Are You Achieving Your Potential?

Sometimes I think that we have our priorities back to
front. Achievement is seen as the pinnacle to aim for.

I have come to think that this is wrong.

My 12-year old daughter, Lauren, came home from school
yesterday, proudly waving her grade book. She had been
awarded A-1 in most subjects - a great achievement!

Then she sadly pointed out that her perfect score was
marred by a B-1 in French and a C-1 in physical
education.

I asked her what the scores meant. She said that the
letter denotes achievement and the number, effort.

That was when it struck me that the grades were
misleading. Surely the most important score is effort?
Yet it is shown last.

I gave her a big hug and told her that in my book, she
had a perfect score. It didn't matter that her
achievement grade in French was a 'B' - the '1' showed
that she had tried her hardest. That is something to
make any parent proud.

Everybody is different. Everybody has a different
potential. Like Lauren, we are not all destined to be
fluent linguists or future track stars.

But without 100% effort no potential can be achieved -
and that is a real waste.

Our programming to think in terms of A-1 extends way
beyond the classroom. That is where the seed is sown,
but the real effect is felt in business.

If I see a salesperson under-delivering, the first
thing I want to examine is the effort being put in. If
there is a problem with effort, the salesperson
probably has no future. It is impossible to turn round
someone who just wants an easy way out.

But, if I see 100% effort, but a lack of success, the
salesperson is worth my effort in helping along. Maybe
a bit of training will help, or a few pointers from a
more successful colleague. I know that 100% effort,
focused in the right direction, will always bring
results - and that salesperson will fulfill their own
potential. Whether that is an 'A' or a 'C'.

And who can ask more than that?