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Kaleb Roberts

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Have you realized your potential?

How did you do it?
Did you just one day wake up, work hard and suddenly you're at the top? Or are you struggling every day, not realizing it, sitting at a desk, watching these TED video's and praying for a better life.

If I may ask, what are your individual stories behind your passion and potential?
Was it starting a company in you're basement, knowing that you could do something better? Or inside a multi-billion dollar company starting in the mail room, then suddenly working on the thirtieth floor?

People's stories, especially on topics like this, really really interest me. I want to learn from them, so maybe I can realize my potential. Any thoughts?

Topics: Life Lessons education personal growth
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  • Ohis Benson

    • 0
    Jan 21 2013: I can't say I've realised my full potential. I think a more appropriate conversation should be "Have you found your passion/purpose & you are using it as a business to change the world, How did you find it & used it for change?" Because this is something most of us don't know & haven't found. I'm still trying to find mine & its not so easy and straight. Any ideas on this is most welcome, thanks.
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    Luis Javier Salvador 30+

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    TED Translator
    Jan 21 2013: I don't think I have, but I don't exactly know what my potential is either. I think it's best if we don't know, so we can always hope for a better future!

  • Atalay Ata

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    Jan 21 2013: First, this is such a great question, thank you

    Second, as I'm an undergraduate student, I can say that I have not realized my potential yet because I'm on the way !

    If we generalize it, we can easily see that everyone is on the way which is indicated according to the potential. Thus, I state that if we realize our potential, we can be sure that it is the end.
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    Veronika Vajdová

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    Jan 20 2013: Well I guess I am that one person who's watching TED videos and finally doing something... I guess somewhere along the way I met people who wanted me to believe that to have a better life I have to forget about my dreams and do all that "is expected" of me. Including most of my family members.
    I found about TED only few months ago, at first didn't really pay it any attention, but now I cannot go a day without watching at least one video.

    After spending time here, it just made me realize how RIDICULOUS it is NOT to follow your dreams... your passion. I mean... I was raised to believe that there's only one path for everyone. You are good at science? Go, study science. Art is a "no-no". You don't need to DISTRACT yourself unnecessarily with something like that.

    As I said. Ridiculous and narrow-minded. And it just made me scared that I'll be a failure in other fields. But to move forward, you need to accept that failure is a part of life. And you never know what you might excel at :)
    Now I feel free knowing that if I want to paint... I'll paint! I want to learn a new language? Why not give it a try?
    So I would say that I am still in a process of finding myself, but I am really glad I took off the blindfold and am finally seeing the world full of all those vivid colors.
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    Michel Desjardins 10+

    • +1
    Jan 19 2013: The day I will stop realizing my potential will be the day I will die. I even think that some of my thoughts and efforts will continue after me through my friends, family and colleagues, fading slowly with time. I want to leave a legacy.

  • Nishi Shukla

    • +1
    Jan 19 2013: I totally agree with colleen and william. Its really a great thought. To reach to your full potential, follow your dreams, follow your passion. Love what you do n do what you love and sky is the limit.

  • glenda glayzer

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    Jan 19 2013: I'm halfway through my 68th year and I'm still realizing my potential every day. Every person has a different goal in life, and I became aware early on in my life that I wanted to learn new things - every day.
    I have been:
    Triple-threat, multilingual stage performer
    Recording artist
    Union sound tech
    Sculptor
    Painter
    Writer
    Working Chef
    Graphic Artist
    Web Designer
    Webmaster
    Teacher
    Life is long if we're lucky, and there is plenty of time to do the things we really want to do. And I still strive to learn something new every day.
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    Jacqui Dobens

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    Jan 14 2013: Absolutely Frankey! It's why I journal, have a wisdom bookshelf, a Wall of Accomplishments as well as a core group of friends to remind me like touchstones of times when I think I can't get through "this" reminds me that I can because I got through "that".

    Thanks for your reply.

