Potential, is not a.... dirty word.

Is potential a dirty word?  An ugly word?

Only in the wrong hands ears !

I've often heard, and often subscribed to the idea, that "potential is an ugly word".

Potential is an ugly word, people say, because potential is nothing if not delivered on. We've all seen "unrealised potential" - in many walks of life.

But I'm coming around to another way of thinking on this.

There's always potential.  Any fork in the road offers potential - two "potentials" actually. One will be lost when you take the other path.There is potential everywhere, all the time. Do we want to explore it all? Can we explore it all. Of course not.

Potential is also an extremely optimistic and exciting prospect.

For someone to recognise the potential for an opportunity, and be inspired to act, is a powerful and fantastic thing.

For someone to be labeled as having potential, as a compliment, then left to their own devices, that's a shame.

If you recognise potential, gather yourself and have a crack a realising that potential, in yourself, your colleagues, your team mates, a block of land or a business opportunity, and you succeed, or you fail, that is potential explored. Well done! Not a horrible word.

Unexplored potential that remains unexplored through fear or neglect - is a shame.