Strength

John Maxwell has an inspirational Word of the Day video that he sends via email daily and one of the words that he has yet to discuss is STRENGTH.  I've sent him an email asking him for his thoughts on this word, but while we wait to see where John takes it I thought I'd give it a shot.

Webster's defines Strength, when used as a noun as "The state or quality of being strong; force; power."  They go on to list toughness, durability, potency, concentration, intensity and force.

Webster's Thesaurus gives us Synonyms for Strength such as: vigor, brawn, energy, vitality, stoutness, toughness, sturdiness, soundness, and tenacity.  The Antonyms include: Weakness, feebleness, loss or lack of energy.

Now many of those positive qualities impress upon me the correct thoughts when I hear the word Strength, but I really like that Tenacity term.  Tenacity and perseverance are both favorites of mine whenever I think about finishing something in a strong manner.  Starting strong is always important, but unless you finish strong you may never get noticed.

At work, USG, we are revising a marketing slogan and a full marketing plan around the tag line that USG has used for years with our Durock Cement Backer Board - i.e., "STRENGTH BENEATH THE SURFACE!"  While working on this campaign I've become even more of a fan of that work STRENGTH and the many ways you can express it.  How about the level of support behind the product in the research, marketing, production, sales, service, and other support services that make not only a product but also a company a leader!  It's often been said that you can have a fantastic product but if nobody knows about it or can purchase it, then you've wasted your time creating it.  Opposite side of that coin is the hype marketing you see so often on late night TV pushing a truly terrible product in such a great marketing campaign that you throw your money away on it.

I believe that STRENGTH is one of those multi-faceted words that opens the imagination and allows you vast space to attach meanings. 

These are my thoughts, what are yours?
Steve