Potential is unrealized attainment – nothing more and nothing less…

~ Live & Learn

I’m a long standing member of the Mike Myatt fan club.  Yet, I held off sharing this after trying to talk myself out of it.   Contrived…maybe.  Heard it before?  Certainly.  Many times.  Believe it?  Completely.  I thought some of us could use an extra kick this morning to finish off the week…so here it is.  I encourage you to click through on this post from Mike Myatt: “The Myth of Potential” to get the full essence of his message.  Here’s (more than) a few nuggets:

  • We all have potential.
  • Many simply choose to do nothing about it
  • A rare few will maximize their potential
  • (We) are fed a steady diet of potential from the moment we are born
  • Potential affords no surety of outcome, it merely offers hope
  • While hope can clearly serve as an inspiration, it can also become a delusion
  • Leaders should place less stock in potential and focus on effort and outcome
  • Cold hard truth is you’re not special because of your potential.
  • You’re special because of your dogged pursuit of your potential
  • You’re even more special when you achieve your potential.
  • We should not be starved for potential leaders, but be very, very hungry for real leaders.
  • Smart leaders should be more interested in high character, high achievement, high engagement and high performance than high potential.
  • Reward performance not potential.
  • Studies show little correlation between potential and actual attained success.
  • Studies do show a high correlation between work ethic, performance and success.
  • Realizing potential takes focus, determination, and dedication – it takes work.
  • Potential is unrealized attainment – nothing more and nothing less.
  • Are you committed? 
  • Are you committed to put in the energy and effort necessary to realize your potential, or will you squander your potential? (Will you talk about it or do it?)   

Image Sources: We Wander and Wonder & Daily Inspiration & Motivation

15 thoughts on “Potential is unrealized attainment – nothing more and nothing less…”

  2. Reblogged this on Space for lasam and commented:
    By David Kanigan

    Potential is unrealized attainment – nothing more and nothing less…

    Potential is unrealized attainment – nothing more and nothing less…

    April 20, 2012 By David Kanigan 1 Comment

    I’m a long standing member of the Mike Myatt fan club. Yet, I held off sharing this after trying to talk myself out of it. Contrived…maybe. Heard it before? Certainly. Many times. Believe it? Completely. I thought some of us could use an extra kick this morning to finish off the week…so here it is. I encourage you to click through on this post from Mike Myatt: “The Myth of Potential” to get the full essence of his message. Here’s (more than) a few nuggets:

    ——————————————————————————–

    ■We all have potential.
    ■Many simply choose to do nothing about it
    ■A rare few will maximize their potential
    ■(We) are fed a steady diet of potential from the moment we are born
    ■Potential affords no surety of outcome, it merely offers hope
    ■While hope can clearly serve as an inspiration, it can also become a delusion
    ■Leaders should place less stock in potential and focus on effort and outcome
    ■Cold hard truth is you’re not special because of your potential.
    ■You’re special because of your dogged pursuit of your potential
    ■You’re even more special when you achieve your potential.
    ■We should not be starved for potential leaders, but be very, very hungry for real leaders.
    ■Smart leaders should be more interested in high character, high achievement, high engagement and high performance than high potential.
    ■Reward performance not potential.
    ■Studies show little correlation between potential and actual attained success.
    ■Studies do show a high correlation between work ethic, performance and success.
    ■Realizing potential takes focus, determination, and dedication – it takes work.
    ■Potential is unrealized attainment – nothing more and nothing less.
    ■Are you committed?
    ■Are you committed to put in the energy and effort necessary to realize your potential, or will you squander your potential? (Will you talk about it or do it?)

    Like

    Reply

  3. I think these nuggets are gold and would add the caveat that the ‘hard work’ is more than ‘in the doing’ of your job, but also in the persistence that some have to exercise to move their careers forward due to the poor leadership of those who are above them in the hierarchy. It can be absolutely Sisyphean, yet this kind of determination is essential.

    Like

    Reply

  4. Great post. It’s like…”Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work.” Everbody has potential but will they find the guts, the will or the drive to pull it out. Great leaders have that ability to see potential in someone and bring the best out of them. Great leaders are needed everywhere right now!!

    Like

    Reply

  5. YES, I am doggedly slogging away and achieving measurable amounts more towards fulfilling my potential each day–no matter how lonely and hard and tearful it gets!

    Like

    Reply

  6. I think potential is a good subject for a leadership mantra in the next few weeks… thank you for the idea 🙂

    Like

    Reply

Leave a Reply