Last Monday evening there were twenty or so students on the floor in our intermediate Karate class. In a class that size you may find some students working very hard, while others may work hard only when Sensei is watching, but slack off when no one is looking at them. This evening though, everyone was working really well, firing on all cylinders, and they all looked amazing.

I was very happy and proud of their effort, and I was struck by the fact that everyone, and I mean everyone on that floor, displayed some amazing potential. Seeing that I told myself: “Ah, if we can get everyone here to get even close to realizing their full potential, what a wonderful future we could build for them.”

At the end of class, I asked the students, “What does it mean to have Potential?” Some said that potential is the things you can do, another said that if you think you can do something, you can. To which I replied, that while those answers were very close, potential is more like having $10,000 cash in your pocket. What could you do with it? You could buy food, clothes, pay rent, maybe start a business, you could save it, or if you’re unlucky enough to have a hole in your pocket, you could just lose it all.

It’s the same with potential, we all have unique talents and abilities which may allow us to do great things. But as I mentioned to my students, there’s nothing more common in society than wasted potential, and even worse, our jails are filled with very talented people. How sad to see misused and wasted potential.

So how do you fulfill your potential? Well, first, I think that you have to believe in yourself. Sometimes all it takes is someone believing in you for you to follow suit. Second, you must put in the work, bring your best effort and your full focus to all the things that you do. Even if no one is watching, the only one you need to impress is yourself. If you believe in yourself and put the work in, the universe will conspire to make sure you are successful. Some people even call it “luck”.

I finished Monday’s class by asking my students a question that I ask and answer myself everyday, “Do I commit to doing my best in everything I will do today? Or, will I be satisfied with doing just enough to get by and waste my true potential? It’s my decision to make, and today I choose to do my best.” And that’s what I wish for you as well.