John C. Maxwell - The Power of Your Potential: How to Break Through Your Limits

I f youre like most people, I bet youd like more out of life than you are currently experiencing. Maybe youre not succeeding in all the ways you desire to in life. Perhaps youre less than fully satisfied with your progress. Are you getting done all that you want to do? Or do you want to see more, do more, be more?

Whats getting in your way? Whats limiting you? Do you know? If you dont know whats limiting you, how will you remove it?

Youve probably heard the saying If I always do what Ive always done, Ill always get what Ive always gotten. I want to help you do something newand get somewhere new. As we embark on this journey, I want to give you two thoughts:

1. Change doesnt always have to be drastic to be effective.

2. Change is necessary for you to reach your potential.

As you read through this book, be on the lookout for where you need to change your focus to become more aware of your potential. In part 1, on ability, you will be asked to work on some things that may not be natural strengths. You will find that difficult. Growth in skill areas, if they are not natural, is often slow and small. Thats OK. Every little bit of positive change helps. However, when you get to part 2, which is about choices, you will find it to be easier. In matters of choice, changes can be achieved much more quickly. All of these changes, whether difficult or easy, need to be made if you desire to reach your full potential.

I want to help you expand your thinking and your ability. I want you to accept the challenge of releasing the power of your potential and changing your life. Are you willing to do that? If so, the process begins with awareness, with learning

1. Your Potential Isnt Set

Have you given much thought to your potential? Most people think theirs is set. We hear one person identified as high capacity and another as low capacity, and we just accept it. Whats your capacity? Have you defined it as high, low, or average? Do you think its set? Maybe you havent put a label on it, but youve probably settled into a level of achievement that you believe is whats possible for you.

Thats a problem.

Too many people hear the word capacity and assume its a limitation. They assume their capacity is setespecially if theyre beyond a certain age. People give up on the idea that their capacity or their potential can grow. All they do is try to manage whatever they think theyve got. Thats too confining. Instead, we need to define our world and ourselves in terms of our possibilities.

While I believe 100 percent that people can grow, change their capacity, and increase their potential, I also acknowledge that all of us have caps on our capacity. Some caps are fixed, but most are not. We cant allow these unfixed caps to keep our lives from expanding. We cant let caps define our potential. We need to look beyond the caps and see our true potential.

2. You Can Become Aware of the Possibilities That Can Make You Better

All lasting growth requires awareness. Unfortunately, if you lack awareness, then you dont know that you are unaware. Its a blind spot. You dont know what you dont know, and you cant see that you are unable to see. Thats a catch-22.