Photo credit: Joshua Earle

Member-only story

8 Reasons Why Smart, Hardworking People Don’t Reach Their Potential

Melissa Chu
6 min readOct 19, 2020

What does it mean to reach your potential?

We all have different definitions. For some, reaching their potential involves getting recognition for their work. For others, it means creating a balanced life where both work and personal life are equally satisfying.

And then there are others who wish to create something so great, so useful, that it gets used widely. They feel satisfied knowing they’re making the world a better place.

The equation seems simple. Work smart, work hard, and you’ll get what you want. When we see someone fall short of expectations, we assume they either didn’t try hard enough or made poor decisions.

But it isn’t that simple. Life’s complexities can’t be boiled down to two factors. Along the path, we run into various opportunities, obstacles, and events. These affect who we become and how we react to future situations.

Here are eight reasons why a person falls short of their potential:

1. They don’t practice humility.

Humility is an undervalued trait. When you think about it, our society tends to value success, accomplishments, and pride. We cheer on those who are the loudest, while ignoring those who stand quietly by the side.

--

--

Melissa Chu
Melissa Chu

Written by Melissa Chu

I write about living better, creating great work, and making an impact. Get your guide to achieving your goals at http://jumpstartyourdreamlife.com/welcome.

Responses (3)