When you were going through school, you probably learned about the difference between potential energy and kinetic energy.
Depicted above is a boy who has rolled a ball to the top of the hill. Given the gravitational pull of the Earth, this elevated position provides a good deal of potential energy, since there is a lot that could happen from that point. Nudging the ball ever so slightly, it will then roll down the hill in a display of kinetic energy. This is the stuff that is happening and it is converting what was once potential energy into kinetic energy.
Building the Potential in Your Life
The exact same concept can apply to your life choices and your potential for personal success. Why do you go to school in the first place? Part of the idea behind a formal education is that it can arm you with the potential to lead a happier and more successful life. By getting that degree in economics, you can be better prepared to tackle the financial world in some capacity. When you manage to land that desirable job, you can acknowledge your success, attributing part of that success to your education and training.
Even after you land the job, you continue to build up more potential energy, so to speak, through networking and other similar business practices. When you get together for a business lunch with a potential client, you are working up what could be a lucrative business relationship. The lunch itself costs money, but it could pay off in spades in the near future if this client decides to work with you.
But You Have to Realize Your Potential
Whether you seem to have an in-born talent for something or you have a skill that you developed through education, training, and life experience, these potentials are completely meaningless and useless if you don’t do something with them. Walking around in life with a handful of academic degrees may be impressive, but without applying that knowledge in some way, you aren’t converting that potential into “kinetic energy.” You have to get out there and do something.
Do you think Tiger Woods would be as successful as he is if he did not put in the countless hours of practice and training? It’s very well possible that he had a knack for golf from birth, but without developing these skills, he wouldn’t be much better than the weekend warriors at your local course.
It may not be easy and you may need to employ different strategies to get there, but it is only through the application and expansion of your potential that you will truly experience your capabilities and what you can do. You don’t have to join the military to “be all that you can be.”
What’s Holding You Back?
Some people are, by definition, uncomfortable with getting outside of their comfort zones. They can lull themselves into a situation that may not be the most pleasant, but they can perceive it to be better than the unknown. For some reason or another, they may fear success and unwittingly sabotage their chances of achieving it.
Don’t let yourself do that. Be happy and appreciative of what you have, but also look at what else you can do. Realize your full potential.
It look a lot of kinetic energy to get the ball up the hill, though. Probably more energy (from the boy’s perspective) than it took it to go down the hill.
At the bottom of the hill, the ball has zero-point energy, which we don’t know how to tap into yet, but it takes kinetic energy (work) for the boy to get the ball up the hill. There, it becomes potential energy. A little bit less work (nudging the ball) will get the ball to roll down the hill, which is the payoff for working. Assuming, of course, you consider watching a ball roll down the hill to be fun.
There’s a point in there, somewhere, but since writing it, I’ve lost it.
Great post Michael. This points to what one can do and what one prepares themselves to do. I have a lot of practical experience in the field, but only 3.5 years of college. I have no degree and trust me that stupid little piece of paper means more to the suits than the practical experience.
My goal for the next year is to get the last 1/2 a year for my degree and get some extra certifications.
100% agree with you . i was not a blogger 3 years ago , i even didn’t know how or what is blog. learn and training is one that made me CAN do almost everything