The only person responsible for achieving your true potential is you.
I know that sounds obvious, but many of us have subtle ways of passing off responsibility to other people or external circumstances.
“If the economy improves.”
“If I don’t lose any clients.”
“If I can break into that new niche and get noticed.”
We create loopholes or escape hatches to protect our feelings against the possibility of failure. This means we can set ambitious plan for ourselves, but always have a ready excuse if things don’t work out as we had planned.
I notice this is my coaching work. Sometimes clients will say something like, “If I achieve the results we have been talking about, I’ll write you an amazing testimonial in a few months.”
Do you see the loophole there?
It was my responsibility to deliver the best coaching I could. But whether or not they achieve their goals a few months from now is their responsibility.
To be fair, unforeseen circumstances can make a dent in our plans. If and when that happens it’s our job to adapt and compensate. Our goal remains the same, but we may have to change course slightly to get there.
But acknowledging and being prepared for the possibility of having to adapt is quite different from using external factors as an excuse.
I guess it is human nature to find reasons why we don’t achieve our goals.
But my experience so far tells me that one of the most powerful ways to achieve even the most ambitious goals is to take total responsibility, every step of the way.
Taking responsibility is an almost certain way for you to achieve your full potential.
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