What is Potential? (Debunking the Myths)

You are capable of far more than you realize.

In this kickoff episode of the Unlock Your Potential series, Dr. Lee Koles breaks down one of the most misunderstood concepts in leadership development, career growth and personal success: potential.

What if everything you’ve been told about potential is incomplete… or flat-out wrong?

In this episode, we challenge the hidden beliefs and assumptions that may be quietly holding you back. We take a closer look at how your definition of potential has shaped your decisions, your confidence and the opportunities you’ve pursued or avoided.

This isn’t about motivation. It’s about clarity.

Inside this episode:

•  A clear, science-backed definition of potential and where it comes from 
•  The biggest myths about potential that keep people stuck 
•  Why hard work alone isn’t the answer 
•  The role of strengths, talent and energy in unlocking success 
•  Why potential is often hard to recognize and how to start seeing it differently 

You’ll hear powerful examples and research-backed insights that shift how potential actually works and what it means for your next step.

If you’ve been questioning your next move, holding back, or wondering if you’ve missed your window, this episode will reshape how you think about what’s possible.

Transcript

Hello, everyone! Welcome to The Potentialist Podcast! I’m your host, Dr. Lee Koles - psychologist, executive coach and CliftonStrengths expert specializing in the science of human potential. 

Today is a big day because it’s the kick-off of my special three-part Unlock Your Potential series. We’re taking a deep dive into the science of success so that you can understand, unlock, and fully step into your potential. My goal is for you to be able to go forth and achieve your dreams from a place of power and intention. 

In this episode, we’re going to dig into what potential is - and isn’t. And we’re going to debunk some of the biggest myths surrounding potential. Right now, you don’t realize it, but you have fundamental beliefs - stories playing on repeat in your head that you take as FACT - that are actually NOT true. And they're holding you back from achieving what you desire most. I’m going to shake things up with this episode - this is a challenge for you to check in with yourself and see: what myths have you been believing?

By the end of this episode, the fog will be lifted about how you can use your potential strategically - to uplevel yourself, make the move you’ve been putting off, become the leader you want to be, and own your talents. You’re going to learn how to make your potential work for you.

Are you ready? Let’s do this!

First of all, let’s get on the same page about what Potential is - and isn’t.

If you look up different definitions of “potential” (and don’t worry - I did this so you don’t have to!) - they all share the idea of something developing - in the future. 

Potential, at its core, is about possibility. It’s about what could be. 

Merriam-Webster defines potential as, “Existing in possibility: Capable of development into actuality.”

The word Potential comes from the Late Latin potentia, meaning power. I love that so much: Power. I love this because it means that your potential is your personal power, waiting to be developed.

I’m going to repeat that once more so you can feel it: “Potential is your personal power, waiting to be developed.”

Think about the power that resides within you. Right now.

Your strengths. Your talents. The things you do well without even noticing - That is your power.

Which leads me to a key component of potential: Potential consists of the possibilities that await you if you develop your strengths…not your weaknesses.

Your personal power does not come from fixing your weaknesses.

Gallup, the renowned global research organization, has been studying, researching and talking about potential for decades. 

They stress that maximizing potential isn’t “fixing what’s broken.” It’s amplifying what’s already strong within you. 

So if you feel like you’re constantly trying to “fix” yourself — I give you permission to stop that now. Instead - from now on - we’re going to focus on what makes you exceptional.

To do that, we’re going to bust up some myths about potential that are holding you back.

Ready for the first one?

Myth #1 is: Potential is fixed and predetermined

This is something that so many take as fact: Potential is something that you’re born with and it’s set in stone.

When you look at potential this way, the thinking is that some people just have it. The rest of us look on and think, “must be nice.” 

Or: “I’m just not wired that way.” 

Have you ever said those things?

It’s easy to feel trapped by the idea that our potential is static. That we are born with a specific amount of talent. You may believe that some people are lucky enough to come into this world with brilliance - and other people…not so much.

Think about child prodigies - I’ve always found stories of natural born talents fascinating, but at the same time, they make me feel…a little passed over. Look at Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - he was composing music and performing for royalty at age 5. He wrote a symphony at 8…composed a complete opera by 14! 

But guess what: Mozart wasn’t born with this genius. A huge part of his success came from his environment, and was driven by his father. 

Turns out that Mozart’s dad was a renowned musician, composer and teacher  - and he started training little Wolfgang from infancy. He made sure his boy - his little baby - constantly performed. Little Mozart practiced incessantly, played in competitions, toured all over Europe so he could be immersed in diverse musical styles, and spent lots of time with musical mentors, including Johann Christian Bach. This kid was performing for kings and queens - so he couldn’t slack! He had to constantly be upleveling his craft. His future and his family’s fortune depended on this. 

