Beyond Limits
Limitations
What are your limitations? Are you the recent hire trying to prove yourself in a field of older, more experienced employees? Do you feel you will never learn as much as you should and therefore that promotion you want is off limits? Maybe you feel limited by organizational systems that were in place long before you got there and recognize that changing them is difficult…maybe too difficult?
If, as Oliver Wendall Holmes, Sr. once said, “All limits are self-imposed,” then perhaps you need to get out of your own way to achieve your goals and realize your own potential.
This is a call to action. It’s a reminder that each of us holds untapped potential, and the only way to discover it is by constantly challenging ourselves and breaking through self-imposed barriers.
Action Plan
Modern medicine is good, but trust me, there is no magic pill to make you more valuable in the eyes of others. That work you must do yourself. Here are action steps to help you find your way:
- Don’t Wait for the Perfect Moment—Create It: Too often, we wait for an opportunity to magically appear, but waiting doesn’t grow potential; action does. You can scale the ladder to success by learning and improving and showing initiative. Start now. Lift the ceiling of what you think you’re capable of and stretch your vision of yourself.
- Learn and Share: Learn everything you can about your job and your environment. Know the tools, processes, and people that make your area run smoothly. Know the plants if you work in landscaping, the roads, and buildings if you’re in facilities management, or the workflows if you’re in an office. Then SHARE that knowledge generously and with humility. When you help others succeed, you demonstrate the true mark of a leader and foster a culture of trust and collaboration.
- Continually Improve: Don’t wait for someone to tell you what to fix or improve. Take ownership of your space, your role, and your potential. Small, consistent efforts to improve your surroundings and your skills will build momentum and help you stand out.
- Believe in Your Worth: Believing in yourself and stretching beyond your limits doesn’t mean you won’t face challenges. But remind yourself: you are capable of more than you think. You’ll only know your full potential when you embrace the journey of growth—when you push past fear, failure, and complacency.
Begin Today
Every step forward, no matter how small, is a testament to your belief in yourself. It shows that you’re not willing to settle for less than what you’re capable of achieving.
As Roy T. Bennett wisely said, “Always believe in yourself and always stretch yourself beyond your limits. Your life is worth a lot more than you think because you are capable of accomplishing more than you know.” Challenge the limits you’ve placed on yourself and show the world—and yourself—what you’re truly capable of.
Your journey of growth starts today. What’s your next step?
Jeff
