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The Big Lie About Fixing Your Weaknesses – John K. Coyle on Playing to Your Strengths

  • Writer: Nicholas Kuhne
    Nicholas Kuhne
  • Nov 20
  • 2 min read
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What if everything you've been told about self-improvement is wrong?

In this punchy episode of From Startup to Wunderbrand, Nicholas Kuhne sits down with Olympic silver medalist and Emmy Award-winning storyteller John K. Coyle to dismantle one of the most damaging myths in work and life: that fixing your weaknesses is the key to success.

Turns out, it might be the very thing holding you back.


From Olympic Failure to Flow State Champion

John doesn't just speak from theory—he lived it. After ranking 12th in the world in speed skating with no coach, he joined the US Olympic team and began a traditional path: work on your weaknesses. The result? He dropped to 34th and missed the team entirely.

But when he returned to training solo, focusing only on his natural sprinting power, he not only broke the U.S. record—he shattered the world record.


The lesson? Double down on strengths. Let weaknesses rot.

“Trying to fix weaknesses won’t make you average—it makes you worse. It destroys the strength that makes you special.” – John K. Coyle

Why Most People Are Miserable at Work

We’ve all been sold the lie: if you just get a little better at X, you’ll be well-rounded and promotable. But John argues the opposite:

  • Creatives shouldn't try to be organised.

  • Strategists shouldn't obsess over detail.

  • Blunt, honest people shouldn't pretend to be soft and subtle.

Instead, John urges individuals and leaders to design around weaknesses and build work around strengths.


Designing for Strengths: Not Just a Book Title

John’s book Design for Strengths is part memoir, part manual. It applies design thinking to personal growth and team performance.

The key questions:

  • What are you best at?

  • What makes time fly for you?

  • What would it look like to do 90% of that?

For teams, the framework helps leaders structure roles and projects based on natural energy and ability – rather than old-school job descriptions.


The Real Power of Time: Chronos vs. Kairos

One of the most powerful segments in the episode tackles time itself. Most of us live by Chronos – measured clock time. But the Greeks also had Kairos – human time, flow time, moment time. John believes:

  • Only remembered time matters.

  • Long, boring meetings feel endless but disappear from memory.

  • A single rich moment in flow can last forever in memory.

With AI threatening to compress work into fewer days, our experience of time will matter more than ever.


Advice for Parents of Young Talent

Nicholas asks how to nurture young Olympians without burnout. John's answer:

  • Stop trying to fix their flaws.

  • Celebrate what they do best.

  • Let failure happen early, then remind them: “You're not good enough yet—but you can be.”


One Question That Could Change Your Life

John offers a deceptively simple question to spark reinvention:

“What are you best at?”

If you can't answer it clearly, you're not alone. But without that clarity, you don't get to wear the cape. It’s time to stop living in quiet desperation. Start designing your life around the things that light you up.



🎧 Episode Details


🔗 Resources


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