If you compare a walnut with some of the beautiful and exciting things that grow on this planet, it does not seem to be a marvelous creation. A walnut is common, rough, not particularly attractive, and certainly not valuable in any monetary sense. Besides, it is small. The hard shell that surrounds it limits its growth.
Of course, that is the wrong way to judge a walnut. Break one open and look inside. See how the walnut has grown to fill every nook and cranny available to it. It had no say in the size or shape of that shell but, given these limitations, it achieved the full potential of growth.
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How fortunate we would all be if, like the walnut, we could make ourselves blossom and bloom in every crevice of our life.
People have the potential to become infinitely better than they are now. In fact, the greatest limitations we ever face are the ones we place on ourselves by not staking claim to our potential.
I’ve always been aware of the observation made by that great philosopher of “Peanuts” fame, Charlie Brown, who is still my favorite. He said there is no heavier burden than a great potential.
And the creator of Charlie Brown and the rest of the “Peanuts” gang, Charles Schulz, said, “Life is like a 10-speed bike. Most of us have gears we never use.”
What a waste of potential!
Companies will fight over people who exhibit a willingness to stick their necks out. The ability to see not just what is, but what could be, is an invaluable career builder – a ticket to the fast track.
Alan “Ace” Greenberg, the former chairman of the investment firm Bear Stearns, wrote:
“Our first desire is to promote from within. If somebody applies for a job with an MBA degree, we will certainly not hold it against them, but we are really looking for people with PSD degrees. PSD stands for poor, smart and a deep desire to become rich.”
That description covers a good many of us, I suspect. The challenge then becomes how to kindle that desire not only to become rich, but also to become successful and confident in your risk-taking behavior.
Thomas Watson Jr., the highly respected former chairman of IBM, said: “Several instances have come to my attention recently of a practice that will work against our keeping our company going in the right direction – this is the practice of ‘playing it safe.’ It appears in many forms – from excessive copying of people in correspondence to committees organized not for thoughtful deliberation but to share responsibility.
“Even more serious than the resulting waste and lost opportunities is the effect this practice has on those who look to us as examples. We go to great lengths to bring people into IBM who have the potential for developing into strong leaders capable of positive decisions based on sound judgment and firm conviction. The manager who sets the example of ‘playing it safe’ is destructive of our most valuable human asset.”
“Safe” is for baseball. “Safe” is for storing valuables. “Safe” is for good tires on your car on a slippery road. But in business, I’ve never been a fan of “better safe than sorry.” I’ve given my accountants and lawyers a few headaches practicing this theory. Sometimes things work out because you have taken a calculated risk based on facts, past experiences and good hunches. For the times it becomes the sorry route, there is always a lesson to be learned. Never give in to the naysayers who tell you something can’t be done. Look for the potential in the situation and find a way to make it work. The results may amaze you – and those who tried to dissuade you.
Playwright George Bernard Shaw was interviewed by a reporter shortly before his death.
The reporter asked him, “Mr. Shaw, you have visited with some of the most famous people in the world. You’ve known royalty, world-renowned authors, artists, teachers and dignitaries from every part of the world. If you could live your life over and be anybody you’ve known, or any person from history, whom would you choose to be?”
Shaw’s reply was simple: “I would choose to be the man George Bernard Shaw could have been, but never was.”
Mackay’s Moral: The greatest undeveloped territory in the world lies under your hat.
Harvey Mackay is author of The New York Times best seller “Pushing the Envelope.” He can be reached through his Web site: www.mackay.com; or Mackay Envelope Corp., 2100 Elm St., Minneapolis, MN 55414.