So, it turns out that Mozart’s brilliance wasn’t from winning the genetic lottery —it was built through disciplined training, early exposure, and continuous refinement. He’s the perfect example of how potential isn’t something you just have—it’s something you develop.

Now, I’m not saying that talent isn’t real - it is. It’s one piece of the puzzle, but it’s just that: a piece. Success isn’t determined by how much talent you have, but by how much you develop it. Education, experience, skills and knowledge can all help develop your potential. Research shows that your talent - your potential - grows with deliberate practice. You can tap into it through effort and learning. 

Now you may be thinking, “Thanks a lot, Lee - I feel so much better now! I didn’t “study” something all through my infancy, so now I’ve missed my opportunity to realize my full potential!”

No, no, no - don’t worry! Your parents didn’t drop the ball by forgetting to turn you into a prodigy while you were in the crib. 

Most successful people don't know their full potential when they start. They build it over time. And so can you.

You’re going to like hearing this: There is no expiration date on your potential.

Hear this again: “There’s no expiration date on your potential.” 

Psychological studies reveal that our potential actually expands over time. We gain knowledge, see how to apply it in new ways, and build on our experiences.

Your potential isn’t tied to one career, or one era of your life, or one version of yourself. It grows and shifts with you.

—---

How about taking on another myth? 

Myth #2 is: Hard work unlocks potential.

That’s right. It’s a myth that hard work unlocks potential.

I’m not saying hard work doesn’t matter. It does. Effort, persistence, showing up - these are all key ingredients to success. But hard work alone won’t get you there. If it did, every overworked employee, burned-out entrepreneur, or exhausted parent would be crushing it. 

If hard work were the only factor, we’d all be wildly successful in whatever we chose to focus on. But stop and consider: We all know people who work incredibly hard but never quite seem to break through. And we know others who seem to rise quickly—effortlessly, even—while putting in what looks like less work.

Unlocking potential isn’t just about effort. It’s about working smarter. It’s about knowing where your strengths lie and applying them in ways that create momentum.

Let me give you an example. I love to dance. Invite me to a wedding - I’m out on the dance floor. Blast some music in the house - I dance. Now if my kids are listening to this episode, they are SHUDDERING because: I am a terrible dancer. I can keep the beat, but I’m 5’10”, and I’m sure there are a lot of tall gangly people out there who are really coordinated and have the moves, but I am NOT one of them. 

If I were to land a spot on Dancing with the Stars and train with Derek Hough (“Huff”) 24/7, I’d still get voted off the first week. All my hard work - my dedication and effort - would be put towards something that would give me very little reward. Dancing is not a strength of mine. It’s not a talent. Could Derek help me improve? He’s a genius, so, yes!  - I’ll be a little less embarrassing on the dance floor, but hard work will not be enough for me to shine.

You can count on me to be real with you. I’m an optimistic person, but when we discuss potential, I’m not going to tell you “anything is possible.” It’s not. I will never win Dancing with the Stars - or any other dance competition.

That phrase, “anything is possible” has led way too many people to waste their time - to waste years of their lives fighting uphill battles doing things they’re not really good at doing. 

Think of it like this: If you’re climbing the wrong ladder, it doesn’t matter how fast you go—you’re still heading to the wrong place. 

Okay, I can hear people freaking out now, saying, “Lee, but how do I know if I’m climbing the right ladder?”

You’ll know if you can put a check in both of these boxes: 

First: You’re climbing the right ladder if you’re focusing on your innate talents. Remember, your “potential” is your “personal power.” Your potential is your talent, waiting to be unleashed. Your potential isn’t weakness, waiting to be made a little less crappy. 

Gallup has consistent findings across decades of research: people who focus on their talents are significantly more engaged, productive, and successful in their work. Why? Because they’re not just grinding away in areas where they struggle—they’re channeling effort into what they naturally do well. They call this “the shine vs the grind.”

Second: You’re climbing the right ladder if your body tells you that you are. Yes, that sounds cheesy to me too. The scientist part of me usually doesn’t let me speak that way. Let me explain. 

Once you’ve recognized your strengths, you need to have a little conversation with yourself. Like: “I know I have a natural talent for this, but do I enjoy doing this?” “would I enjoy doing this?” Or: “Do I get excited, hopeful, happy or energized when I think of doing this?” 

And you’ll sense the answer in your body. Focusing on that area of potential has to feel good to you. Maybe your body feels warm - your heartbeat quickens like an excited puppy, you’re taking in more air, you feel light. 

If your body doesn’t like the idea, your heartbeat may quicken, but in a stressed-out way. Maybe your muscles tense up, you get a pit in your stomach, your head starts to throb. Those are cues to focus on something else: A different ladder.

