Potential Can "Potentially" Be Thrown Out of Our Vocab

Potential. What is potential? The dictionary states, "having or showing the capacity to become or develop into something in the future" Personally, I believe this word should not be used when referring to people's abilities. Why? Labeling someone with potential does not make them any more likely to do anything than someone standing next to them "without potential". Action outweighs potential every single time. Too straightforward? Look at it like this.

There is a nest of eggs, sitting high in a tree. I can stare at those eggs and say, "Wow, that egg has the potential to fly one day." It's a duh moment isn't it? But, what are the chances of every single egg actually hatching, every bird inside that egg actually living, and then growing up strong enough to actually take that first terrifying leap into the air without falling? Potential does not make an egg fly, it is the process that proceeds the flight that makes it happen. If potential made an egg fly, the egg would literally grow wings the day it was hatched and fly away without hatching because it would not have to  become a strong and healthy bird to fly. Because of our potential, often times we never grasp the concept that we actually have to work to fulfill it.

Potential, in a way, gives people the idea that they are entitled, when labeled with it too often. What makes you any more deserving of something because you have great potential? I love writing. I have the potential to write a book. Have I written one? No. So where does potentiality get me in life? Complacent, comfortable, and willing to use excuses as to why I have not "lived up to my potential". I read about young authors who are writing books and say to myself, "I can do that", but until I sit at my laptop every night, until I manage my time wisely, until I go the extra mile to do what I know I can do, I will not write a book.

This goes for anything in life. If you want something bad enough, you do not need potential to achieve it. You need passion. Without passion, without a craving, without the determination to overcome any obstacle, potential will keep you right where you are. We've all heard of going the extra mile to achieve something. It is in that extra mile where potential exists, at the end of the race, in your final moments on the back stretch, when you kick it in and finish. That is where we find potential. Not in the starting blocks. If you want to amount to something great, you must be willing to suffer, feel uncomfortable, struggle, lose sleep, cry, take criticism, be told you can't, and fail. Otherwise, stay comfortable in your potential.

Understand, you have to make people think you are little crazy in order to do something great. If you aren't crazy, you're just normal. And normal is too satisfactory for greatness.

I'm tired of potential, and I would like to trade it in for action. Who's with me?