Reaching Your Full Potential

“How do we close the gap of where we are today and where we would love to be tomorrow?” - Adam Grant  

It's not uncommon to look at your life and realize you are not where you wish you were. In high school, this could be because all your friends know where they want to go to college, and you don’t even know what you want to major in. In college, maybe everyone around you is getting a summer internship, and you are stuck struggling with class. In your career, you might not get promoted as quickly as your peers. It is easy to get stuck in these moments and ruminate on everything that has gone wrong. But just as #1 Wharton Professor, Adam Grant, argues on The Mel Robbins Podcast episode “How to Unlock Your Full Potential,” your potential is not determined by where you are today, but by how much you are capable of growing. Here are the key takeaways from Adam Grant and Mel Robbins’ conversation to help you reach your full potential. 

Look at the bright side 

It is easy to look back on the past and think about everything that went wrong in a given situation. But to turn mistakes into productivity, you should think, “What is the message for tomorrow from today’s failure?” Turn your disappointment that you didn’t accomplish a goal into figuring out how to do a better job staying focused. Turn your frustration that you didn’t reach a milestone into finding other paths to success. If you regret how you spent your day, just make better decisions tomorrow! Bringing “failures” into a positive light will help you to gain the motivation you need to be a better version of yourself.  

There are many different paths 

Having an open mindset is critical to achieving your potential. If you have a goal and only see two paths to get there, think of a third way. Having tunnel vision will limit your journey and can hinder your success. There are always more possibilities to consider, and sometimes, those possibilities might tweak your final goal into a better outcome for you.

If you can only see door A and door B, unlock door C.   

“The greatest sign of potential is not where you start today. It’s the distance you’re capable of traveling tomorrow.” - Adam Grant

What are you waiting for?  

Before you embark on a task, there are many uncertainties. You may not know if you will be able to do it, you don’t know if you will be successful, and you don’t know if it will work out. But those uncertainties will remain uncertainties until you actually try. Your goal today will still be your goal tomorrow; the only difference is that now you have lost one day just thinking about it.

Build your confidence by taking the leap. If it goes great, amazing! Now you are more confident in your ability to succeed. If it doesn’t go so great, figure out what went wrong and change it next time. Regardless, you will have more information to inform future choices, all because you tried.  

If you still feel stuck  

Remember to prioritize what feels right for you. Reaching your goals doesn’t typically happen overnight, and figuring out what the next step is can be tough. But remember that you bring unique value to everything that other people can’t. Find what that value is and chase it.   

GapWell helps young adults unlock their full potential through career advising, coaching, and professional development resources designed to support students from high school through the start of their careers.  

To help get on track to be the person you want to be tomorrow, schedule a free 30-minute consultation with GapWell.