What’s in it for me? Learn three approaches to realizing your potential
What does it take to live a truly remarkable life? How can you unlock your full potential and make a lasting impact on the world around you?
In this Blink, you’ll discover one author’s blueprint for becoming extraordinary. Using interviews from the author’s podcast Remarkable People, we’ll learn hard-won wisdom from successful creators and leaders from different walks of life.
You’ll see why pursuing a wide range of interests, rather than a single passion, is the key to finding your true calling. You’ll learn how to develop the grit and perseverance needed to overcome obstacles and turn rejection into opportunity. And you’ll uncover why the most inspiring leaders measure success not by personal gain, but by the impact and value they create for others.
Growth begins with planting seeds
Imagine walking through a forest of oak trees. The trees tower above you, creating dappled shadows on the earth below.
How can you build something in your life as potent and as valuable as an oak forest? You start by planting acorns. How do you do that? You collect fallen acorns from mature oaks. Then you drop them in water; the ones that sink are healthy, while those that float are rotten. Then you plant the healthy acorns, water them, and tend to them. Most won't sprout, but the few that do take root will, with care and patience, grow into mighty trees that can stand for generations.
Oak trees are the perfect metaphor for remarkable achievements in life. You must gather seeds of potential, plant them hopefully, nurture them tirelessly, and wait patiently to see which ideas take hold and flourish. You can’t predict which ones will thrive. But you must trust the process, follow your heart, and tend faithfully to all that you have sown.
This approach stands in contrast to some advice we often get: “Find your passion”. Passions are often overrated, especially early in life. There is too much pressure to find one’s true calling at a young age. A better approach is to pursue many different interests without overthinking it. Cast a wide net, try new things, and see what grabs you. True passions emerge gradually from a succession of curiosities that captivate you. They start as humble acorns of interest that you nurture over years until they grow into towering oaks.
Adopting a growth mindset is the key to unlocking your full potential and living a remarkable life. This mindset is defined by the conviction that your qualities and abilities can be developed through effort, effective strategies, and support from others. On the other hand, those with a fixed mindset believe that their qualities are unchangeable and set in stone.
One powerful way to plant seeds of potential is through education, both in and out of the classroom. For Stephen Wolfram, a precocious physicist who won a MacArthur “genius grant” at a young age, the key was learning to find knowledge on his own. As a child, he sought out books of physics and mathematics. He was amazed to discover that libraries existed – places where you dive into knowledge of virtually any subject. For Wolfram, reading widely and voraciously was its own form of education, opening up new vistas of understanding, which he would later incorporate into his scientific work.
Another way to plant seeds is via other people – by putting yourself out there and meeting strangers from all walks of life. The author has benefited from many such chance encounters. While getting his son’s iPhone fixed at an Apple Store, a random encounter led to a meeting with Shaun Tomson, a world-champion surfer from the 1980s. On another occasion, while the author was himself surfing in Santa Cruz, a new friend introduced him to two remarkable people: Leon Panetta, the former US Secretary of Defense, and Dave Ebert, a renowned shark expert, author, and TV personality. Each conversation with a stranger holds the potential to expand life in unforeseen ways, so stay open and curious. The wider your network, the better opportunities can find you. Build bridges by smiling, listening intently, and focusing on the positive. You never know where a casual chat might lead.
As you gather seeds of potential, stay humble and strive to learn from every experience, even unglamorous ones. When musician and entrepreneur Derek Sivers was 17 years old, his first paying gig was strolling around a pig show strumming his guitar for a measly $75. He jumped at the random offer, gave it his all, and impressed the folks who hired him. That humble pig show led to an invitation to play at a fancy art gallery opening, which in turn launched a lucrative career performing over 1,000 circus shows. Saying “yes to everything,” as Sivers describes it, can be a useful approach, especially early in one’s career.
Do the tasks no one else wants to do. Master skills that make you uniquely valuable. Be a team player who makes your colleagues shine. With the right mindset, there are no truly dead-end jobs – only opportunities to prove yourself and expand your capabilities.
Show the world your grit
Regardless of one’s industry or personal background, what is one quality that distinguishes remarkable people?
It’s grit – the stubborn perseverance and passion needed to keep you striving toward long-term goals in the face of adversity. It’s what propels someone from merely having an idea to actually implementing it and making an impact.
One step toward developing grit is to formalize your goals by writing them down. There’s a difference between daydreaming about an idea and committing it to paper. Your goal may be unclear. It may be difficult to articulate. But this effort is where the magic happens. When you can move your desires from your mind onto the page, they take on new life, moving from abstract wishes and feelings to concrete targets. Suddenly, you have the makings of a roadmap – a roadmap from where you are to where you want to be. Refer to this map daily to keep your ultimate destination in focus.
