WEEKLY WISDOM - POTENTIAL

Potential: Someone's or something's ability to develop, achieve, or succeed.

$50 million dollars over the next 5 years! I have always been surprisingly amazed and astonished that professional sports teams will pay millions of dollars up front for a player who has never played for them or on a professional level. It is all based on “potential”. The potential that they will be a valuable asset to their club through wins and generating even millions of more dollars through ticket sales, marketing deals, advertisements, and more. There is something similar in the business world, just not to that level, when a new executive gets hired, they get a sign-on bonus for thousands of dollars and/or stock options. This is in the hope that the new executive will produce the desired results and sales not only in their hired position but also in other high-level positions over the coming years.

Looking at this more closely, we are all hired on potential, and we hire others on potential. Based on your experience, educational background, references, and network, you have the opportunity to increase your net worth, position, responsibilities, exposure and more. When reflecting on your professional journey, are you maximizing your potential as a leader? How are you accomplishing it? What are you doing consistently to develop your skills and competencies? Do you have achievements that speak to your leadership vision and abilities, strategies that you have executed, or projects that you have completed beyond expectations?

Now that you are thinking about your potential and actual net worth, how are you defining your true success which gives you life and not dictated by someone else’s expectation of you? I have always believed in operating as a high-capacity leader no matter what the task. I am all in! Think about yourself and your leadership. Are you all in no matter the task? If you are, then with each achievement and success, you increase your potential that much more.

A great friend of mine has done an excellent job of increasing his potential with every career move he has made. He has worked in the financial services industry for most of his career and has been able to define his potential through his successes and achievements. He has been able to clearly define what success looks like for him as he navigates among opportunities that work best for he and his family. The other impressive quality about him is he has been able to develop the appropriate relationships so those with influence recognizes his potential and becomes his champion. Lastly, he has always depended on his faith to lead his decisions regarding his career options which at each point expanded his responsibilities. Now that is someone who has maximized their potential. What about you?

Speaking of faith, here are scriptures that can keep you in the right frame of mind when you examine your potential and how to maximize it: John 14:12, John 15:16, and Ephesians 3:20.

In all of your potential, never ever forget who blessed you with it, why you have it, and what you should do with it! Glorify God and Bless others.

(EQUIPPING)

Exercise Your Power this week

1. Define Success in your leadership and life.

2. Identify the ways you are increasing your potential, capacity, and exposure.

3. Calculate your current net worth (assets minus liabilities) and determine where you can increase your financial net worth.