The Theft of Your Potential: How to Stop Robbing Yourself and Achieve Greatness
The most significant loss in leadership isn’t always found in what went wrong — it’s in what never had the chance to go right. Not because of a lack of intelligence, resources, or support… but because of potential that was never activated.
Over the years, I’ve worked alongside high-performing leaders in times of challenge and change. And the biggest thief I’ve seen isn’t time, burnout, or even fear. It’s unexpressed potential. I know, because I’ve experienced it too. It’s one of the reasons I stepped away from corporate life to form LeaderLegacy, with a mission to unleash leadership potential and multiply the impact for lasting, positive change.
This isn’t about motivation or hustle. It’s about alignment — recognising when you’re doing a lot, but not necessarily doing what matters most.
That’s the quiet theft that occurs within many leaders. And the truth is: you might be the thief of your potential.
So, let’s unpack it. Let’s name the patterns. And let’s build a path back to the work and life that matters most.
I’ll use T.H.E.F.T as an acronym to prevent the theft of your greatness.
T - Take Action
Do you ever feel stuck, as if you're spinning your wheels but not making progress? The first step to overcoming this is to Take Action. Zig Ziglar famously said,
"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great."
So, what are you waiting for? Are you procrastinating because you're waiting for the perfect moment?
Spoiler alert: There’s no such thing as the perfect moment. The only ideal time to start is now.
Question to Ponder: What is one action you can take today that will move you closer to your goals?
H - Harness Your Potential
We all have untapped potential, but the question is, are you making the most of it? Jim Rohn once said,
"You don’t get paid for the hour. You get paid for the value you bring to the hour."
Are you bringing value to each moment of your day? Or are you allowing fear, doubt, and distraction to rob you of the greatness you could achieve?
Let me share a turning point from my own life.
In 2004, I made a decision that changed everything. I invested in myself and bought the SMI's 'Dynamics of Personal Goal Setting' program by Paul J. Meyer. What began as a training program ultimately led to a paradigm shift. It taught me how to write clear, specific goals, but more importantly, it cracked open something more profound: an understanding that there is abundance aplenty in this world.
Before that, I operated from a place of scarcity—scarcity of time, opportunity, and belief. But that program rewired my perspective. When I shifted from a state of scarcity to one of abundance, it opened my eyes, and it sharpened my priorities. I began delivering more value with every hour. I built focus muscles that helped me lead through one of the most turbulent economic storms imaginable.
At the time, Zimbabwe was moving from economic collapse into hyperinflation. A once-thriving African icon was in freefall. And yet, these tools enabled me to stay focused, navigate chaos, and make decisions grounded in what truly mattered.
But here's the twist…
When I later immigrated to New Zealand, those same planning skills helped me accomplish more, faster, better, and smarter. But with that efficiency came a downside: I became the go-to for everything others didn’t want to do. I was drowning in urgent, necessary work… but none of it was connected to my deeper purpose or strengths.
That’s when I learned a hard truth: Busyness can steal your best work.
It took a new leader, someone who saw me clearly and permitted me to recalibrate, to bring my energy and excellence back to what mattered most. That leader didn’t just free up my calendar, He helped me find my mojo again. And what followed became the foundation for the very work I do today through LeaderLegacy.
Question to Ponder: What areas of your life are you not fully harnessing your potential, and what can you do to change that?
E - Embrace Challenges
Growth doesn't happen in your comfort zone. It happens when you Embrace Challenges. Jim Rohn also said,
"If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary."
Are you willing to take risks and face challenges head-on? The alternative is settling for mediocrity, and I know that's not what you want.
Consider the stories of people who embraced challenges. One stands out vividly for me. A woman on my team—capable but lacking confidence—struggled to find her voice. She had the skills, but not the belief. So, I lent her some of mine. With a bit of help in prioritising and focusing, she broke inertia, began building momentum, and started seeing the results of her progress, which in turn helped her grow confidence in her potential. She embraced the significant work project. She aced it and consequently blossomed into an incredibly productive and respected leader whom others followed. But the real breakthrough? She no longer needed my belief; she had grown her own.
Question to Ponder: What is one challenge you’ve been avoiding, and how can you start facing it today?
F - Focus on Value
Every hour of your day is an opportunity to add value. But are you making the most of it? Jim Rohn once said, "Either you run the day, or the day runs you." Are you taking charge of your day and actively prioritising your value stack?
I’m a big fan of John Maxwell’s Rule of 5 for Leadership. He uses the metaphor of chopping down a tree with an axe - if you swing five chops a day, consistently, day after day, eventually even the largest tree will fall. In leadership, those five daily swings are how we consistently deliver value and influence.
Here are his five daily “chops” of leadership:
Value people and lead yourself.
Think about ways to add value to people.
Look for opportunities to add value to people.
Take action to add value to people.
Encourage others to add value to people.
Is this easy? No. But, as the saying goes, “Where your attention goes, your energy flows.” Or put another way: energy flows where your focus goes.
Remember, you don’t get paid for the hour; you get paid for the value you bring to the hour. So, focus on value in everything you do.
Look at the top performers in any field. They don’t just clock in and out. They bring intention, energy, and excellence to every moment. That’s what sets them apart.
Question to Ponder: What is one area in your life where you can add more value, and what steps can you take to make it happen?
T - Take Responsibility
Let’s land this with one of the most essential leadership principles: Take Responsibility.
In the animated film A Bug’s Life, there’s a scene where the villainous grasshopper, Hopper, delivers an unexpectedly powerful line. When the ant princess tries to explain why the harvest is short, he cuts her off and says:
“The first rule of leadership… everything is your fault.”
Now, Hopper’s a tyrant, no question. But that line? It’s so true.
It echoes one of the core truths of real-world leadership: you may not be to blame, but you are always responsible. Not for the weather. Not for other people’s attitudes. But for how you respond, how you lead through it, and whether or not you accept that ownership is the beginning of change.
Jocko Willink calls this Extreme Ownership, no excuses, no deflection, just radical responsibility. Jim Collins, in Good to Great, says that Level 5 leaders take the blame when things go wrong but give credit when things go right. And John Maxwell reminds us, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
That doesn’t mean you carry guilt or blame for every mistake. But it does mean you recognise that your role in shaping outcomes is bigger than your comfort zone may like.
Taking responsibility means owning your decisions, your actions, and your outcomes. It means not blaming others for where you are in life but taking charge of where you’re going.
Question to Ponder: In what areas of your life do you need to take more responsibility, and how can you start doing that today?
Wrapping Up: Stop the Theft and Strive for Greatness
So, there you have it—the THEFT blueprint to stop the theft of your potential:
Take Action
Harness Your Potential
Embrace Challenges
Focus on Value
Take Responsibility
Each of these steps is crucial in ensuring that you're not robbing yourself of the greatness you're capable of achieving.
Zig Ziglar said,
"You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win."
So let me ask you:
Are you planning, preparing, and expecting to win?
Or are you settling for less than you deserve?
Don’t be the thief of your own greatness.
Remember, you have the power to change your life. You have the power to stop the theft of your own potential and become all that you are capable of. Be bold. Be intentional. Be you.
Be the hero of your own story.
Carpe Diem,
Gary Good
Founder, LeaderLegacy
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