What Is Your Potential?
By Dan Blank | April 22, 2016 |
What is the thing that you can add to the world that no one else can?
This question was driven home to me when reading a story about the founder of YouTube. You see, Steve Chen was an early employee at Facebook, one of the first 15 people there.
Then, he turned in his resignation to start YouTube. One of his colleagues at Facebook heard the news and said this to him:
“[Facebook] is going to be as important as any company in the history of Silicon Valley and you are making a huge mistake.”
In some ways, this answer is ironic to read, just as it is to think about all the people who rejected The Beatles, or those who passed on Harry Potter when J.K. Rowling was first shopping it around.
The story about Steve leaving Facebook to start YouTube was posted on Quora, and what really hit home to me was this comment:
“The world is a better place because he quit. [Facebook] would have always done well even without Steve.”
That blew me away.
How, so many of us feel essential at jobs we work for others, but they are not jobs that we enjoy or even believe in.
Sure, we know we are making a contribution, and love the validation of being an essential part of a team.
But often — too often — we get stuck there. Stuck in jobs that we don’t love.
Stuck at companies that would get along just fine without us, as our other dreams lie dormant.
We stay because of the validation it provides; because it is easier to keep doing the same thing, instead of causing disruption. Day by day, week by week, year by year, we slowly let our other professional or creative dreams rot. No sunlight shines on them, no stray rain encourages roots to grow.
In the story above, it is true that Facebook became one of the most important companies in history.
But so did YouTube.
YouTube has brought so many voices into my life. All I can think is: thank goodness Steve Chen left Facebook to start it with two of his friends.
Finding Potential Requires Risk
Six years ago, I took a huge risk to start my company.
I left the corporate world — the guaranteed salary, the office in NYC, the 4 weeks paid vacation — to follow an idea I had.
At the height of the recession, I left that corporate job, just a month before my wife and I had our son. A few months later, my wife left her tenured teaching job.
When I took that leap to find my own potential, this is the message I received from someone:
“Think about your family, you dolt.”
I tell that full story in this piece for Compose Journal.
For six years, I pursued what was possible, without the safety net of either my wife or I having a traditional employer.
Yesterday I received an email from someone I have been working with. It is one of those messages that you dream of receiving:
“I want you to understand why I am so bloody grateful to you for showing up in my inbox months ago. I don’t even know how I got on your list. I just need you to know that you matter to me. To my writing, to my life’s work. When you help me find my voice and reach my audience, you are helping me change lives for the better. You play a part in that, and I just wanted you to know YOUR WORK MATTERS!”
I am deeply grateful for this note. Isn’t that how we all want to feel? That not only our work matters — but that it is truly helping others?
Investing in Your Potential
At one time or another, we have all sat on the sidelines observing someone else having great success with an idea, and said, “I thought of that very same idea years ago!”
It begs the question: what are you able to create that you are putting off because other people’s priorities are clouding your vision?
I would like for you to consider this: the idea of “investing” in your potential.
That where we put our focus, our time, our energy is in some ways, an investment.
For most of us, we make the bulk of that investment in order to care for others and live up to our responsibilities. For instance, we take the early shift at a job we hate because the paycheck helps buy food for our child; or helps pay for medical bills for a parent. I 100% know that people struggle to make ends meet, and would never belittle that for even a moment.
If you feel that there is something missing… a dream that you have that is being ignored, I want to share three steps to help you explore what is possible:
Step #1: Find an idea that you are enthusiastic about. No, you do not have to identify your “one true calling,” because sometimes, that is not obvious. And not knowing a clear direction can lead you to stagnate, to not move in any direction because you want to 100% be sure it is right.
Instead… explore. Identify one idea you are passionate about, and name it.
For some of you, it is about writing a book. For others, it is about having a specific effect on the lives of others. It could be an idea for a business, or simply an activity such as painting.
Step #2: Find some margin in your life. No, you do not have to quit your job in order to pursue your idea. You simply need to find a little bit of white space each week.
Identify a single hour in the next week that you can sit down uninterrupted with a notebook, and explore this idea on paper.
A week after that, find an hour where you can tell someone about this idea. Simply writing down and sharing your idea will give that idea life.
Step #3: Identify the tiniest action you can take to start this idea. If that seems overwhelming, let me frame it to you this way: let’s say you want to get in shape. Now, nobody I know has extra time to fit in a workout at the gym. Everyone is juggling jobs, kids, relationships, and health.
But I know you have time to do a single pushup. Because that takes less than 10 seconds.
It may seem insignificant — a single pushup — but it is the start of potential:
- It is the establishment of a habit. As we know, habits are key to making progress towards our goals.
- It is proof to yourself that you are taking action towards your goal.
- Believe it or not, doing a single pushup every week actually will make you stronger.
