Today, we are diving into the fundamental concept of potential—a term everyone uses, yet surprisingly, has no universal academic definition. You’ve likely heard phrases like “reach your potential” or “you’re underperforming your potential” from books, gurus, coaches, and mentors. But what exactly is potential?
Upon realising through a PhD student that no standardided definition exists, I embarked on a research journey to simplify and clarify this elusive term. I found answers in basic physics. In physics, a weight held in the air possesses potential energy. When the weight drops, the potential energy is released, causing an effect, like damaging the floor beneath it. After the energy is dissipated, no potential remains in the weight.
So, what is potential? Potential is the surplus energy available to create an effect. Once the effect is created, the potential is exhausted. In our daily lives, this energy can manifest as beliefs, knowledge, skills, attitudes, abilities, and intelligence. Potential, therefore, is the combination of surplus energy and the opportunity to utilise it.
Consider this: you might have abundant skills and intelligence but be in the wrong job, unable to display your potential. Many people feel stuck, unable to use their accumulated skillset, leading to a sense of wasted potential. To truly maximize potential, both surplus energy and opportunities must coexist.
To illustrate, imagine a graph where energy and opportunity are plotted. Four distinct quadrants emerge:
1. Reactive Explorers: Low energy and low opportunity. These individuals chase others’ success, often imitating ideas in a large “me too” crowd.
2. Proactive Explorers: High opportunity but low energy. They spot opportunities but lack the updated skills to seize them, often found jumping on internet trends hoping for quick gains.
3. Adaptive Explorers: High energy but low opportunity. These disruptors and knowledge creators focus on building skills and knowledge, often overlooking immediate monetisation.
4. Creative Doers: High energy and high opportunity. Visionaries like Steve Jobs who solve real problems, innovate, and achieve both creative and business success.
Maximising potential involves two key elements:
1. Continuous Surplus Energy: This includes knowledge, skills, attitudes, and beliefs that exceed the current opportunities. It’s about maintaining a reservoir of energy that is always ready to be deployed.
2. Opportunity Alignment: Being in environments where your skills match the available opportunities, enabling you to identify problems and offer solutions continuously.
Practically, you control the energy aspect—enhancing your knowledge, learning, and empowerment. This inner game of potential is entirely within your grasp. The outer game involves positioning yourself in environments rich with opportunities that align with your skillset.
In summary, potential is the ability of surplus energy to create an effect. Your execution in life, whether in business, health, or relationships, progresses in the direction you set. Maximising potential isn’t about filling your time with activities; it’s about building energy and ensuring you are present where opportunities exist.
This discussion is part of our 12-month Breakthrough Achievement Program, designed to foster continuous breakthroughs.
Comments