    Jacqui:~)

  • Sriram Raj

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    Jan 14 2013: My Story of becoming a software engineer was really funny. I was doing my bachelors in commerce. Suddenly my father asked me to appear in entrance for MBA and MCA in our country which is 20 days away. I took a 15 day examination only course for the entrance exam which was written by 1,20,000 people.

    Coming from a middle class family, my father has asked me to do a correspondence MBA if i qualify for the exam. As the college fees for two years of MBA or MCA course is around 10,000 dollars in private colleges, I though of joining a correspondence course for 250$ year and get a professional degree.

    I wrote the exam which was one of my all time best and received 95th rank in the exam... Ayila... (Alaas), I am one of the students in the top university in India, and the fees omg, only 200$ a year as it is a government college.

    Now after my degree, I am one of the lucky software engineers from India working for a reputed telecom company (Aricent) for 30,000$ per year.

    Life is such a challenge. It is good if you take up the challenge and give 100% effort.

    Cheers,
    Sriram
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    Jacqui Dobens

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    Jan 14 2013: In it's own definition potential is considered as what's possible as opposed to what is actual. Embracing that definition I would say yes! As my belief of what's possible increases and expands my ability to actualize strengthens. Having obliterated deadlines many times in my life, done what others said couldn't be done, defied belief (or lack thereof) through repeated actions makes me say yes. Years ago a friend of mine that is a very well known singer and I were out shopping with several friends. As the two of us broke away from the pack she shared with me that one of the things she liked most about our friendship was that I was not envious of her popularity or fan base. Immediately I shared with her of course not because my clients treat me the way her fans treat her!

    This one exchange enabled me at an early age to determine what success and achievement really are. Success doesn't mean you're a household name. Look at how many people are famous for doing nothing. Success or reaching my potential for the sake of this forum is being the highest and best version of myself at that moment, where I am with what I'm doing. Knowing that more will be added to me as I progress along. My framework may be different than others. That's because it's mine.

    You see, ever since childhood I was affirmed that I had something worthy of listening to. I would grow up and refer to it as being a voice and not an echo. Responsibility (responding to the ability within) comes with awareness. So, as I continue to evolve and grow my new definition of my potential grows as well. Kinda like the saying, " what brought me here, won't take me there". I look at challenges, obstacles, obstructions, dilemmas all as guideposts and tools to get me to my new "there".

    They are all life lessons that refine me which is why I embrace them readily!:~)

    • Zac Chow

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      Jan 14 2013: I would say you must be a confident and charming lady in yoru life because of self-affirmation. In fact, most people tend to lose themselves especially in current modern life. Finding our personal values are more informortant than to do something profound. Good luck, everyone.
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        Jacqui Dobens

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        Jan 14 2013: What a nice thing to share Zac thank you. I agree with you there are so many things pulling and yelling for our attention carving out My Daily Practice is tough some days. Good luck to you too Zac!

        Jacqui:~)
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      Frankey Chang

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      Jan 14 2013: You say " I look at challenges, obstacles, obstructions, dilemmas all as guideposts and tools to get me to my new "there". I quite agree with your thinking .
      However,in a calm time of one's life,he or she might consider things that way.If one is fall into a bad ,even hopeless situation,the idea is gone .After that hard time ,the thinking will be back again .
      So ,It's meaningful in our life how to make the thinking in our mind all the time.My opinion is that making some friends who have the same idea you mentioned ,may be helpful for our absent mind in that painful time .He or she would give you a prompt at the time.
      It's my framework and my humble opinion ,not offense men.

  • Gord G 30+

    • +1
    Jan 13 2013: Potential is a value judgement based on possible future outcomes. It passively infers a deficiency of ability in the present or a mythical ability that will be magically realized.