Another habit of people with grit is establishing consistent routines. Having a regular morning ritual eliminates unnecessary choices, reserving your mental energy and willpower for what matters most. Start with something simple that slots easily into your existing schedule – a short meditation, a couple of minutes of reading, a few push-ups. The specific activity is less important than the repetition. By wiring this into your day, by associating it with positive emotions and your overarching goals, your routine quickly becomes an automatic, energizing way to build momentum each and every morning.
Of course, the road to any ambitious goal is littered with obstacles, setbacks, and rejections. But people with grit get a “no,” they don’t see it as a stop sign, but merely a yield or a detour. When turned down for a job, rather than hear, “You’re not good enough,” they hear, “This particular role isn’t a good fit for you.” When a college rejects their application, they think, “This specific school isn’t right for me,” instead of “I’m not cut out for higher education.”
This mentality is especially vital for entrepreneurs and executives. Melanie Perkins, CEO of Canva, famously pitched to over 300 investors before finally getting a “yes.” The first 299 rejections weren’t a final verdict on her idea, but a test of her resolve.
In the end, grit means reframing negatives as positives – using each “no” as motivation to work harder, improve, and persevere until you get a life-changing “yes.” If you can maintain faith in your vision, the most audacious goals are attainable.
So keep your head up. Scan the horizon for your mountaintop. Chart your route to get there. And then take that first step.
Lead with grace
What does it take to be a remarkable leader? You might be picturing someone bold, brash, or larger than life. But often, in fact, the most significant people carry themselves with a quiet confidence. This grace – a combination of poise, kindness, and thoughtfulness – is a hallmark of remarkable leaders. In its presence, you sense an understated self-assurance, coupled with a desire to inspire and empower other people.
One key aspect of grace is a willingness to openly admit what you don’t know. In a world where people often feel pressured to project an aura of infallibility, it’s refreshing to hear someone in a position of authority utter the words, “I don’t know.” Far from undermining their credibility, this candor actually enhances it. By acknowledging the limits of their knowledge, remarkable leaders demonstrate humility, transparency, and an openness to listening and learning.
Of course, this “I don’t know” is often best followed up with a commitment to finding an answer. And for leaders, it’s also important to temper that uncertainty with an expression of hope and optimism, in order to rally the team in challenging times.
But simply having the confidence to admit the gaps in your knowledge, rather than clinging to an illusion of omniscience, is a great first step. It shows that you’re focused on the pursuit of truth and solutions, not the optics of your own reputation.
Another cornerstone of remarkable leadership is how you define and measure success. While society often keeps score in terms of wealth, status, and power, the most inspiring leaders prioritize impact, fulfillment, and growth.
For some, like Sal Khan, the creator of Khan Academy, success is measured by the number of children they’ve helped educate around the globe. They find deep satisfaction in knowing that their efforts have made a tangible difference in the lives of others, expanding access to knowledge and opportunity.
Still others prioritize the depth and quality of their relationships as the ultimate metric of a life well-lived. They invest their time and attention in forging genuine connections, lifting up those around them and creating a strong network of support and camaraderie. For them, success is defined by the love and respect they both give and receive.
This reorientation away from self-centered metrics is the basis for true contentment. When your drive comes from within, and your focus is on progress and contribution rather than external validation, you free yourself from the hedonic treadmill of insatiable ambition. You’re able to be fully present with what you have.
Ultimately, remarkable leaders are playing the long game. They know that the most enduring legacies are built not through ruthless competition and self-promotion, but through patient growth, quiet perseverance, and a commitment to helping others flourish.
By keeping score differently – in terms of the lives they touch and the lasting change they create – they tap into a deeper sense of meaning and purpose. By focusing their efforts outward, by channeling their drive toward a greater good, they find a sustainable source of motivation and satisfaction. And in the process, they inspire us to reimagine what’s possible in our own lives.
So perhaps the question is not just how to become remarkable, but how to cultivate the kind of grace that remarkable leaders embody – the quiet confidence, the humble spirit, and the unflagging commitment to helping others shine. And in doing so, they set a powerful example for all those who aspire to make their own mark on the world.
Final summary
In this Blink, we’ve found some inspiring guidelines for crafting an extraordinary life: Plant seeds of potential far and wide, nurture them with grit and perseverance, and emulate the quiet grace of remarkable leaders. By adopting a growth mindset, formalizing our goals, and establishing consistent routines, we give ourselves the best chance of shepherding our seeds and acorns of opportunity into mighty oaks of achievement. And by redefining success in terms of impact and contribution, rather than in materialistic terms of wealth and status, we tap into a deeper well of motivation and fulfillment.
It’s time for us to reimagine our potential – not just as individuals, but as a society. We can dream bigger, lift each other up, and leave a legacy that endures.