- It is a measure of progress — the first pushup you try will likely be a miserable failure. After a 7 days, it will be more confident. After two weeks, it will be easy.
- It is a gateway habit — meaning that if you are able to feel good about the practice of doing a single pushup, you may begin making other healthy decisions about your level of activity or your diet.
All this from a single pushup.
In the comments below, I would love for you to tell me: what is the single action you can take this week, that would help you explore your potential?
Thanks.
-Dan
Dan Blank is the founder of WeGrowMedia, where he helps writers share their stories and connect with readers. He has helped hundreds of authors via online courses, events, consulting, and workshops, and worked with amazing publishing houses and organizations who support writers such as Random House, Workman Publishing, Abrams Books, Writers House, The Kenyon Review, Writer’s Digest, Library Journal, and many others.
That was a fabulous letter. You do make a difference! isn’t that why we write? I’m doing what I normally do: read, write, pray and trust that all will be well. I’ve not been very good about sending out my work, so I’m reserving one writing session per week to research markets and submit pieces that are already ready.
Thank you Vijaya!
Yeah, Vijaya!
For me, I’ve been setting more and more time aside from the day job. It’s work I love, helping people find their own path to healing, but writing and speaking to a bigger audience, is what I dream about. NO MORE DREAMING. DOING. What is my single + 1000 action? I emailed YOU. Thank you for the “100% sure it’s right” line…#truth.
Thank you Deb! I just responded to your email. Have a great day!
Thanks for being at the Writers’ Institute in Madison, Wisconsin, last weekend. One of my writing students, now an author, was on a panel there. Nick Chiarkas said this and it answers your question: “Write an inch a day.” Writers are often writing X words a day or X number of pages a day. Nick said he changed his habits and wrote his novel once he began writing an inch a day on his screen. And it didn’t matter what he wrote at first. An inch a day changed his writing life, his habits, his outlook. Just an inch turned into a whole novel.
LOVE this! Thank you so much!
-Dan
A single pushup? How about a single smile?
One deliberately delivered smile a day.
I’ve suffered a great deal of loss in my adult life. One week ago, I lost my soulmate and constant companion to cancer. I’m grieving, yes, and I’m not so dense as to think I can push it all aside . . . and yet, I can celebrate the day by aiming sincere smiles outward as a measure of the potential we all have to create and feel happiness.
Here’s a deliberately delivered smile to you, Maura. Sorry you’ve lost a loved one, but so happy to hear you’re facing it with a smile.
Dee
My condolences. Keep smiling.
Sorry for your loss. A smile a day is wonderful — such a great idea! Thanks.
-Dan
Great post, Dan! As someone who left behind the allure of a stable career, I can relate to you, though of course I have a ways to go before I hit that 6 year mark. Your success is inspiring, and I’m grateful for how your work has impacted my creative life.
One push-up for me:
I’m trying to get my head around this idea of a content calendar. I’m moving over to a weekly newsletter, which will be a more personalized version of a blog post, and I’d like to use that in turn for Facebook like page posts and tweets to schedule through the week. This has been quite a juggling act, but I think that’s because I’m looking at a 1-hour workout and not a simple push-up. This week, a local fan volunteered to make graphics for me, so I thought one great new habit to start is to work on one unique image for my newsletter / blog post / Facebook / Twitter each week and see if we can keep that up. Once that’s going, I’ll try two push-ups. You’re absolutely right that big things start with small, sustainable changes.
Thank you John! This is a great example of finding momentum.
-Dan
This post is very inspirational, Dan. Really great stuff here.
I’m a firm believer in following one’s passion. Life is too short to waste it gathering material things that don’t feed our inner soul. Feed the kids, yes, of course, but the kids learn SO MUCH by watching their parents feed their creativity and reach their true potential.
Kudos, Dan, for finding your place in this world, and making your voice heard.
Dee Willson
Author of A Keeper’s Truth and GOT
Thank you so much Dee!
-Dan
Dan, thanks for your inspiration.
My actions, large and small, are:
Put hand weights on couch to remind me to lift them tonight while watching news
Quit freelance writing job for local paper because I am tired of promoting other people and want to share my own stories!
Best wishes, Linda H
Thank you Linda!
-Dan
I recently read a book called One Small Step Can Change Your Life, by Robert Maurer. This blogpost is another shout-out from the universe to me. Thank you!
Thank you!
-Dan
I”m reaching retirement. More free time? Yes and no! I want to live life to the fullest, at my creative best – this may be a second book, it may be pursuing life long learning, it may be focused meaningful travel. (Hopefully all three.) Free time needs to be conscious time.
My single action to commit to: Network / connect with one person a day for one month. It’s a big leap forward but it’s as simple as one email a day.
Thank you Dan for a fun inspirational letter.
Elaine,
That’s a wonderful idea! And thank you for the kind words.