    I believe focusing on present strengths and setting incremental, attainable goals to build a tangible path to success. Potential is a chimera that creates feelings of failure or delusions of grandeur.
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    Stuart Woods 10+

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    Jan 13 2013: What is that great Henry Ford quote...“Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right.”
    ......so it's all in the belief and articulation.
    I am blessed to be in my dream job (school leadership) and I have recently reflected on this theme...potential is so complex...I was discussing with a colleague a few days ago on the nature of 'exceeding ones potential' in my view not possible. I have to say the nature of potential is about intrinsic motivation...and the two are closely linked, before we find what really (and specifically) drives us, we cannot begin to realise our potential. I believe we can only accurately define our potential (extrinsic motivation only works for so long)...as educators we must work on the motivation aspect to unlock potential...every child must find their passion whilst learning a little bit about everything else... It's a big ask but lies at the heart of true achievement. I think we need to get better at fostering this in schools.

  • David Grammer

    • +1
    Jan 13 2013: Everyone maximizes their potential every moment of every day by definition. We all have our individual strengths and weaknesses. Our support mechanisms and our self sabotaging behavior. The question seems to beg for an elitist response of back patting. If I could do more, I would. So would you. So would the homeless person sleeping in an alley. So would Steven Hawking. For me, the question only makes sense if you start dissecting the elements that go in to making a human being. Feeling superior to someone who is struggling with life because your genetics and circumstances have allowed you to be more (fill in the blank) is the same as criticizing a paraplegic for failing to run a marathon. Can we improve? Of course, but only to the limits of our potential to improve which is defined by factors which are primarily out of our control

  • Mark Meijer 100+

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    HostAssociate
    Jan 12 2013: What you are in every moment is precisely the realization of your potential in that moment. There is no finish line other than the ones you imagine, and you can make it as easy or as difficult or as impossible as you want. But then, even that wanting, and the perceived lack of achievement, is the perfect realization of your potential in that moment. You can never NOT realize your potential. Whatever is, is it. Whatever isn't, is fantasy.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLIPmoBEMg4#t=2m20s

    The above link starts a 7-minute video a couple of minutes in. The first couple of minutes are also relevant to your other conversation about rules and policies. So you might like to play it from the start instead.

  • Haingo Rajaonarison

    • +1
    Jan 12 2013: To become what we want to become, we always need self-confidence.We need to dare to do what we know is right even if nobody is watching us.Unfortunately, very few people have enough self-confidence that last a lifetime.Therefore, if we want to succeed and achieve our goals ,we must work on our self-confidence everyday.There's not much we can do without trusting ourselves and in our capacity to grow.I would not be where I am today if I did not believe in my ability to grow and prosper.
    It is not enough to have self-trust but it can help us do all we need to do to achieve our goals.
    Some of the best ways to increase self-confidence are to read biographies and advice of successful people and to mingle with positive people.That's what I have been doing for more than a decade.

    • Mark Meijer 100+

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      HostAssociate
      Jan 12 2013: If I may, I would suggest that self-confidence is not something you cultivate and of which you need some quantity to last a lifetime. Lack of self-confidence is really self-doubt, and self-confidence is simply what remains when we work through self-doubt. If your self-confidence is some kind of accumulated thing that depends on external support or inspiration, then it's not self-confidence, it's just the masking of self-doubt. Bruce Lee called this the difference between "external security" and "internal security". In other words, if you depend on others to feel secure within yourself, then you don't really feel secure within yourself. Nobody can give you that, or take it away, or it wouldn't be self-confidence. Cheers.

  • John Frankendoe

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    Jan 11 2013: I feel the same as a few posters here in that, reaching one's fullest potential is a never ending cycle. But I will dive into my own little paragraph of how I think I have reached some of my potential.

    As a kid I was told, as most others, I had soooo much potential. And I grew up thinking I was going to make this grand mark in my, and other's, lives. I just knew in my heart that I was meant for big things and had big dreams. But as I approach my mid life - nothing out of the extraordinary has occurred. So, this past year, as I contemplated switching careers to spice things up a bit, I had to do some serious searching within myself. Why was I going to switch careers now? I have all this work expereince, make decent money (can afford my wife ;) and I like what I do.

    My answer was; because I was suppose to be something bigger than what I am now.

    My rebuttal was; but I like what I do now and I am good at it, so why not concede to this fact and create potential in other areas of my life?

