How to Reach Your Full Potential

I don’t know who originally said this, but hell is getting to the end of your life and meeting the person you could've become.  

Think about that for a moment. 

I think about how much I don’t want to get to the end of my days and wonder, did I do everything I could to become the person I wanted to be? Is it just me, or do you feel the same way?  Have you been doing everything you can to become the person you want to be?  Are you seeking your highest and greatest potential? Does the world know who you are and what you stand for? 

One of my clients, Brad, shared with me his story of owning his potential and speaking up for what he believes in. Brad was the third speaker in a line of speakers talking about the Agriculture industry. If you talk with Brad for more than a minute, you'll know just how passionate he is about Agriculture.  As he was listening to the other speakers, he realized that the presentation he'd been working on didn't fit with what was being said. He could hear the differences in his message and knew that what he had to say was contrary to popular opinion. 

He said, "I knew that I had a rare opportunity to talk with an audience I may never get in front of again, and I had to take it." 

And so, he took it. Brad stood on stage in front of hundreds of people and shared a message representing his knowledge and values, even though it wasn't a popular opinion. He shared knowing he might be subject to rejection, criticism, and maybe even ridicule. 

How did the audience react?

With great appreciation, thanks, and loads of positivity. Brad didn't know that it would happen, but he saw his opportunity to share his message and took it. 

You cannot reach your highest potential if you cannot speak about what matters to you.  You cannot help others if you don't share your message, knowledge, and skills.   

Reaching your full potential can’t happen until you’re able to describe what your potential is. You have to be able to speak it into existence.  We know that we’re more likely to reach our goals if we share them with others. We know that if we can’t say what we need or want, we won’t be able to get it.  And yet, even when we know, we hold back sometimes, don’t we? We’re a little or maybe a lot afraid. I know that I am. But here’s the thing, if we don’t find a way to say it, the end of our road will come and we’ll have missed our chance.  I don’t know about you, but I’d rather speak my potential with a shaking, quivering, weak little voice than not to speak it all.  I know that once I’ve spoken, I can speak again, again and again, strengthening my message and my voice. 

If you want to reach your full potential, you must start talking about what your potential is. You must talk about who you are, what you bring to the table, how you help and serve others. 

When you get to the end of your road, will you be able to say, "I did everything possible to reach my highest and best self." or will you find yourself saying "I'm so sorry." to the person you could've become if you'd been brave enough to try.

If you found today’s Crash Course helpful, please share it with your colleagues and friends and if you’ve got a question you’d like for me to answer here on the show, email me at [email protected] 

LinkedIn Alex Perry

Instagram @pswithalex