I heard something recently and it has me changing my mind and changing the things I find myself telling others.
It has to do with your potential and your actions.
I used to view the training and coaching we do at The Underground Strength Gym as the ultimate way to help athletes achieve their TRUE potential.
Until I heard a Coach say this.....
"I hate that word potential. It's such bull shit. The reality of what you DO is all that really counts. What you DO with your potential is the ultimate truth. Your Actions are what count. Potential means nothing. We all have potential."
I guess I've been too nice for all these years.
It's true. We all have potential. Potential to do a LOT of great things.
But when push comes to shove, it boils down to our actions.
We can decide to go to the grave with our potential or we can LIVE them through.
When we begin to view life this way, we start to realize that we have endless potential.
I explain here....
[youtube width="640" height="360"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F50Ry_2Lnyc[/youtube]
NOW is the perfect time to stop day dreaming about your potential.
This does nothing but stroke your own ego.
How will you be remembered?
As the man who had all that potential but didn't do the work, or the man who did the work and inspired everyone around him?
[youtube width="640" height="360"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyo9bOA0A20[/youtube]
I was certainly NOT voted as "Most Likely to Succeed" in high school. Your past does not define you. Your mistakes do not define you.
What truly counts is right NOW.
Take strategic action and Do. The. Work.
Till the next time,
Live The Code 365,
--Z--
18 Responses
“The Richest place on Earth is the graveyard. In there you will find best selling books never published, businesses never started, inventions never created.”-Les Brown
“Imagine laying on the death bed and standing around you are your dreams staring at you saying ‘We came to you! And only you could have given us life! Now we must die with you forever!”
We have all seen or heard those quotes. “How do you want to be remembered?” That is my daily drive. Be a positive role model for my boys and athletes. A great husband and one strong ass old man. I read every day. Watch training videos and analyze lifting techniques to improve my “coachinh eye”. I work on variations based upon most common injuries so when an athlete presents with an issue I have at least six options to try. Rest is not an option unless it is severe but most of the time I can have them do something productive. Like three hockey players that could not perform dryland training. I crushed their core and upper body. They were more beat than those that participated in the team training.
Potential is a word of hope. It makes a person feel good that they can skip today because starting tomorrow will still get them to their potential.
Achievement does not come from potential. Achievement comes from Action.
Good Stuff Zach!
Big D doing your thing, hellz yea, brotha! That’s what i LOVE to hear!!
Zach – sick blog post my friend! I think that’s pretty in your face stuff.
Everybody likes the thought of doing something – never actually doing it!
If we are what we repeatedly do, then I want to be a strong bad ass. Strong in mind, body and strong for those around me – done
EARN YOUR STRENGTH
Yes….. I am unsure WHY people don’t follow through, but if they ALL did, the top of the mountain would be VERY crowded!
Zach!
Awesome and inspiring to take action article, thank you.
I miss your emails, I would like to receive them maybe weekly, because I know you invest your time in actions takers, but not all of them are in your inner circle. 😉
I wish you the best!
Gabri
My e mails are at https://zacheven-esh.com/start-here
Z
True words, Zach!
Some people think that “potential” is something wonderful in itself, but unused, it is a tragic waste.
Hey Zach,
New guy here but local to your Squan spot. Ive followed you on FB and IG for a while and Id love to come train there one day!!
I will be sharing this post with my son and discussing this with our athletes. Thanks for always keeping it real.
Yes, it’s a TOUGH and Brash sounding topic but if it can wake up a few hard charging athletes then it is ALL good!
If you haven’t read it yet, look into the book Rework by Jason Fried ad David Heinemeier. It puts out a very similar idea from a business perspective. It more or less says having long term plans are a waste of time, we usually get bored with them and don’t meet them. There is only what you are doing for yourself or your business right now. If you have something that takes longer than a week to accomplish break it down and find the things that you can take action on now!
Appreciate the post.
Yes…… every day, steps forward….. EVERY. DAY.
Zach, you nailed it again! The word “potential” only buys a person some time, the time is now, no one is promised tomorrow! It seems that potential walks a fine line with intention, it’s an excuse to delay your goals for one more day, week, year or longer! “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” or “good potential!” Live your life in today’s reality, your in the “process” daily, just attack your dreams/goals every second of every day and you’ll avoid living in the realm of potential-land! Go forward, kick arse right now!
Great post Zach,
Potential is one of those hot words that I have always seen as more trouble than anything. When children are young they get bombarded with everyone telling them how much potential they have to be great one day to encourage them. This over encouraging is seen everywhere now and clearly being blown out of proportion, with participation awards for everyone, everyone’s a winner campaigns. When we all know the reality. You have to work to be the pest period.
Thanks Zach
I am equally guilty of telling parents, etc how their child has potential.
Potential is BS.
What you DO is All that truly Is.
I wasted way too many years with a guy who had a ton of “potential.” He was super smart, well-educated, and had all the tools he needed to make his life great. But he dragged his feet through his 20’s and I kept telling myself he just needed time to figure himself out and grow up.
It never happened. After an embarrassing number of years, I finally bailed. And that guy is probably still living on a friend’s couch playing Madden.
Potential doesn’t mean shit. If you’re not DOING it NOW then you never will be.
Amber, WOW….. I have seen this as a common thing amongst Guys……
They don’t get their life together, have a laundry list of excuses and don’t attack Life.
Sometimes we must travel our path alone…..
I realize that we can’t help others until they want to help themselves!
WOW! Great post and great comments, too! Definitely had to look at myself and point a finger at myself for this one. RIGHT NOW is when I gotta take action. Reminds me of that saying that showing up is more than half the battle.
Thanks for posting, Zach!