Stop Worrying About Your Potential – You’ll Never Live Up to It

(And That’s By Design)

How often have you been told to "live up to your potential"? On the surface, it sounds inspiring, but the phrase is built on a misconception. Potential is not a place to reach. It's not something you can EVER live up to—it’s a horizon that stretches further with every step that you take forward.

The Truth About Potential

Potential is, by definition, possibility. It’s the space between who you are today and who you could become tomorrow. But here’s the paradox: the moment you achieve something, it stops being potential. It becomes reality.

This is why “living up to your potential” feels elusive. IT IS!!

Like the horizon, it’s not a fixed destination. As you grow and accomplish more, your perspective expands. The limits you saw yesterday are replaced by new possibilities today. Potential evolves, and so must we.

Growth Is a Journey, Not a Destination

For years, I believed that achieving my potential would bring a sense of arrival and accomplishment—a moment when I could look around and say, “I made it. I'm done.”

By the way, when I hear the words "done" around my house, it's in reference to food. So when I think about it, I don't ever want to be done as that means I'm soon to be gobbled up.

The deeper I dive into my own transformation, the clearer it becomes: there is no finish line. There’s only the path forward.

This realization isn’t about settling and just sitting in one spot, staring at my potential. Quite the opposite—it’s about embracing the boldness of moving beyond what I once thought possible. When we let go of the idea of “arriving,” we free ourselves to dream bigger, brighter, and bolder, and align with the version of ourselves we are becoming in our journey to achieve and experience more.

My Next Bold Move

This truth has hit home for me as I prepare to launch an exclusive new program—a vision that pushes me far beyond my comfort zone. It is propelling me toward the horizon faster than ever before. It’s both exhilarating and terrifying. The optimism and hope I feel are matched by anxiety and fear. What if it doesn’t work? What if I can’t rise to meet the vision I’ve set? ... What if I CAN?!?

These feelings are the hallmark of growth. If we are not a little scared by the magnitude of what we’re trying to achieve, are we really stepping into our future selves? Fear, I’ve learned, is not a sign of failure or danger—it’s a signal that you’re moving into uncharted territory, closer to the edge of your current potential.

Seeing Beyond the Horizon

As I move forward with this program, I remind myself that the goal isn’t to “live up to” some predetermined measure of success. It’s to keep stepping boldly into the unknown, guided by the vision of my future self. My focus is not on meeting expectations but on disrupting them, creating something entirely new and transformative.

I share this because I know many leaders feel the same tension between ambition and self-doubt. You’re not alone in wondering if you have what it takes. But the truth is, you don’t need to live up to your potential. You'll want to move toward it. As you get closer to it, just like with the horizon, it will move. You'll be able to see beyond your previous horizon to new uncharted waters.

Embrace Growth, Not Perfection

Chasing potential as if it’s a finish line often leads to dissatisfaction. Instead, what if we reframed the journey? What if we celebrated not just the milestones but the clarity gained by moving forward?

As Peter Drucker famously said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Similarly, creating your future self isn’t about arriving at your potential but about expanding it. Your focus should not be limited to achieving what you think is possible today but imagining and striving for what seems impossible tomorrow.

Embrace YOUR Horizon

Living boldly means redefining what’s possible with every step forward. It’s about committing to the journey of growth, even when the horizon feels distant. Your potential isn’t a ceiling to reach—it’s a lens to guide your next move. Your fear and self-doubt aren't a warning of failure; they are beacons calling you toward your heart's desires.

For me, this bold move represents not just a program launch but a commitment to a bigger vision.

What’s your next bold step? What potential and amazing experience lies just beyond your current horizon that you can't even see yet?

Whatever it is, embrace it—anxiety, fear, doubt, hope, optimism and excitement.

I can't wait to see you there!