    So, here I sit, looking at sites where I can fulfill other areas, such as my spirit, and let some areas rest at their fullest potential... till I need to fill up on potential again.

  • Armanda Moncton

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    Jan 11 2013: The best guide I have ever found to fulfilling one's potential is in the book, "The Happiness Hypothesis" by Jonathan Haidt. In it he examines 10 guiding principles from ancient philosophy and religion and compares them with discoveries in psychology and neuroscience. From this he provides a formula for how to get the most out of life. His formula is: Happiness = Basic Set Point (genetic) + Conditions + Voluntary Activities. First you must understand the internal and social forces that push us towards certain goals. Then you must reevaluate those goals in light of research on happiness, satisfaction, health and longevity. Once you have taken those into account you must discover your strengths and pursue them in such a way as to produce episodes of 'flow' where you lose your sense of self as you engage in activities that match your abilities to engaging challenges. Meanwhile, you can improve your productivity and enjoyment by raising your basic happiness level using meditation, cognitive behavioural therapy, or SSRI's if you find that negativity is holding you back. He elaborates the ways to find meaning and purpose in your life. This is a very detailed guide based on scholarly research. Fulfilling your potential must begin by identifying your strengths and setting sound goals. Haidt does a very good job of steering us towards goals that are truly fulfilling, and shows us how to develop the tools that will help us along the way. You will find a lot of emphasis on social relations, reframing negative events, developing your strengths, relishing pleasurable activities, doing what you care about and believe in. Fulfilling your potential is not about beating everybody else in the ego race for medals and awards - it is about creating a life that makes you excited to get out of bed every day, where you feel part of a community, where you are constantly growing, and in which you feel that what you do matters. I am using this guide to help me fulfill my potential

  • Jane McDee

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    Jan 11 2013: Realising our own potential? It is in the language you accurately used. "Realising".

    Our potential is what and who we already are, complete and perfect.
    Unfortunately, we cover it up with several layers of dust and crust of egoic mind; fear mostly.

    Free yourself!!
    To realise our own potential, strip off and leave behind the habit of replaying the past. Take care of what can be and needs to be done now.

    I think it would help if we start by gradually identifying those multiple layers of values and beliefs that we consciously or otherwise hold onto. Majority of them are probably obsolete. A few of them could possibly define our rigid and/or aggressive response/ . Peeling away the crust that covers over conscious and you will discover your own potential the bright and beautiful self - just as when we were born. This marvelous self is in all of us - but most of us gradually cover it with dust and crust and became to believe that we are that dim light.

    Then work up the courage to let go of them, free ourselves from our own ego. Human beings have great potential to bring about great things - we are only limited by our own mind.

    The most powerful thing to do is to contribute to society - the global community. That's what we all have potential to achieve.
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    alex benson

    • +3
    Jan 10 2013: To put it as vaguely as possible, there is no such thing as realizing or reaching your true potential. This idea of people having a maximum potential is contradicting to the idea of potential itself. You must first ask yourself what you want in life. Is it money, love, friends, family, a successful career, knowledge, the list goes on and on. As far as I see it, ones potential increases daily since we learn things everyday, good or bad, knowledge is experience. You can not limit yourself by stating that I have reached my potential because I believe potential is exponential and changes everyday do to the decisions you make and the things you want in life. Keep learning, keep living and do what makes you happy. If you forget to think for yourself, you will be trapped in this narrow minded society that tells you there is a limit to ones potential. Potential is endless and so is your knowledge, so stay true to yourself and don't let anyone tell you that you've reached your highest potential, for potential has no limit except the limit you put on yourself. Kcco.

