Awaken Your Potential: 10 Ways to Unlock Greatness

INTRODUCTION

by Danielle Reyes

Leadership is undoubtedly one of the most complex journeys someone can embark on. While accumulating wealth and power can enhance your status and strength, those things do not equate to leadership. You may inherit a significant amount of money and things, but leadership is not a legacy that can simply be passed down to you.

In this modern age, there is an urgent need for effective and competent leadership. We are in the midst of a leadership crisis, a serious issue that is prevalent worldwide. The most pressing need globally is not only for financial resources, social programs, or government reforms, but also for leadership that upholds the highest ethical standards, practices self-discipline, and has principled values.

Moreover, this leadership challenge involves awakening the potential within individuals. True leaders not only demonstrate remarkable qualities but also have the ability to inspire and unlock the potential in others. They understand that leadership is not just about their own capabilities but about empowering those around them to realize their fullest potential.

Awakening someone’s potential involves recognizing their strengths, encouraging their growth, and providing opportunities for their development. This genuine, authentic leadership, capable of awakening potential, is desperately needed in every aspect of society—government organizations, businesses, educational institutions, civic organizations, youth groups, faith communities, households—and in every area of life.

Unfortunately, as the demand for authentic leadership grows, the task of identifying individuals who embody these traits becomes increasingly challenging. The potential to transform society and instigate positive change depends on our ability to identify and nurture this type of leadership.

In a world full of untapped opportunities, the concept of potential is often misunderstood and overlooked. Potential represents the dormant power within us, the inherent ability to evolve, adapt, and overcome our current limitations. It is the source of our yet-to-be-realized talents and capabilities, the dormant qualities that define who we can become.

However, merely having potential is not enough; it must be awakened. Awakening refers to the process of recognizing and consciously nurturing this hidden potential within ourselves and others. It involves a journey of self-discovery, growth, and transformation that enables us to unlock our maximum capabilities.

In this book, we will embark on a journey to explore the depths of your potential, discover the secrets to awakening it, and learn how to apply this newfound power to create a life filled with purpose, satisfaction, and influence. Prepare to embark on a transformative journey that not only will change your perception of yourself but also reshape the trajectory of your life.

As you read this book, you will navigate a series of carefully designed chapters, each meticulously crafted to guide you through the critical stages of recognizing, nurturing, and harnessing your inherent potential. Starting with the pivotal distinction between Good Intentions versus Intentionally Good, moving on to the essential principle of We Must Value People to Add Value to People, and culminating in the empowering finale of Fulfill Your Potential and Die Empty, each chapter will provide you with actionable insights and practical exercises specifically designed to awaken your dormant potential and transform it into meaningful, positive results.

The journey will take you through profound lessons about purpose, giving, making commitments, leadership, and more. By the end of your journey, you will not only have a deeper understanding of your own potential but also will have been given the essential tools to activate and utilize it, empowering you to lead a life characterized by growth, accomplishment, and lasting impact.

OUR JOURNEY

In the early days of our journey into entrepreneurship, Chad and I were full of passion and determination. We had a vision to make a positive impact on the world by empowering others to realize their full potential. Despite our enthusiasm and commitment, the path was laden with numerous challenges as we navigated the complexities of starting and growing a business.

In the beginning, we ran a traditional life insurance business. It was a field that promised stability and prosperity, but it was also incredibly competitive and demanding. As new entrants in the market, we struggled to differentiate ourselves from established firms. We had a desire to offer something unique, something that embodied the needs and desires of our clients.

The struggle was real, and we were not working effectively together or even working on the same team. Recognizing the need for guidance from someone with experience and expertise, we decided to invest in a business coach. We needed someone who could help us refine our vision, develop a strategic plan, and equip us with the tools and skills necessary to succeed.