Now, you’ve probably had someone close to you - a friend or a relative - tell you, with all certainty, that they know exactly what’s best for you in terms of your career or next step. They know you, they’ve seen your potential - and they are adamant about the direction you should take.

After my career break, I decided that I wanted to supplement my skills as an industrial/organizational psychologist and get a coaching certification. I was excited to combine my knowledge of leadership and organizational development with coaching to better help people uplevel their careers. I knew that the skills I gained as a coach could help fast-track my clients to success.

I told my mom about my plan. She said, “Coach?! No, Lee - you need to be a therapist. You’d be such a great therapist! You could help so many people!”

It really stumped me. Mom knows me and I trust her opinion. I knew I had the potential to be a good therapist. I do have a lot of the strengths and skills you need to excel in that discipline: I truly care about others, I’m a good listener, I’m intuitive, I like helping people solve problems, I believe in the power of therapy… but my body was not aligned with the idea of becoming a therapist. 

When I’d think about working with people in acute emotional distress, people dealing with trauma and life/death situations, my heart would pound and my body would seize up with fear and anxiety. I just knew that I’d lie awake each night, worrying about my clients. My body was essentially telling me, “Lee, you may have the potential to be a great therapist, but this will NOT be a sustainable career path for you.” 

I listened to my body - and, years later, Mom gets it. She knows that I climbed the right ladder.

Okay. There’s one more myth about potential I want to share with you. I’m guessing that most of you think of this as true. Here it is:

Myth #3 is: You innately know your potential.

This is the stumbling block: The idea that you need to understand and "feel" your potential before you go after it. That if you don’t already see yourself as successful, capable, or talented in a certain area, it must not be for you.

That’s not the case.

One thing about your talents - your strengths - is that you’re often unaware of them. 

It actually makes total sense that you don’t realize how special you are. Your talent is your innate capacity for excellence in a particular way of thinking, feeling or behaving. It comes easily - even effortlessly. It’s such a natural part of you that you likely don’t even notice it - it doesn’t feel strange or unique - it’s baked into you.

You figure that everyone feels the same way as you; operates the same way you do. So, you don’t recognize what makes you special and distinctive.

Think of your talents - your potential - as your “special sauce” - all the things that set you apart from the rest. 

Now, imagine you’re inside this bottle of special sauce. There you are, swimming around in your sauce - a combination of all the ingredients that make you unique. 

There’s a label on the bottle listing all these ingredients. When people meet you, they see the label. They read it. They interact with you and notice each of those ingredients at work. It’s right in front of them; and it’s obvious. 

You, on the other hand - you can’t read the label. You can’t see the list of ingredients. You’re just swimming around in your special sauce - not really knowing that it’s “special.”

One of the things I love most about my work is that I get to introduce my clients to their potential. I hold up a mirror so they can read their own special sauce ingredients; see their talents. One tool I use is the CliftonStrengths assessment, which identifies people’s top strengths. It’s highly personalized so when people get their results and read the descriptions of their strengths, jaws drop. SO many say, “I didn’t realize that was unique.” “I thought everyone thought that way.” “I thought that everyone did that.” No, everyone does not.

Unleashing your potential means learning about your strengths - and not taking them for granted.

We live in a culture that celebrates the “self-made” success story, but here’s the secret: No one reaches their potential alone. The most successful people in any field have mentors, coaches, support systems and communities that help them grow. 

This is one reason why Bill Gates famously said, “everyone needs a coach.” Because even Bill Gates couldn’t see all the potential within him. He was coached and mentored by Warren Buffet. Gates said, “It doesn’t matter whether you’re a basketball player, a tennis player, a gymnast or a bridge player. We need people who give us feedback. That’s how we improve.” 

So, the takeaway for this myth is to surround yourself with people who see your potential—even when you don’t. Consider bringing in a coach or mentor to help you do this. And if YOU are the one mentoring or leading others, help them find the paths where their talent meets their passion. That’s where they’ll thrive.

So, I know I gave you a lot to think about. At the very minimum, here’s what I hope you to take away from this episode:

First: Your potential is not fixed. No matter how old you are or what stage of life you’re in, you have gifts and talents available to you. And the world wants what you have.

Second: Hard work alone will not help you unleash your potential. This is great news! Unleashing your potential only happens when you focus on your strengths and you enjoy it. Remember, it’s about the shine, not the grind.

And finally, third: It’s okay if at first you can’t see your own potential. In fact, that’s normal. Stick with me and you’ll learn how to notice that potential - how to make it light up so that you can achieve remarkable things.

Thank you for joining me today on The Potentialist Podcast, your home for science-backed strategies to unlock your potential. You already have everything you need inside you. I’m just here to help you unleash it. 

Take good care and we’ll talk again soon. 

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