Emphasize your strengths, ignore your weaknesses — a strategy for success?

I've long subscribed to the philosophy of putting all your wood behind your sharpest arrow.

In his March 28, 2007 Wall Street Journal review of Marcus Buckingham's new book, "Go Put Your Strengths To Work," reviewer Kenneth Roman (former chairman and CEO of Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide) mentioned that in conjunction with the book's publication, a website called simplystrengths.com offers a "Strengths Engagement Track" test to see just how much you could profit from the book.

At this point, there's good news and bad news.

The good news is that the test is free.

The bad news is that to take the free test you have to have a 10-digit ID code.

The good news about the bad news is that this code is printed inside the flap of every copy of Buckingham's book.

The bad news about this good news is that you therefore have to go to a bricks-and-mortar bookstore, find a copy, copy down the code (Kenneth, you'll want to also make note of the frequency... but I digress), then return to the peace and quiet of your computer and proceed.

Hardly seems worth the trouble, what?

But maybe that's just me.

And don't worry, your score won't go on your permanent record – wherever and whatever that is.

Want more?

Here's a link to a video interview with Buckingham.

Here's a link to one of his lectures.

I must say, for a guy who's supposed to be pretty smart Buckingham sure doesn't have a clue about how to leverage the internet to his book's — and his — advantage.

He should be making it simple and transparent to take his test instead of requiring all this secret ID code rigamarole.

Wake up and smell the caramels, Marcus.