Our coach, a seasoned entrepreneur with a track record of success, quickly became a mentor and confidant. With a gentle yet firm hand, he challenged both of our belief systems, encouraged us to think creatively, and held us accountable for our actions. He helped us understand the importance of listening to our clients, truly understanding their needs and desires, and developing solutions that addressed those needs in a meaningful way.

Empowered by his guidance, Chad and I embarked on an intentional shift to create the business model we had envisioned. We realized that our true passion is in empowering others—not just in selling insurance products but also in focusing on generational planning, helping families create a legacy that would benefit future generations. This shift in focus led to the creation of Wealth & Legacy Group, a generational planning firm with a focus on being Tax Efficient, Legacy Minded, and putting Families First.

Along this journey, our coach helped us develop our leadership skills. He taught us the importance of self-awareness, of understanding our strengths and weaknesses, and of continuously striving for self-improvement. He helped us develop a leadership style that was authentic, empowering, and effective. This journey of self-discovery and growth not only made us better leaders but also better partners, both in business and in life.

The experience was transformative. It helped us refine our vision, develop a strategic plan, and acquire the skills and tools necessary to succeed. It also helped us develop as leaders and as individuals.

Today, we are passionate advocates for the power of coaching and mentorship. Our vision has not wavered; it has evolved into cofounding Lions Pride Leadership and our nonprofit I AM Empowering. Through these efforts, we have dedicated our lives to helping others realize their full potential and make a positive impact on the world.

I am profoundly proud of my husband for his incredible journey and the impact he’s making through the work he does. His dedication and discipline in all aspects of his life are truly inspiring. He doesn’t just preach about reaching one’s potential; he lives it out every day. He embodies the principles he teaches, and I’ve had the privilege to witness firsthand how his commitment to purpose-driven entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal development has transformed not only his life but also the lives of those around him. Seeing him pour his heart into his initiatives, coach others with genuine care, and consistently strive to be a better version of himself fills me with admiration and love.

The motto, inspired by Myles Munroe, Rob the grave and give the world everything you have inside. Die empty, does not just serve as inspirational words for him; it is a way of life, which he embraces wholeheartedly. I am truly honored to stand by Chad’s side. My husband’s journey is a testament to his character, his determination, and his unwavering commitment to leaving a lasting legacy of purpose and significance.

My prayer is that the words on these pages profoundly affect your life and unlock your full potential to live out the life you desire.

1

Good Intentions vs Intentionally Good

What is the difference between having good intentions and being intentionally good? In my experience, people often mistake these phrases as the same thing. However, there is a world of difference between the two.

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE INTENTIONALLY GOOD

People want you to judge them by their intentions alone, but I ask you, is that enough? Let’s think about that in our own lives for a moment. Imagine working with someone who says he or she will do something but never follows through. Is that enough? Of course not. Saying you’ll do something is admirable, but being intentionally good is what brings about real change, because it’s aligned with intentional action. We often judge ourselves by our intentions, while we judge others by their actions. This is the difference between good intentions and intentionally good.

What we actually do, as in what gets accomplished, starts with an intentional approach to each and every day. People often overestimate what they can accomplish in a day and underestimate what they can achieve in their career or lifetime. By placing so much value on the day, we tend to neglect the importance of the process. A habitual process, however, consistently performed over a long period of time, will have a lasting impact.

Habits have a cumulative effect on our lives and ultimately shape our destiny. In his book Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, James Clear makes this point through a study on exercise. During 2001, researchers in Great Britain worked with 248 people to build better exercise habits over the course of two weeks. The subjects were divided into three groups.

Group 1: This was the control group. They were asked to track how often they exercised. That’s it.

Group 2: This was the motivation group. They were asked not only to track their workouts but also to read motivational material on the benefits of exercise.

Group 3: I’ll call this the intentional group. These subjects received the same presentation as the second group. However, the difference was they were also asked to create a plan for when and where they would exercise by date, time, and location. Here’s an example: On Wednesday [DATE] at 9:00 a.m. [TIME], I will exercise at the gym on Main Street [LOCATION].

