As I worked every day towards becoming a sales expert I used to always ask myself this question, will I be able to grow or generate profits in today’s competitive market? This often resulted in various thoughts, until I found the answer is very simple…
Yes! It is possible to grow and generate profit in a competitive market, but first it is key to understand how critical it is that you unleash your hidden potential.
So…how do you define hidden potential?
If you look for it in a dictionary you will find the below definition or something very similar:
potential
Adj.
1. Capable of being but not yet in existence; latent: a potential problem.
2. Having possibility, capability, or power.
3. Grammar Of, relating to, or being a verbal construction with auxiliaries such as may or can; for example, it may snow.
N.
1. The inherent ability or capacity for growth, development, or coming into being.
2. Something possessing the capacity for growth or development.
To unleash your potential has to be a part of your development as professional in any area you decide to grow. When I huddle with my team, I like to use the phrase “find your spark”, this means you need look inside yourself and find what your motivation is, what drives your interest.
Unleashing your hidden potential will allow you to grow into the next level. Below you will find a few tips and recommendations for you to be able to identify your potential and apply it to becoming successful.
Think about Superman, Spider man, Batman and Iron Man? Think about what all of them have in common. It is simple, each one of them had a defying moment in their lives, an event that drove them to change. They all took this event and used it to create goals and objectives, this helped to be the catalyst, the key to unlock their true superhero potential.
Now let me ask you…
have you had a defying moment at work? I know I have, one of my leaders approached me with all honesty and told me what was expected from me and where I was from those expectations…honestly I was far away from even aspiring to fulfill my desired state. After complaining and getting angry I realized that all the NEGATIVE and POSITIVE reactions (cause/effect) were my decision.
Ask yourself the following questions:
A) Are your strategies & priorities aligned? – I wasn’t working on the right track, I had no objectives to follow or if I had them they were not SMART.
B) What are you opportunities, Strengths, Weaknesses and Threats – Have I being honest with myself? Have I recognize my skills and attributes?
C) Can you sell or will you sell? – There is a clear difference between feeling capable of doing something or really doing it
There are only two choices, you either DO it or DON’T. After hours of analysis and frustration I saw a SPARK that helped me visualize my needs and improvements, I saw a path that took me to 7 keys/steps to find my inner power.
1. Identify Your “Mutant” Power
Wolverine has claws; Gambit has mental powers; and you have (fill in the blank). All of us have a special powers (a.k.a. talents, skills), but not all of us have identified them just yet. The fastest way to identify yours is to be on the lookout for activities that come easy to you but are hard for others. We tend to take our unique gifts for granted because we assume everyone does what we can do.
2. Take Responsibility for Your Gifts
Winston Churchill said, “Responsibility is the price of greatness.” That means you need to own who you are and what you do. Your talents come with responsibility, so it’s your duty to commit to developing them and actually using them.
You must choose to Step Up!
3. Exercise Your Greatness
I never would have achieved my goal of being a leader without properly exercising my unique talents, as Greatness is a muscle, and muscles need to be exercised. Take every opportunity to put your personal greatness to work. Your mantra should be “No job is too small.” The more you see your powers in action, the more confidence you’ll gain and the more opportunities will come your way.
4. Prepare to Meet Some Adversaries
Every superhero has a cast of villains to fight. So don’t expect your experience to be any different. But don’t worry, you won’t be chased by anyone that can fly or shoot fire. Your adversaries will be negative people, procrastination, and fear.
I don’t know why this is, but we tend to fear our own potential. So if you begin feeling afraid of where your growth might take you, just anchor those fears by reminding yourself that unlocking a better you will benefit you and your life.
Also be prepared for people that are intimidated with your growth. Most people fear change, so don’t be surprised if you begin attracting naysayers. But don’t worry; your success will also inspire others as well, so stay focused on those people instead.
5. Stay Grounded
When superman wasn’t saving people, he was a reporter at The Daily Planet. This kept him grounded (no pun intended) and in touch with the very people he was saving.
This is important because our lives need to be filled with a variety of roles. We can’t be just ONE thing and lose sight of the other roles we need to play. We can’t just be a hero; we also need to remember our place as parents, mentors and employees.
6. Learn to Trust Your Gut- It’s all about instinct – SPIDER SENSE
If you’d like to work with one of the best coaches in the world, look in a mirror.
Your intuition can be a powerful ally, but only if you learn to trust it. I’m sure there have been plenty of moments when your gut went completely against logic, but you ended up being right. Can you remember a moment like that?
That’s why I’m saying, “Learn to trust yourself.”
7. Start Today
Each day you’re presented with a choice. You can either keep your greatness hidden under a pile of fears, regrets, and excuses, or you can let it out. So the best way to begin unlocking inner greatness is to make a conscious choice to live out the rest of today, with the best you.
The world needs your abilities and talents.
Esteban Fallas is a leader and sales expert with extensive training and background on team development, brand reinforcement, data analysis and business development strategies and deployment. His blog www.potentialsuccess.net helps young entrepreneurs to improve their skills, competencies and qualities by comparing them to comic books super heroes and thus providing helpful tips on how to unleash your hidden potential.
Image Credit: mightykidsmedia.com
