How to Set Yourself Up to Achieve Your Potential

Idea

Only you can set yourself up to achieve your potential. As you do so, determination, discipline and consistency are key. If you know why you’re doing things, the rest will follow.

Example

One early morning in 2004, my new boss called me and announced that he had just fired two of my colleagues. I was shocked. Then he added that he had hesitated for a long time over firing me and finally decided to give me a second chance because he had spotted some potential in me.

I had mixed feelings all day long. I was between humiliation, recognition, and desperation. I was thinking, “what would happen if I fail with this second chance?” I have to confess that I cried all that night. I was stuck with fear. Fear of failure. Fear of rejection. Fear of everything that doesn’t exist but is still working in your mind.

In the morning, I had made my decision that I would take my destiny into my hands. I would not put my destiny into the hands of somebody who would use me as an adjustment variable or would make an arbitrary decision about my life.

I would become the kind of person I wanted to become, make sure that all decisions about my life would be made by me and nobody else. I wanted to become bankable so I wouldn’t fear being fired. So I decided to get a coach, to study business and get my MBA.

I practiced my decision like an athlete who had decided to win a marathon. And I think I won.

Action

Take 15 minutes and think about the kind of life you want to have. Not the life your parents, your school, or your kids are pushing you to have, but the one you are dreaming about.

Make a decision about this life and define your smart goals.

Then plan your resources and your needs. Start doing things, even the small ones, because you will need quick wins in the long journey. And always follow your intuition.