Your Potential

from Able Leader, July 2009

by Steve Kaye

If you've been reading my newsletters and blogs for a while, you may have found a common theme. One way or the other, it's there, sending a beam of positive expectations to you.

So, I thought it might help if I described what I'm really writing about.

It's your potential.

Each of us has an extraordinary potential that goes beyond anything we could imagine. Yes, that includes everyone, including CEOs of Fortune Five companies.

I've seen hints of this in people who accomplish remarkable things. Some had to overcome horrible accidents, crippling disabilities, profound tragedies, "terminal" illnesses, and major disadvantages. And like us, they also had to deal with the usual fog of obstacles, setbacks, and failures.

I'll offer myself as a small example.

I'm an ordinary fellow who got Cs in English. At least a few teachers told me that I'd never do much. And yet, over the past ten years, I've written over 1,600 poems and over 800 articles plus blogs. Over the past 20 years I've written a novel and five business books (two published). I've also given over 1,000 presentations to audiences that include Allergan, Boeing, and Chevron (just to name a few).

And here's the important part: I think I'm just beginning.

The point is: you can do the same thing. In fact, you can do more.

Why?

Most of you are far more talented than I was when I started.

Now, please realize that there are many ways to achieve something significant. It might be through art, music, dance, science, medicine, philosophy, nature, education, math, computers, inventions, writing, business, charity, and so on.

This, by the way, is why I show people how to hold effective meetings, give business presentations, and manage time. Great leaders can use these skills to expand the potential of others.

Of course, there is a catch -- three catches, actually.

1) It takes commitment.

Too many people stop right here. They doubt that they deserve to succeed. Or they doubt they can. Or, they find an excuse that they use as a crutch.

So, the first step is to decide to be the person you were born to become.

Admittedly, for some, this will require inner work to eliminate fears and resolve personal issues (such as eliminate fears).

Once you decide that you are an extraordinary person who deserves to do significant things, the rest becomes easier.

Task: Hold a candid conversation with yourself in which you choose success.

2) It takes time.

Success is not some random event that happens to lucky people. It's a slow, methodical process of deliberate investments.

For example, success comes from writing three pages every day, drawing a sketch every day, imagining an invention every day, planting a flower every day, and so on.

Notice that each of these, taken as a single act, is a simple task. But when done consistently over a decade (or more) they add up to become huge achievements.

Task: Schedule time every day to invest in yourself.

3) It takes effort.

Everyone who achieved something significant has worked hard.

Success is not a handout. It's a paycheck. We have to earn it by working.

And that means we have to apply discipline, persistence, and courage.

And then we have to learn skills. (For example, I bought $1,400 worth of books last year.) We have to ask others for help because every success is a group project. And we have to work smart, which means we identify a vision of what we want to accomplish, set goals, and prepare plans.

Task: Dream about what you might do if there were no boundaries.

I wish you the very best of success as you surpass your dreams,

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300