Being the sports fanatic that I am, I have been exposed to the idea of “potential” my entire life. At least in the sports world, potential is usually a term used to express “what a person could become if they put in the work and develop their natural gifts and talents to the highest level.”
The more I have studied the idea of potential, the more I realize how difficult it really is to identify. There have been studies done on the idea of potential and it has been determined that there is really no way to measure the potential that we are capable of. The same studies have estimated that we only reach 10% of our potential during our lifetime.
I don’t really understand how they can say we only reach 10% when they can’t identify the limit but nonetheless, these are two concepts worth discussing.
I understand that they can’t identify our true potential because there really is no way to identify what we are capable of achieving. The 10% raises a lot of questions for me. Not so much if it is wrong or right but the fact that it is so low.
So why do so many of us fail to achieve what we are capable of? That is what bothers me. If we are only achieving 10% of our potential, then 90% of the opportunities we have simply slip by.
Here is what I think. I think it is because we have a tendency to get comfortable in what we are doing and who we are. I think a lot of people think being stuck is OK. What do I mean? I am saying that many people learn a certain skill set, make in income that pays the bills, and have the mind-set that they have reached the top. When we can get by, we have completed the mission.
Why can I say this? Because I used to be that guy. Then a series of events happened in my life and I realized I was example of someone living that 10%. Sure I was contributing, but only on a small scale. There was an entire world out there that I could make a difference in if I applied what I was capable of.
What does that take? Courage! Courage to stretch where you have not stretched before. Courage to get outside of your comfort zone. Courage to make decisions that scare the crap out of you. Most importantly, courage to become someone that everyone else doesn’t believe you can become.
We all have a story. That story needs to be shared if we are to reach our potential. Why? Because our story is the footprint we will leave on this earth. I believe that everyone matters and their story can help others. Living a life without becoming what you are capable of is really a story untold.
Carl Jung said “The greatest tragedy of the family is the unlived lives of the parents.” I believe the greatest tragedy in life is the unfulfilled potential of a person. Why? Because we miss an opportunity to make a difference in the life of another. What if that other person is you!
Life isn’t easy and life isn’t fair but Imagine what you could do if you could do all you can?
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Barry Smith www.buildingwhatmatters.com 4/16/13 photo by author
Hey Barry, I love how you nudge people to really explore their choices. It does take courage to look at where we are holding back from our potential and more to do something about it. Thank you for your leadership in doing the work and guiding us to do so also.
Thanks Blair. I appreciate the support. Your response is the type that holds me accountable to walk the talk!
Saw a great quote this week: “Everything we want to achieve is located just outside our comfort zone.” How true! Great article!
Great quote Amy. The challenge is clearly our ability to step outside of it. Thanks
It absolutely freaks me out in the Ultimate Blog Challenge when the person that I am slated to comment on writes about a similar topic. It is almost like I came here to get the idea, wrote my blog from the idea and then came over here to comment. That isn’t the case! Maybe this is a little window into something beyond the 10% we “normally” exercise of our potential.
I personally have had these coincidences happen many times. Sometimes the exact same invention happens at the exact same time, “separately,” at another place on the globe. Very cool!!!
I don’t think we miss out on 90% of our opportunities when we operate at 10%. We miss out on 90% of what we are. That is an even bigger deal. No, we are not doing all that we are capable of, so let’s start now.
Great insight Donovan. There is a lot of power when the like-minded get together. I appreciate the support my friend.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond imagination. It is our light more than our darkness which scares us. We ask ourselves – who are we to be brilliant, beautiful, talented, and fabulous. But honestly, who are you to not be so?”
Marianne Williamson
One of my favorite quotes Daniel. So much truth in Williamson’s words. What if everyone took just one step forward. How much the world could change. Thanks for adding this!
Barry, you beautifully describe what many of us feel trying new things and fearful we won’t measure up. We actually “psyche ourselves out” before we step out. It’s all about believing in ourselves. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the great insight Terri. Believing in ourselves, and believing in others is so important.
Barry the gifter writer at it again !
Powerful post Barry. You are definitely exemplifying the test of courage by sharing so much of it with all of us on a daily basis.
You brought a smile to my face when reading your words.
Inspirational.
Johann
Thanks for the compliment Johann. Knowing that it put a smile on your face makes every word worth it!
Barry, I’m sure that I should be scared “crapless”, but with people like you on the leadership team I feel confident in the choice I’ve made to join the Deeper Path Cohort. I appreciate your post. Thanks!
Good on you Brian. I believe you will find this life changing and I can’t think of a better way to “unlock your potential.” Just remember, turning the key is the first step – be intentional about moving forward.
“I believe the greatest tragedy in life is the unfulfilled potential of a person.” I love this statement.
Thanks Eleanor. Without the right level of awareness, we can (and do) miss so much.