Name: Maximize Your Potential
Rating: 4.1 (81 reviews)
Author: Jocelyn K. Glei

What’s in it for me? Find the right life fit for you.

“Follow your passion.” At some point in your life, you’ve probably heard this advice. But is it any good?

Well, you might be passionate about the concept of being a rock star, but unless you have some serious musical chops, it probably isn’t the smartest thing to blindly pursue that goal. And you’ve probably noticed that having a natural talent for something often makes doing that something more enjoyable.

Of course, skills can be developed and honed – but there’s often something that we’re naturally good at and naturally enjoy doing, whether it’s science, math, art or baking. That’s what maximizing your potential is all about: lining up your natural talent and your passion.

These blinks, inspired by the thinking of experts and influencers such as Cal Newport and Joshua Foer, show how anyone can easily reach their potential. Inside, you’ll learn

Why you shouldn’t focus on a job title
How you can increase your luck
And why asking for help makes you look good

To find your dream job, focus on the lifestyle you want and the skills you have.

Do you wonder how some people simply seem to find the job they love doing? You might think it’ll happen to you, too, as long as you stay true to your passion and let it guide you.

That might sound nice, but it’s a bit off the mark. When people really find happiness at work it often has less to do with what the job entails and more about the culture and lifestyle of the job.

For instance, Bill McKibben loves his job as an environmental journalist. But this happiness doesn’t come from a passion for writing or a devotion to environmental issues. Rather, McKibben is happy about the control he has in deciding when and where he works. He also likes that his writing has a positive impact on the world.

In his case, journalism was just one of many options that could have allowed him to meet these conditions for happiness.

McKibben’s career also reveals how skill is more important than passion in helping you reach your career goals. After all, passion won’t get you very far if you don’t have the skills to back it up.

McKibben wasn’t a highly skilled journalist when he was an undergrad, writing his first articles for the Harvard Crimson newspaper. It took a lot of practice and tenacity – and over 400 articles! – before he was skilled enough to work for The New Yorker.

But he didn’t stop there. He kept honing his skills, until he finally felt confident enough to be his own boss. Only then did he quit his job and retreat to a cabin in upstate New York to write his first book.

So, ultimately, McKibben got to where he wanted to be through hard work and focusing on his craft.

Using a journal is an easy way to develop ideas even when you don’t have a creative team.

Keeping a diary or daily journal shouldn’t seem like a childish thing to do. After all, Che Guevara, Virginia Woolf and Andy Warhol are just a few examples of the impressive people who’ve kept a diary.

But journaling isn’t just a way to make a record for posterity, it’s also a way for you to write down thoughts and ideas and be your own sounding board.

To build resilient relationships, be open about how both sides can benefit and collaborate.

Life is full of ups and downs, and this extends to your working relationships as well. It doesn’t matter what business you’re in, eventually you’ll run into a problem with a new employee, a new boss or a troublesome supplier.

Try to remember, though, that the ideal business relationship is a strong collaboration where both parties happily get what they want. The way to build this kind of relationship is to form a social contract that lays out the terms of how you’ll be collaborating.

Don’t miss out on opportunities by worrying about risks and potential pitfalls.

In prehistoric times, our life expectancy wasn’t very high. Dangerous animals, exposure to extreme weather and any number of other dangers were waiting around every corner.

So it’s no wonder that, even though the world has changed, our instincts are still highly attuned to avoiding risk.

Kernaussagen in Maximize Your Potential

Worum geht es in Maximize Your Potential?

Maximize Your Potential (2013) is about making the most of your skills, talents and ambition. It offers action-oriented tips and tools that will help you execute your ideas and create an amazing career. Discover the traits and mind-sets of the most productive people and how to unlock your maximum potential.

Über den Autor

Jocelyn K. Glei lives in Los Angeles and specializes in helping others get the most out of life, both professionally and personally. As a modern productivity expert, she is especially obsessed with finding ways of remaining creative amid today’s many distractions. Her other best-selling books include Manage Your Day-to-Day and Unsubscribe.