The Potential Principle · A Proven System for Closing the Gap Between How Good You Are and How Good You Could Be by Sanborn, Mark -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Praise for the Potential Principle Title Page Copyright Frontmatter Dedication Contents Part 1: Why You Should Improve Chapter 1: The Potential Principle

Beyond Experience Better Than Your Best Better at What? Unlocking the Potential

Chapter 2: Why Get Better?

Better Always Beats Best Three Reasons to Get Better Professionally

1. Customers 2. Competitors 3. Change

Let’s Get Personal

Purpose Potential People

Just What Is Better? Only One Thing Can Prevent You From Getting Better Two Paths to Improvement What Do You Want?

Part 2: The Path to Improvement Chapter 3: The Potential Matrix

The Benefits of Using the Potential Matrix The Inner/outer Dilemma The Potential Matrix

Performing Quadrant Learning Quadrant Thinking Quadrant Reflecting Quadrant

Tips for the Improvement Journey

Combat Comfort to Overcome Complacency Movement Equals Improvement The Long Route to Better Balance Isn’t the Point

Chapter 4: Escalating Performance

If You Don’t Think You Can Keep Getting Better, You Don’t Know Jack

Why Keep Getting Better?

1. Getting Better Is Primarily How Others Evaluate You at Work and in Other Situations 2. Getting Better Creates the Results You Desire 3. Getting Better Is Observable and Easy to Track 4. Getting Better Is Proof of Improvement

Why Satisfactory Stunts Improvement Three “secrets” to Improving Your Performance

First, Performance Improves When You Enjoy It Second, Dedication and Discipline Are Twins Third, Remember That the Best Have Already Created a Path for You

How to Boost Your Performance

1. Use Fit to Better Your Best Performance 2. Use Feedback 3. Codify Your Performance 4. Track Your Progress

The Best Performance Every Time

Chapter 5: Leveraged Learning

How to Go From Waiting Tables to Nasa

Why Learn?

1. Learning Can Help Break Through the Status Quo 2. Learning Enables You to Benefit From the Wisdom of the Ages 3. Learning Adds to Your Intellectual Arsenal 4. Learning Doesn’t Just Make You Better: It Keeps You Current

We Are All Perpetual Newbies Leveraged Learning Begins With a Mind-Set Why You’ll Want to Be an Autodidact Being Teachable Is Overrated Ways to Leverage Your Learning

1. Build on the Basics 2. Focus First on Learning What Is Relevant, Needed, and Necessary 3. Review for Retention 4. Teach It to Really Know It 5. Apply What You Know

Chapter 6: Deeper Thinking

What You Can Learn From a Famous Sculpture

Why Think?

1. Thinking Creates Your Vision and Your Plans 2. Thinking Enables You to See What Others Don’t 3. Thinking Identifies Important Problems and Solutions 4. Thinking Eliminates Errors and Assumptions

How to Think Better

1. Make Time to Think 2. Find a Good Place to Think 3. Eliminate Errors and Outdated Thinking 4. Focus Your Thinking 5. Write It Down 6. Stimulate Your Brain 7. Think About the Four Quadrants of the Potential Matrix

Chapter 7: Insightful Introspection

How to Enter the Room With No Door and Accurate Mirrors

Why Be Introspective?

1. Introspection Helps You See Yourself as You Really Are 2. Introspection Provides Deeper Understanding 3. Introspection Provides Perspective 4. Introspection Goes Deeper Than Simply Thinking About Things

The Room With No Door Five Reasons Introspection Is Rare

1. Lack of Time 2. Fear 3. Difficulty 4. It’s a Waste of Time 5. Can’t Get There From Here

What Introspection Is (And Isn’t)

Introspection Isn’t About Slowing Down; It Is About Stopping Introspection Isn’t Self-Absorption

Using Introspection Better

1. Stop and Make Space to Reflect 2. Clear Your Mind of Distractions 3. Narrow Your Attention

The Emotional The Physical The Spiritual

4. Quiet the Judge

Part 3: The Means of Improvement Chapter 8: Disrupt Yourself

If You Don’t, Something or Somebody Else Will

Why Disrupt?