The results of the study were surprising. In the first group, 35 percent of people exercised at least once per week, while the second group performed slightly better at 38 percent. Motivation marginally impacted behavior. However, 91 percent of the third group exercised at least once per week when intention was added. By simply specifying date, time, and location, the results more than doubled the normal participation rate.¹

These results underscore a major difference between motivation and transformation. Motivation is a driving force that compels one to act. But transformation—the process of becoming something different—puts action behind intention. I call this formula time blocking. Intentionally good people use it every day, and so can you.

IT’S ABOUT ACTION

Imagine there are five frogs on a log. Four decide to jump off. How many are left? When I ask this question to groups of leaders, I get varying answers. A lot of them say things like, There’s only one, or You’re tricking me. The truth is, there are still five frogs on that log. Each frog decided to jump, but none put any action behind it. This merely represents intention—what one intends to do, bring about, or have as a purpose or goal. But intention is nothing without action.

In a Harvard Business Review article titled Strategic Intent, C. K. Prahalad and Gary Hamel highlight the journey of Honda Motor Company’s humble beginnings in the 1970s to one of the premier global players in the automobile industry today. What enabled Honda to grow from a small, private Japanese company to a worldwide player? A steadfast strategy of building its business model over the long run, even when it meant forgoing short-term gains. Honda built core competencies and aligned to particular markets others had yet to serve. The company flew under the radar for years, representing no threat to the competition because its focus was different. While everyone else had good intentions and short-term results in mind, Honda was being intentionally good, investing for the long haul to become a major player in the auto industry.²

Think about the word intention for a moment. To have intent is to have in mind a purpose or a goal. Let’s relate that to intentionally good. In the case of Honda, there was great clarity around its purpose or goal. However, there’s a key difference: intention was backed by action—intentionally good. That’s what makes Honda’s story different from that of the four frogs with good intentions of jumping off the log.

Let’s translate that to you. Intentionally good people—people who have a purpose and a goal of what they want to accomplish—determine the date, time, and location in everything they do. They time block, making room for positive outcomes. I encourage you to apply this to every area of your life. Time block for the gym, your marriage, important deliverables, and so on. Start looking at everything you do through this lens. When you time block, you put action behind good intentions, increasing your chances of succeeding. Time blocking requires discipline, but it’s well worth it.

It boils down to one simple statement: more often than not, highly disciplined, intentionally good individuals outperform others—day in and day out.

What will living an intentionally good life look like? My friend and mentor John Maxwell, who’s impacted my life tremendously, answers this question. In his book Intentional Living, he pinpoints the differences between good intentions, good actions, and intentionally good.³

Here are a few examples that you may relate to:

Desire, Action, Results

Good intentions say desire.

Good actions say action.

Intentionally good says results.

Desire is I want, action is I do, and result is I am. I don’t desire to be intentionally good; I am intentionally good.

Someday, Today, Every Day

Good intentions say someday.

Good actions say today.

Intentionally good says every day.

Someday is a maybe, today is the present moment, and every day is perpetual—I show up every day, I improve every day, I make a difference every day.

Fantasy, Strategy, Intentionality

Good intentions are a fantasy.

Good actions are a strategy.

Intentionally good is intentionality.

A fantasy is a dream, a strategy is a game plan, and intentionality brings a dream into reality.

Occasional, Continual, Habitual

Good intentions are occasional.

Good actions are continual.

Intentionally good is habitual.

Occasional is sometimes, continual happens repeatedly with effort, and habitual is a long-standing routine—it’s automatic, like brushing your teeth in the morning.

Anyone can do things well occasionally, while fewer can do things continually. But those who commit to habitual routines can become exceptionally high performers all the time.

Based on Emotion, Based on Discipline, Based on a Lifestyle

Good intentions are based on emotion.

Good actions are based on discipline.

Intentionally good