How to Turn Your Worst Personality Traits Into Strengths, From 6 Founders Who Did It Everyone is told they're "too much" of something. But for these BIZ Experiencess, the characteristics they once wished they could change ended up becoming their biggest assets.

All of us, at some point in our lives, have believed some aspect of our personalities could be improved upon. Maybe you got the message that you were too loud, or brash, or talkative. Maybe you were told you were overly reserved, or sensitive, or dreamy. Maybe your ideas are too impractical, or too regimented. Maybe you're too loose with money, or too tight-fisted. Whatever the critique was, it probably made you feel crappy and self-conscious. But that's okay, because a little self-reflection is good for everyone, and it's important to be mindful how you're coming across to others. And it also doesn't mean you should try to eradicate that part of yourself. In fact, if it's getting other people's attention, it's probably core to who you are. Here, we spoke with six BIZ Experiencess who made the mindset shift from feeling ashamed of their "bad" personality traits, to unlocking their potential.

1. "I'm too urgent."

"I tend to be 'Mrs. Urgent,' maybe stemming from the immigrant sense that 'you've got to make it or go home [to the Czech Republic].' That 'time is money' urgency has rendered my managerial style intense, and definitely uncool in the era of ping-pong table startups. But it's also unlocked doors. I'm always working to make it productive and not a fire drill, but I'd rather have it than lose it." — Jana Bobosikova, cofounder and CEO, Kiki

2. "I'm too ADHD."

"I have ADHD, like many others. It often means spending time on less-critical tasks, while pulling my inner 4-year-old kicking and screaming to focus on more important tasks. But our company principle is: 'Always work on the most important thing.' This allows me to evaluate, let go of things I don't want to be doing, and shift tasks if something becomes more important. It's essentially permission to be everywhere at once, make impact, and move on." — Justin Maxwell, cofounder and chief experience officer, Smith.ai

Related: The Most Powerful Thing You Can Do Is Be Yourself

3. "I'm too obsessive."

"When I was a kid, I was told I had 'unhealthy obsessions.' I went through a dog-loving phase and covered every inch of my bedroom with dog photos, memorized every breed, and talked about them nonstop. I was embarrassed and sad when friends and family got annoyed with me. But now I see this quality has enabled our product to exist: Michelin-quality, sustainable meals at home. It's taken eight years, but I still feel like I'm just scratching the surface." — Julie Nguyen, founder and CEO, Methodology

4. "I'm too introverted."

"Throughout my childhood, I was told I was too shy and soft-spoken. I always wished I could be the first to speak my mind in school. But as we've built Tend, I've realized my strength in smaller groups and intimate settings is invaluable. My favorite part of my work is connecting directly with customers. The brand originated with my personal struggle stomaching prenatals, and being an introvert keeps me connected to our core value of empathetic listening." — Hannah Varamini, cofounder, Tend

Related: The 5 Personality Traits All BIZ Experiencess Must Have

5. "I'm too patient."

"I've always been very patient. In the earliest days of Tribini, I felt I needed to be less patient, especially with stakeholders crucial to us getting to market. But over time, I've found patience is a necessity in startup life. Creating a product involves lots of trial and error. Assembling a high-performing team doesn't happen overnight. Raising funds from investors can be a long, grueling process, and gaining market traction often takes a while. Overall, patience is essential to learning and adapting, instead of giving up." — Taylor Grant, cofounder and CEO, Tribini

6. "I'm too social."

"Growing up, nearly every report card read, 'Julia's too social. She needs to learn when it's time to socialize.' Now I realize this is my secret weapon. I make a point to get to know everyone, and my network has helped my company become one of the fastest-growing in its market. Networking is about relationships rooted in mutual benefit, and if you need something, chances are, 'I've got a guy.'" — Julia Rosinus, co-owner and head of marketing, GoHydrate

Related: 'Just Be Yourself.' Okay, But What Does That Mean Exactly?