-Dan
I freaking love you, Dan Blank! That is all.
Have a fantastic day and weekend!! :)
Ha! Thanks! Have a great weekend as well.
-Dan
Dan, thanks for the inspiration. My task this week is to finish my current book so I can move on to my next project. It’s something new to me and I’m excited about the growth potential.
Thank you Cat — good luck!
-Dan
Could someone else write my novel? Probably, though it would be a different manuscript. Not a bad question, even though the answer is disheartening.
Now, what can I bring to my novel that no one else can? How can I make it a novel that truly no one else could write? Better questions, ones that are empowering.
That’s my takeaway today. My potential lies in what I can bring uniquely to this novel. Which means searching out what is easy, formulaic, generic, or merely okay and eliminating that.
What goes down on every page needs to be risky, mine, and counter to expectations. My potential lies in my ability to surprise, catch unaware, move and challenge my (eventual) readers.
Can I do that? Well, let’s see. I can do a push-up. (Quite a few, in fact.) And what is an hour of writing but a couple of push-ups? Not so hard.
Cool post. Off now to turn potential energy into kinetic energy. Thanks, Dan.
Thank you so much Benjamin! I really appreciate how you worked through this.
-Dan
Thanks for the inspiration, Dan. Your work matters!
I’ll be traveling next week, to a couple of major events for mystery writers and fans, so my small step is to take with me a notebook for a new project that is outside my cozy-mystery comfort zone, and write an inch of ideas and possibilities every day.
Thank you Leslie!
-Dan
Thanks for the inspiration as usual Dan, you always help me stay focused. My action this week is to read three short stories so I can get my head around writing my own short story for an upcoming contest. (I haven’t written a short story since high school.)
Thank you Heather!
-Dan
Sometimes all you need to do is keep going. Six years ago I committed to building a writing career. Six years is a long time and sometimes my goal still seems so far away. At times like those I’m tempted to throw in the towel. Recently, I was offered a job–an opportunity to walk away. I expressed an interest and said I would think about it. This week I received a rejection letter. In brief, they said I had an excellent way with words…but… It was a rejection letter but also a pep-talk. Know what? I’m staying. This week I’ve decided to re-commit to building a writing career.
Leanne,
“I’m staying.” LOVE that!!!
Thanks.
-Dan
Thanks, Dan. When I sit down AGAIN to work on my novel, I will remember your thoughts and words. I believe in what I am doing–but it’s nice to know I’m not crazy! Have a good one.
Thank you Beth!
-Dan
I created a set of simple sheets to outline my series today and I am working on filling them out. The story is pretty well-formed in my head but I want to get it all mapped out on paper. I read somewhere that its better if you make a list, because if you have more than three things to pick up at the grocery store, you will forget something. I always forget that one thing I came to the store for and that makes me wonder, what parts of my books am I forgetting?
Celeste,
Smart way to look at it — thank you!
-Dan
Fantastic post- inspiring plus the added bonus of practical tips for small changes to reach our potential. Thank you!
One thing I know I can do this week is spend ten minutes a day journaling and ten minutes a day meditating. I know from past experience I love these two things and they are beneficial in many ways. I don’t know why I fell out of the habit, but today is a good day to start again.
Tonia,
Thank you!
-Dan
My one push-up: to write a thousand words, once or twice a week, toward my book. Totally doable. One thousand lousy, no-good, disjointed words telling my fantastic story quite poorly. One thousand first draft words. No sweat. In order to have this book written before the baby arrives, (Fantastic to have a professional deadline imposed by such an objective force of nature.) I will lay down one thousand words at a time. Editing to follow.
Go go go! Good luck!
-Dan
My potential is the awesome, the apex, the pinnacle.
To believe anything else is stupid cenacle.
Where i go who I see.
is partly, strickly, for the most part, directly up to me.
If you say you gonna do something,
say it, then plan it, organize it, put your energy into it, then live it.
Potential must be torrentional to be consequential for potential to become monumental.
Ah… not even going to try to match this with a poem… but thank you!
-Dan
Dan the man, you keep me going, every week. So appreciate the personal touch.
Thank you Kristen!
-Dan
Coincidentally, just after reading your post Dan, I read this from Kierkegaard:
” A bold venture is not a high-flown phase, not an exclamatory outburst, but arduous work. A bold venture, no matter how rash, is not a boisterous proclamation but quiet dedication that receives nothing in advance but stakes everything.”
Thanks for the reminder that all of my time, energy, and focus over the years is an investment in my potential.
Thank you Penny!
Thank you so much for this post!!!! Really hit home! I am going to do at least a drawing a week, and a push up a day
Awesome — thank you Cha!
“Stuck at companies that would get along just fine without us, as our other dreams lie dormant.”
This blew up at me in neon! Thank you!
Thanks Kelly!