(Photo courtesy of Nicole Green)
We’ve all heard the hype about “reaching your potential.” We’re told to aim higher, dream bigger, and strive for our “maximum capacity.” But what if I told you that all this obsession with potential might actually be holding you back? In coaching many athletes and performers, many have been labeled with “potential.” No matter how promising their potential, it’s something that I have them drop and focus elsewhere.
Think about it: potential is this glittering, mystical concept that’s always just a little bit out of reach. It whispers promises of greatness, dangling a carrot of future success that we can never quite grasp. When we focus too much on what we could be, it’s easy to overlook who we are right now and the progress we’re already making.
If you’re constantly measuring yourself against the ideal version of what you should be, guess what? You’re setting yourself up for a perpetual feeling of “not there yet.” You’re always chasing, always striving, and always a few steps short of feeling fulfilled. It’s like running a marathon where the finish line keeps moving farther and farther away.
Sound exhausting? That’s because it is.
Here’s the deal: focusing on potential can make you more obsessed with what’s missing instead of what’s already working. You end up nitpicking your weaknesses, second-guessing your decisions, and feeling like you’re playing a game of endless catch-up. The result? Paralysis, burnout, and a sneaky sense of inadequacy, even when you’re making real strides forward.
It’s time to flip the script. Instead of chasing some elusive idea of your “potential,” why not focus on the power of what you can do today? What if you stopped measuring yourself by where you might end up, and started embracing what you’re already doing right now? Measure yourself against yesterday and not tomorrow.
Here’s why this shift is game-changing: focusing on the present rather than the potential puts you in control. It grounds you in what’s tangible and actionable. When you focus on the process rather than an idealized outcome, you’re less likely to get discouraged by setbacks because you’re not expecting perfection right out of the gate.
Take, for example, Stephen King before he became a household name. He didn’t become a bestselling author by sitting around, pondering whether he’d reach his full “potential” as a writer. In fact, his early years were riddled with rejections. His first novel, Carrie, was initially thrown in the trash—by King himself—after he felt defeated by his lack of success. It was his wife, Tabitha, who pulled it out and convinced him to keep going. King didn’t achieve greatness by obsessing over what could happen; he simply committed to doing the work, one page at a time, every single day.
The result? A career that has produced over 60 novels, hundreds of short stories, and a legacy that has impacted countless readers around the world. King’s success wasn’t born from chasing his potential—it came from focusing on what he could control in the present moment: putting in the time, the effort, and the passion into each word.
The same goes for us. When we let go of potential as the measuring stick, we free ourselves from the burden of unrealistic expectations. We start showing up for the moment, building small wins that eventually lead to bigger ones. We stop worrying about whether we’re “good enough” and start asking, “What can I improve right now?”
Letting go of potential means letting go of the chase. It means shifting your focus to making real progress instead of keeping your eyes glued to a distant, glittering horizon. And guess what? That’s where the real magic happens. Because success doesn’t come from living in the land of “could be.” It comes from the small, consistent actions you take today.
So, stop staring at your potential like it’s some grand prize waiting in the distance. Look at what’s in front of you. Lean into the here and now. Do the work, take the steps, and let success unfold—right where you are.
Chasing potential? That’s old news. Creating value in the present? That’s where real success lives.
Stop running, start being—and see just how powerful you already are.
Bob Fagan has just published “The Little Book of Questions That Matter — A Lifetime Companion For Transforming Your Life.” It is available on Amazon.
