SANDY ADAMS

In the spring of 2018, I found myself standing at the front of a classroom, staring into the faces of men and women who had come in search of something they couldn’t quite name.

Technically, they were there to learn how to land a job. But that’s a simplified version of the truth.

They weren’t fresh out of college or casually “exploring options.” These were seasoned professionals—engineers, project managers, specialists from the oil and gas industry.

Their resumes were stacked with decades of experience. They had built careers and climbed ladders.

But now, they were sitting in folding chairs, unemployed, unsure, and—if I’m being honest—unrecognizable to themselves.

Because when the oil market drops, it doesn’t just rattle portfolios—it knocks people flat. And when your job is tied to an industry that feels like a roller coaster with no seatbelt, getting laid off isn’t a matter of if, but when.

As I clicked through slides in the workshop—talking about resumes, interview prep, LinkedIn optimization—I started to see something.

Most of them didn’t need more information. They needed belief. They needed someone to remind them who they were before the layoff, before the pink slip, before the silence.

No checklist or handout could replace what they’d lost: their confidence. And let me tell you—confidence is the most underrated skill in a job search.

Here’s the truth no one talks about…

Unemployment doesn’t just affect your bank account. It affects your marriage, your parenting, your friendships, and most dangerously—your identity.

I watched smart, capable professionals shrink in real time.

And somewhere between Week 2 and Week 3, I realized something else.

Up until that moment, I would’ve told you that creativity was my greatest strength. I built a brand off of it. It had always been my edge. My differentiator.

But those spring workshops opened my eyes up to other people’s vulnerabilities. Most of them thought they were the only ones who felt unworthy

I started opening up to show them they were not alone. I had come out of a year of my greatest lows. I started shared stories I hadn’t planned to—stories about grief, about heartbreak, about how I’d lost and rebuilt myself more than once. I shared what it felt like to doubt my own voice and how I crawled my way back.

And what I found was something bigger than creativity. I had the ability to see what someone couldn’t yet see in themselves.

I could look at a room full of people—laid off, lost, trying to hold it together—and spot their brilliance. And then? I could speak it back to them until they started to believe it, too.

That season cracked something open in me. Helping others rediscover their strengths helped me rediscover mine. And it made me ask a question that would change everything:

What is your greatest strength?

Not the one you think you’re supposed to say in interviews. Not the safe one or the generic one. The real one. The one that makes you stand out, speak up, show up.

How to Actually Find Your Greatest Strength (Without Overthinking It)

Here’s the truth: most people think they know their strengths—but when you try to say it out loud, you freeze.

Why? Because we get stuck in our heads. We confuse skills for strengths. We downplay what actually makes us shine.

So here’s how to break through that noise and pinpoint your real power:

1. Look back at your wins—the ones that made you smile or even surprise yourself.
   What moments made you feel unstoppable? Those are clues.
2. Ask your people.
   Your boss, your team, your best friend—ask, “What do you think I’m really good at?” You’ll get answers you didn’t expect.
3. Notice what lights you up.
   What work feels easy? What do you lose hours doing because it just clicks? That’s where your strength lives.
4. See how you solve problems differently.
   What’s your secret sauce? What makes your approach unique?
5. Remember: skills can be taught, strengths can’t.
   Your strength is what feels natural and real when everything else is stripped away.

Your greatest strength might not be what you think. It might be grit, empathy, strategic thinking, or that quiet leadership no one else notices.

So now I’m asking you:

What is your greatest strength—and what value does it bring to your work, your team, your leadership, your life?

Not everyone likes answering this question. Some people have been told they’re not allowed to own their greatness. Some just haven’t taken the time to look inward.

But let me challenge you—especially if you’re scrolling right now thinking “this isn’t for me.”

It is for you. And the moment you name it? That’s the moment you take the power back.

Confidence isn’t about ego. It’s about alignment. It’s about showing up every day knowing the value you bring to the table.

So whether you’re in a job you love or one you’re trying to leave… Whether you’re leading a team or trying to find your next opportunity…

Start here: What is your greatest strength?

And if that feels too big, start smaller: What do people always come to you for?

Drop it in the comments. Send me a DM. Share it with a friend. But most of all—say it out loud.

Because when we name our strength, we reclaim our confidence. And when we share that confidence, we empower others to do the same.