during my mastery?
2. What skills do I have to help me in my mastery journey?
3. What resources do I have to help me (i.e., people and time)?

Weaknessess

1. What are some recurring problems that I’m struggling with?
2. Why can’t I understand a particular topic that I’m struggling with?
3. What are some things that might stand in the way of my mastery (i.e., not wanting to ask for help)?

Once you’ve answered all questions to the best of your ability, it’s time to seek help from someone you trust. Most of the issues you’ve just identified or feel confused about won’t get fixed on their own. Confusion doesn’t just disappear. It takes clarity and understanding to dissolve overwhelm and confusion.

Whether you will seek some guidance from a teacher, your parents, a super-intelligent friend (like me), or join a community like Khan Academy and let Sal guide you through the challenges, it’s time to take some action.

Having done your personal analysis, you now understand yourself better—you know what’s giving you an advantage and what needs fixing as you progress on your mastery. Would you like me to specifically give you insights on anything? I’d be glad to share the knowledge I’ve gained. Just send me a quick message here and as your new study buddy, I’ll be sure to reply as soon as possible 🙂