Hidden Potential

We all have hidden potential inside of us. Every single one of us. Thomas Edison said, ” If we did all the things we were capable of doing, We would literally astound ourselves.” How many of us intellectually agree with that and then go back to business as usual? The Universe is pulsating with the energy of hidden potential and we all have that energy within. All of our self-doubts, all of our self-criticism cannot extenguish the energy of possibilities and potential within.

We all have potential for greatness in some way.  The question is, what do we do with it? Do we nurture it or take it for granted? Do we recognize that we are far more capable than we give ourselves credit for? We are capable of loving deeply, thinking big and creating happiness, meaning and significance in our lives. We can do that in our careers, in our relationships, in our health and in every area of life.

Today, company leaders across the globe are talking about the lack of talent. That’s small thinking and misguided thinking and we have tolerated it far too long. How many leaders believe there is an abundance of talent and it’s their job to find it and create an environment for talent and passion to thrive? Not many. That’s why we seldom experience extraordinary customer service and why we have a small list of companies that have uber loyal employees and customers.

The problem isn’t a lack of talent or inner drive. The problem is that there are so few of us that know how to find and unlock our potential–and the fact of the matter is that most of us don’t even think much about our hidden potential. The problem is that few leaders and managers know how to find the hidden potential in their team and so few that know how to nurture it.

When I was a psychotherapist in private practice for over a decade, I never “diagnosed” or “treated” a “patient.” Instead, I asked questions, listened and asked more questions. I looked for what was already inside them  and I helped them to unleash it. I didn’t help someone deal with their depression, that would be depressing–I helped them to awaken to who they really were, to have the courage to admit what they really wanted, and to take a small step towards what they were really capable of.   I do the same thing as a coach, consultant and speaker.

If you are a manager or leader, you aren’t paid for what you know or what you can do by yourself. You are paid for your ability to see and nurture the hidden potential of others. You are paid to awaken others to who they really are, what they really want and what they are truly capable of. You are paid to help others find out they are capable of astounding themselves. Edison set a record for 1093 patents, but he didn’t do that by himself. He worked his magic by finding the magic in others and helping them to let it loose.

The more you excel at that, the more others want to be around you. Not primarily because of who you are, but because of how they feel about themselves when they are around you. We all know on some level we have magic inside us. And we will do anything to be around someone who sees that in us and helps us to see it. But what do you do if you don’t have someone to do that for you?

What you do is to make it your chief aim to discover your hidden potential for work and life. You have an opportunity to awaken to that potential, to honor it and to transform that potential, day by day, into a reality that can astound us. We can do that, but we have to be intentional about it.

We don’t really know what we are capable of. We don’t really know what our limitations are. If that’s true, why do  argue for our limitations? Why don’t we do the opposite more oftern? Why don’t we look for our hidden potential, argue for that–and in the process end up  astounding ourselves?

Let me know what you think. Let’s have a conversation about hidden potential and how we can astound ourselvs.

 

 

 

 

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