1. Disrupting Yourself Opens the Path to Growth 2. Disrupting Yourself Preempts the Competition 3. Disrupting Yourself Develops Mental Muscle 4. Disrupting Yourself Creates Unforeseen Opportunities

Neomania Isn’t All Bad Look Over Your Shoulder for Motivation How to Disrupt Yourself

1. Find Who and What Needs Disruption 2. Ask Disruptive Questions 3. Use Your Mistakes to Disruptive Advantage 4. Disrupt Yourself With Old Ideas

Be Brave

Chapter 9: (Re)focus

The Antidote to Perpetual Distraction

Why (Re)focus?

1. (Re)focusing Saves Time and Energy 2. (Re)focusing Keeps You (Or Puts You Back) on Track 3. (Re)focusing Brings Others Into Alignment 4. (Re)focusing Speeds Results

How to (Re)focus

1. Challenge Your Current Focus

What Did I Do in the Past That I Should Start Doing Again? What Should I Stop Doing? What Should I Start Doing? What Should I Do Differently?

2. Stop Multitasking 3. Block Uninterrupted Time to Work on Important Improvements 4. Make (Re)focus an Ongoing Process

Deeper Thinking Insightful Introspection Escalating Performance Advanced Learning (Re)focus Is About Accomplishment, Not Activity

Chapter 10: Engage Others

The Keys to Uncommon Improvement

Uncommon Friends Why Engage Others?

1. Engaging Others Deepens Relationships 2. Engaging Others Creates Networks 3. Engaging Others Leverages Improvement 4. Engaging Others Saves Time

First Think What, Then Who Engage in a Diversity of Ways Some Rules of Engagement

1. To Become the Best, Engage the Best 2. Ask Yourself Two Questions

First, How Would the Best Do This? Second, How Might I Do It Even Better?

3. Consider the Sources 4. Be a Qualified Recipient

Find a Way to Relate the Counsel to Your Work, Projects, And/or Improvement. Make Sure the Timing Is Right for You. Be Willing to Consider Suggestions and Advice Even When It’s Difficult.

5. Consider Forming a Mastermind Group 6. Return the Favor

Chapter 11: Increasing Capacity

The Secret of the Partially Filled Glass

Why Increase Capacity?

1. Increasing Capacity Provides More Tools for Your Life Kit 2. Increasing Capacity Fulfills More of Your Potential and Actual Output 3. Increasing Capacity Supports and Leverages Other Development 4. Increasing Capacity Is Bolstered by Confidence Built in Layers

How to Increase Your Capacity and Confidence

1. Inventory What You Already Have 2. Add Complementary Skills 3. Track Progress or Regress 4. Practice as Much as You Can 5. Expand Your Experience 6. Layer Your Confidence 7. Get Granular

Chapter 12: What Matters

How a Speech About Hunting Knife Safety Changed My Life

What Matters to You? Meaning Shows You What Matters Commitment Proves What You Think Matters Make Your Performances Matter and Make Them Better No Conclusion

Acknowledgments Appendix 1: Sixteen Combinations of Matrix and Breakthrough Improvement

Disrupt Your Thinking Disrupt Your Performance Disrupt Your Learning Disrupt Your Reflection Engage Others in Your Thinking Engage Others in Your Performance Engage Others in Your Learning Engage Others in Your Reflection (Re)focus Your Thinking (Re)focus Your Performance (Re)focus Your Learning (Re)focus Your Reflection Increase Your Thinking Capacity Increase Your Performance Capacity Increase Your Learning Capacity Increase Your Reflection Capacity

Appendix 2: The Eight Questions for Making Your Best Better

Matrix Improvement Breakthrough Improvement

Notes About the Author

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