Chef who Qualified at 65...Learnt How To Live Up to Her Greatest Potential

If you want to make more of your talents and live up to your full potential you have to learn to use those talents. You have the power to change your habits, acquire new skills and fully use the skills you now have.

Is it luck, intelligence, talent or dedication that makes a high achiever? Probably all of them play a part, but we all know people who are intelligent, talented and hardworking; apparently successful yet, who are generally not very happy, and the reverse, people who may not be exceptionally bright but seem happy and successful.
Let us start to investigate how and why this can happen:-
•Choose to be happy, self-confident and successful
•Focus on your potential
•Make lists as follows:-
1.Things you can do well
2.Things you like to do but think you can’t do them well
3.Things you would like to do if you could
4.Hobbies

Things you can do well: Firstly turn off those negative thoughts like “You can’t learn to do that” or “You never do anything right” or other similar nasties. That little voice is very destructive. However do be honest with yourself and don’t list things you can’t do well.

Things you like to do, but don’t do well: Now you have removed the negativity there will probably be some things you can move up to the previous “do well” list.

Things you would like to do if you could: It’s time to ask yourself “Why can’t I do this if I’d like to?” Put your answers on yet another list. Remember these lists aren’t written in stone and can be changed as you move along.

FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN DO, FOCUS ON YOUR POTENTIAL

Make it a habit to focus on your strengths including your undeveloped potential.

Back to our 65 year old chef who when challenged about being very short and wanting to move into a career where most commercial kitchens have been designed for tall young people, mostly male, replied “I realise that I’m vertically challenged, I have been all my life, but it has never stopped me from doing exactly what I wanted to do. But then I’ve never really wanted to be a basketball player either.” It was this positive attitude that gained her an apprenticeship over her younger and probably fitter contemporaries, and she accepted the challenge with enthusiasm, and success followed.

Use your lists as a starting point, do your research into what is required for you to complete some of those things you would like to do if you could. Develop the habit of enthusiasm, it’s contagious, and works like a magnet to draw in people and success. If you are working at something you really enjoy, learning is an added bonus, enabling you to reach your full potential, happiness and success will follow.
OK now you have set definite goals, you have a definiteness of purpose, and have done your research so you know the specific steps to take. You have resolved to be flexible and develop a more pleasing personality. Now what?

Step by step work toward achieving your goal, it will happen if you really want it to. Stay focused, and move forward at least one step each day.

Sam Reid is an author and entrepreneur for Sardav Enterprises, a continuing education and business development company showing people how to build business success.