  • Philip Li

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    Jan 9 2013: I think this lends well to the "Can you Have it All?" type question, and in the end, it's the definition of potential that matters, and then it's the frequency of measurement that follows. I think most people have many facets to their lives, potential as a good person, a good parent, son, daughter, employee, gatherer of resources, writer, field goal kicker, trash collector. Is our potential or ceiling the same? Is it relative to starting point? Why (or do) we feel a CEO of a Fortune 500 has a more credible story of reaching their potential than say, a movie clerk attendant? I think that's training, and society, and it is what it is, and it doesn't really matter that much in the end if you're not happy with yourself. So that would train the idea of reaching your potential towards personal evaluation. Which leads back to what's important to you and how are you addressing it. Fantastically successful people, visibly successful, newspaper noted successes, at least the ones that I have known, pay a price b/c that dedication to be great, that singular drive, takes time and energy and potential in other areas are left to suffer. I know many cases of Partners in big firms who now make scads of money and can afford fantastic vacations, but the 10-15 years where they just disappeared, it matters (if it does to you). Spouse, kids, everything is in play, which is why I think potential is a moving target that changes as fast as your define it. If you are lucky enough to ponder what you want to do to reach your potential (versus needing to fight for survival), thank those that helped you there and don't forget it.

  • Manoj Mistry

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    Jan 9 2013: Personallly Kaleb, your statement "I've reached the top of where I can without devoting my life to it (which I'm obviously unwilling to do)" tells me that you have realized your potential - at least from a career perspective. If money is not an issue - meaning you pay your bills and cater for your family and save for your future - then why would you wish to upset that equilibrium of work/life balance that you seem to have achieved? If your life does not seem to be fulfilled with the top that you have reached in your job, then you need to supplement it with something outside of your job. Your potential and your need to reach it is so much more than what you can achieve in your career. When you have something outside of your career that you can reach for and that truly adds value to your life, then it will not matter that you are at the top of your career and you will have a new direction without upsetting the great balance you already have and you will be happy to remain at the top of your current vocation.
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      Kaleb Roberts

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      Jan 9 2013: Maybe IF should rephrase my response, There is no where else in my current role thatnI would want to be promoted to. I canot see myself doing this job because I despise it, and the places it could take me.. so now I,'m attempting to go in another direction.
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        Kate Blake 50+

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        Jan 9 2013: Great idea I have known many people to change their 'profession' about 3 times in a lifetime. Nothing like another challenge to blow off the cobwebs.

  • Thunder Tang

    • 0
    Jan 9 2013: Doing sth you hadn't done before. something challenging. magnesium sulphate from Rech Chemical Co.Ltd
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    Juliette Zahn 50+

    • +1
    Jan 9 2013: Please forgive me for answering your question with a question.... isn't this the kind of question that could really only be answered at the end of one's life?! :-)
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      Kaleb Roberts

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      Jan 9 2013: Of course you are forgiven ma'am.

      I think you're right if you are speaking of ones full potential.
      When referring to one's potential I didn't necessarily mean a full potential, rather a certain direction of the potential. For instance, with my current job, I've reached the top of where I can without devoting my life to it (which I'm obviously unwilling to do) so now I want to start in a new direction.

      With any luck, at the end of my life I will be able to look back and think I did well with most things, and realized my full potential in a few.
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      Kate Blake 50+

      • +1
      Jan 9 2013: We can only do our best, but we can measure along the way if we have grown. Did I handle that better than last time, have I achieved the goals i set for this year/this job, etc

  • Justin Hardesty

    • +2
    Jan 8 2013: I don't think I'v realized my full potential, but in another way, I have; if that makes any sense. I'v gone through life (being only 18) being nice as possible to everyone and helping as many people as possible. I'v only completed one semester of college and that has already taught me a lot. There was one point in my life (senior year of high school) where I was sure I had everything figured out. I entered college deciding to major in Business, but since then, I have changed my major 3 times. I am now majoring in Management with the option of HRM. I chose this because I really like solving problems and making sure things are done right, I'm kind of a perfectionist in a way.

    I know all of that was a little off topic but I think I was put on this earth to help other people and make sure things are done right.

    I hope all of that didn't sound to cliche but in a way, I think I have found my potential.

  • Conor Corrigan

    • 0
    Jan 8 2013: Never!

