BEING IN SERVICE TO MAXIMIZE YOUR POTENTIAL

It’s easy to think that potential is self-serving––that it’s all about you and your accomplishments. I used to think of my potential in these terms; however, I’ve come to realize that in doing so, I miss the point. Maximizing our potential means harnessing our unique value in order to help others. Our purpose is to not only tap into our gifts, but to also use those gifts to better the world around us. Our purpose is our service. 

The last key to maximizing your potential is identifying how you can be in service to the world. 

Sales gets a bad rap because salespeople are often too focused on furthering their own agendas. They only care about selling a product or service in order to meet their quotas and make money. In reality, sales is about service. A good salesperson understands their client, builds rapport and personal connection, and ultimately finds a solution for the client’s needs, even if that means losing business and referring the sale to someone better-suited for the job. Sales is a commitment to the success of the client. 

What does it mean to be in service to something bigger than yourself? 

First you need to get to know yourself and your gifts, which is why I’ve stressed the importance of self-care and self-discovery. It’s the idea that you have to help yourself before you can help others. 

The next step is utilizing your gifts for the greater good. We are all gifted and skilled in our own ways, but to be in service, we have to be aware of those strengths and leverage them in order to uplift the people and projects we touch. 

Why should you care about being in service to the world?

Service is our WHY; it’s the driving force behind human existence. We’re all hungry to matter. We’re all hungry to make a difference. What holds us back is our fears. Our hunger to leave a legacy can be overridden by our fears and often tainted by selfish motives and we end up holding ourselves back from making the differences we want to. We should care about being in service because it’s the only way for us to truly matter and fill the void; it’s the only way for our gifts to matter to the rest of the world. 

We think our greatest fear is failing, but really, we’re afraid of shining too brightly. We’re afraid of unlocking our gifts, being courageous and serving as fully as we can. 

How do you find your greater purpose? How do you find your service? 

I know some of you are hoping I’m going to say, “Go to Tibet, sit on top of a mountain, meditate and your purpose will come to you.” I’m not going to say that. I’m going to tell you to fail. I’m going to tell you to put yourself out there. I’m going to tell you to get knocked down and get back up. 

Swing. Go for it. That’s how you learn what satisfies and nourishes you; your purpose will evolve from there. 

Congratulations, you’ve learned all the keys to maximizing your potential. We’ve covered awareness, self-management, choice, self-care, connection, vulnerability, conflict and service. 

You may think you’ve reached the finish line, but really, this is just the beginning for you. Life is an ongoing journey, and for you to maximize your potential, you’re going to have to continue to learn and grow, reviewing your value and purpose all along the way. 

Enough from me, it’s time for you to take the reins and do the work to maximize your potential. I hope this series has inspired you to Live Richly.