by Glen Tibaldeo
Sofia Vergara’s appearance on Saturday Night Live last night really brings into the spotlight how strengths and weaknesses are a shell game that you can use to either deep-six or launch your greatest aspirations. When I was taking improv classes at the Second City in Chicago, we were taught that quality humor has two ingredients–truth and pain. Sofia’s monologue is exemplary of these two elements.
Sofia had to come all the way from Barranquilla, Colombia to become a two-time Emmy nominee and a household face. One of her natural strengths is the reason why glassy-eyed men like me watched that monologue 3 times–at least. One of the natural weaknesses was undoubtedly the fact that she has trouble with English. Like beauty being in the eye of the beholder, weakness is in the heart of the possessor.
And look at the truth and pain in the monologue. The truth is that she took that weakness–the pain–and turned it into a strength–the fact that she’s not just an attractive and talented woman. She’s an attractive and talented woman who has the added icing on the cake of using that accent to her advantage.
Every weakness we have–and we all have them–is a prime excuse to give into our fears and doubts about whether we should or can move forward with something. And in the end, we are all creating our own story. That story could be “The One Reason Why I Didn’t Follow My Dream” or “How I Turned My Weakness into a Strength and Charged Full-On.” You have the pen. You have control of your story.
Tom Brokaw has a speech impediment. Bob Dylan can’t sing. Sofia Vergara has trouble with English. And these are all beloved and icons in America.
What weaknesses do you have? Can you turn them around, embellish upon them, and make them endearing to the world?
Oh, and by the way, my biggest weakness is that criticism is poison to me. I’m a blogger. So have fun commenting below. I can take it –I think.