  • Anne N

    • +2
    Jan 8 2013: No, I don't think I've yet to realise my potential. One thing is for sure though- I don't think potential can be realised in a day. It took me years to find my calling and now that I've embarked on this road, it will probably take many more years before I become the best that I can be. To realise your potential, I feel that you have to be passionate about a cause or idea. Next, you have to work towards that cause. Many failures will take place before you realise your potential because it takes a lot of learning and a humble attitude to realise that you have so much more to learn. Even then it takes more learning and growing before you finally feel that you have attained your fullest potential.

    Personally, I'm not there yet so I wouldn't know what it feels like. :)

  • Ben Jarvis 50+

    • +2
    Jan 8 2013: well first advice would be to beware of people and especially publications that try to tell you how to realise your potential. your potential is mostly indeterminate, and if anything is able to influence your potential it's usually others. i can tell you what has been working for me though:

    strive for efficiency - improvement always comes about through trying to get more out of less, say making customers happier without increasing the workload. this raises what you are able to achieve and what you will next be able to achieve.

    be dubious - any idea you have about how to make something better will by definition be amateur, because it's new. spend at least a year mulling over and trying to find holes in your plans, so that when you try them they have the best chance of success and you are less likely having to flounder to fix a problem you hadn't foreseen. so many people who "know" they could do something better actually just don't have the information to understand that their ideas are terrible.

    don't ask - other people are also dubious, it's just a part of human biology, and they don't have the same experience. plenty of secretaries' great ideas have been shot down by a boss who's never spent a day as a secretary! be careful with though, of course. start small, and work up to bolder ideas as your standing grows - it's easier to forgive a $10,000 failure to a salesman with a 5 year history of consistent success than an upstart who hasn't yet landed a major deal. it's unfortunate, but clout matters.
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      Juliette Zahn 50+

      • +1
      Jan 9 2013: " If anything is able to influence your potential it's usually others " - Ben I feel this is one of the best statements I have come across - ever!!

      • Ben Jarvis 50+

        • 0
        Jan 9 2013: these days it's not up to the teachers, it's set by education departments, psychologists, principals (who no longer teach, remember!) and school boards.

        it's interesting you chose that talk. ken robinson is great speaker, and his studies in english and drama mean that's hardly surprising, but he hasn't taught a single class in his life so it's also hardly surprising that he has no idea what he's talking about. everything he has to say sounds great but is detached from reality. it's people like him who have no experience in education but feel compelling to dictate what should be done that are the problem. creativity is important yes and ken mentions how creative all those TED speakers were, completely ignoring the fact that they all had a decidedly non-creative education which gave the the knowledge and skills they would need to then be able to take the next step creatively.

        i myself love kids designs of things like buildings, they always come up with imaginative ways to make skyscrapers that look like giraffes and such, but of course they couldn't actually be built because things like gravity and shear stress don't vary according to how creative the builder is, and things like elevator shafts and plumbing need to be taken into account. learn about the world first, then apply creativity. there's a reason the phrase "starving artist" exists in the english language.

        perhaps you can think of a situation where suppressing a student's creativity would help them reach their potential?

  • david bradley

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    Jan 8 2013: Yes. At 58 I've realized my full potential. It is to sacrifice my life for a pay check that keeps a roof over my head and food in the kitchen. All this so I can sleep the night and eat so that the next day I can go to work and continue sacrificing my life so others can go to Hawaii every year and drive fancy cars and have health care and retirement accounts.

    • Shane Bates

      • 0
      Jan 19 2013: this sounds miserable
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      Colleen Steen 500+

      • 0
      Jan 19 2013: Oh my goodness David....that doesn't sound like much fun! Have you thought about changing some of your circumstances.....OR.....changing your perception of circumstances?

      • david bradley

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        Jan 20 2013: Good change can only be achieved by the powerful. The only change I can make will only make matters worse. Could I be happy as a street person? Maybe.
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          Colleen Steen 500+

          • 0
          Jan 20 2013: David,
          Many of us are not "powerful", and we have made changes in our life. Is being a street person the only possibility you can imagine?
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