UPDATED! to include the link for my 5 FREE Gifts for You!

I am one of those who was not blessed with a green thumb. Actually, it is much less about my thumb than it is about my remembering to give house plants what they require to thrive. And so when Dr. Tal Ben-Sharar, the "Happiness" professor from Harvard, described what happens to human potential when it does not receive what it needs as "house plants without sunshine and water", I totally got it!

In that very moment, I could see the vibrant blooms and bright green leaves of the many beautiful plants that I have taken into my home over the years. I also recalled memories of them withered and dead after not receiving enough of what they required. From that moment on I began to imagine the bloom of potential inside everyone that I see and meet.

Tal's speech was the closing keynote at the conference that I attended last week. The opening speaker, 3 days earlier, was Peter Block. Peter told us of the truism that that we have an inability to see our own gifts. We need and count on those around us to acknowledge and point them out to us. Therefore we need this "sunshine and water" from others for our full potential to survive and thrive.

I recently had the chance to witness this first hand as my son submitted the essay portion of his application to the high school he is applying to attend. In response to the question: "What are your interests and talents?" he wrote, "I am not good at discovering my own talents, but there are a few talents I truly believe I have." From there, he went on to describe the talents and gifts that have been recognized by his teachers, coaches and family over his fourteen years.

Peter shared that our most critical role in community is to let each other know of the gifts that we see in them and of the gift that they are to us. He had us model this behavior to give us the full experience of it. He also shared that not only do we need to hear of our gifts from others, but we need to hear of the same gift several times before we will actually believe it!

For the next three days we worked on growing our gifts and abilities through training. I now get training to be a sort of fertilizer or plant food that is only able to heighten the bloom of potential if it is receiving its required amounts of water and sunshine!

Connecting all of these dots, it is now very clear to me that we are all born with potential, and it is the role and responsibility of each of us to ensure that these innate gifts in each other are recognized, seen and encouraged. Without that, potential will die.

It's survival is the precursor to growth and development. That means that before can grow, we must first be believed in; before we take risks, we must first be encouraged. All of this is a powerful validation of the why behind the power and impact of my Quantum Endeavors programs. Based on strengths and encouragement, they support my clients to fully step up and into their best.

As we gather with family, friends, colleagues and co-workers during this holiday season, let's remember that the greatest and most urgent gift that we must give is acknowledging the gifts in each other. And the gift that they are to us in our lives. And that is a gift that requires no shopping, wrapping or return receipt! My favorite kind to give and receive!

"You never know when one kind act, or one word of encouragement can change a life forever."

(Zig Ziglar)

If you would like to learn how to more fully stand in your gifts and leader best for your best life and career, please join me for my upcoming Leadership Series: SOAR to Success! Details below...