Potential:

Existing in possibility; capable of development into actuality, liberty or power

Do you believe you have more potential to contribute or achieve?

Most readers will say Yes. The question is, how do you tap into your potential and purpose?

This is an incredibly vast topic. Please consider this article as part of the answer for you and the people you serve.

In numerous other articles, I have cited research that contributes to this condition:

• Close to 80% of individuals dislike what they do for a living, from a feeling of mild irritation to downright loathing.
• Over 70% of people have no conscious idea of their Personal Style, strengths, values, interests, gifts or talents.
• Up to 95% of illness is lifestyle related.
• The majority of individuals don’t have any clear vision for their future.

Where to Start to Change

While interviewing a colleague, Richard Knowdell, a 40-year career-development professional, I asked him this: “With all the career-development resources available, why do 80% of people still not enjoy their work?”

His answer? “People are not willing to do the work or invest in their own professional development to achieve growth. Most will spend more time and money on entertainment this week, month or year than on their own development.” To realize your potential, you must make a commitment to work on yourself. Why? Without self-awareness, you will be unable to make intentional or purposeful decisions.

• Do you know your Personal Style pattern? If not, complete CRG’s Personal Style Indicator to be clear about your preferences and how important they are to all your life choices.
• Are you clear about your core values? In five separate studies, the process of clarifying and documenting values did the following:
• increased confidence;
• reduced stress while boosting wellness; and
• improved objectivity and enhanced decision-making capabilities, while amplifying resilience to challenges and problems.
• Our Values Preference Indicator is a powerful start for that clarification.
• Be clear about your gifts, talents and abilities. They are separate measures and elements. My latest book, The Quest For Purpose, provides you with a roadmap for the process.

With that backdrop, let me outline a model to help you

• live on purpose;
• realize your potential; and
• provide a way to see and nurture the potential and purpose in others.

Although there are many factors, I will reference two elements that impact your ability to realize your potential.

The first factor is your state of joy and happiness. It will be impossible to realize your potential if you are miserable, down and unhappy. That is not to say every waking moment will be filled with joy, but are you feeling grounded and centered? The now is the only place any of us can ever live, so why not enjoy it?

• A wave of research is underway in the area of mindfulness and the importance of being present in the now.
• The added element is your mindset—the way you are experiencing your life and your level of happiness. All your actions and thoughts have an impact; it is impossible to realize your potential unless you are in a place of contentment.

Are you joyful and happy in the moment?

If I were to ask the people who work with you, and your family and friends,

what would they say?

When people interact with you, are they better off for it, or does your state cause others to want to leave you as soon as possible so they will not be polluted by your negativity?

At every given moment, we have a choice about how we will respond and react to what life hands us. Are you intentional about your joy and happiness?

A business owner shares his story…

A couple of years ago, his business had become a burden. At first, his enterprise had been fun, exciting and fulfilling; however, as his business grew, he shifted his focus to what the experts said he needed to do:

• work from a formal business plan;
• put systems in place to support the business; and
• study client trends.

Those things are important, but they had become his focus, rather than listening to his heart and reminding himself of the reasons he had started his business in the first place.

He had lost the vision that his efforts were:

• to be a fun way to pay his university tuition and support him; and
• to help others.

So he shifted his mindset. He stopped trying so hard and began to live in the moment rather than worrying about all the plans and strategies that needed to be done. The result? His business grew by over 400% that year.

If individuals are miserable, whining and constantly complaining (showing lack of joy and happiness), people won’t want to hang out, support or help them. They won’t be attracted to them. That’s just common sense.

Unhappiness and lack of joy are contributing to our increased stress and illness levels. Over 50% of the members of the global workforce consider themselves highly stressed. If you are not joyful and happy in the now, you are not realizing your full potential.

The second factor: Do you have a future vision?

Recently, there have been suggestions that “smart” goals do more harm than good; however, having a vision is critical to realizing your potential.

• Vision should be an active-tense condition that is always in play and that you are working to achieve.
• Hope (which always refers to the future) is one of the most powerful words, concepts and conditions. Hope drives individuals to do and become more.

Many of you are familiar with the late Austrian neurologist Viktor Frankl, author of Man’s Search for Meaning, who lived in German prison camps during WWII. In his book, Frankl states that the reason he survived and others did not was his daily vision (hope) of reuniting with his family. That gave him inspiration, determination and strength when others were in despair. His statement that others can take everything from me but they cannot take my vision or dreams is one everyone can embrace.

If you have no future vision, what will inspire you to become more?

For human beings, realizing their calling, purpose and potential takes them to a place of fulfillment and encouragement. Everything that has ever been achieved by the human race was envisioned (dreamed) first. The vehicle you drive and the media device you are using to read this ezine began as an idea—someone’s vision.

What about you?

• What are your visions and dreams?
• What do you need to learn?
• Who would you like to become?
• What are you called to do and be? What’s your purpose?
• Where do you want to make a difference?
• How would you like to be remembered?
• What is your legacy?

Most people are not clear on the answers. As mentioned earlier, it takes effort and time to be diligent in seeking answers. Not everyone is committed to the process.

The factors of joy and vision merge to create a mindset.

The Quest Inspiration Model© outlines the state generated when these factors are merged.

Where do you place yourself on The Quest Inspiration Model? Is that where you would like to stay?

I encourage you to use this simple Model to consider what you need to do to realize your potential and help others see their potential.

Review the Action Steps below to help you realize your potential.

Author’s Special Note: The achievement of real joy in the moment as a sustainable state is possible only when you consider your spiritual nature/source and seek the true meaning and purpose of your life. We will discuss this further in future articles and/or podcasts.

Action Steps

Realizing Your Potential

1. Are you willing to invest both time and money in your development? Are you ready to make the changes required to realize your potential?
2. Upon thoughtful reflection, are you living in a state of joy and happiness in the moment? What would others say about you? Are you a person whom others like to be around, or do you drain their energy?
3. If you are not joyful, what choices do you have to make to shift into that state, while living in the moment?
4. As mentioned in the article, true purpose and joy are spiritual matters. If you have not already done so, take the time to investigate this further so your joy is sustainable and self-generating.
5. To realize your potential, you must know yourself. Complete CRG’s Personal Style Indicator (PSI) and Values Preference Indicator (VPI).
6. Read Why Aren’t You More Like Me? It provides a roadmap for understanding yourself and others. The book will assist you to embrace your strengths and help you be intentional in realizing your potential.
7. Do you have a clear vision of your future and your purpose in life? If not, consider reading The Quest For Purpose to discover your life purpose and confirm your gifts, talents and abilities.

Until next time, keep Living On Purpose.

Ken Keis