About 9 months ago, I found myself at a crossroads. After climbing the corporate ladder for nearly two decades, working my way up to the executive ranks, I felt the itch to venture into entrepreneurship once again. My first attempt at starting a business had been a mixed bag back when eCommerce was still gaining a foothold. I learned valuable lessons, but it was far from the success I had envisioned. Now, after years with a false hope that climbing the corporate ladder would give me the career satisfaction I yearned for, I wanted to take a second shot. Imposter syndrome and the fear of failure lingered but in reading Hidden Potential by Adam Grant, I found new motivation on confidence that helped me finally get over the hump and launch my company, Measured Transformation.
Grant’s book didn’t just inspire me; it gave me a roadmap and I’ve always appreciated his approach to writing and making his insights actionable. Unlike many business books that focus solely on talent or skill-building, Hidden Potential dismantles the myth of innate genius and champions the idea that potential is not fixed but can be cultivated through deliberate growth. This resonated deeply with me as someone who had already built a successful career but felt like I was on the cusp of something bigger if only I could break through my own mental barriers.
In Hidden Potential, Grant argues that success isn’t determined by talent alone, but by what he calls “the capability gap”—the distance between where you are and where you could be. He presents compelling research to show that grit, learning agility, and feedback loops are more predictive of long-term success than static markers like IQ or early achievement. This was a pivotal realization for me, as it reframed how I saw my corporate experience. Rather than viewing my years as a corporate executive as a detour from my entrepreneurial ambitions, I started to see it as a foundation—one that equipped me with the resilience, strategic thinking, and networks that could fuel my new venture.
Grant’s anecdotes, from Olympic athletes to corporate titans, underscore the power of perseverance and adaptability, and they illustrate how people with seemingly limited potential transformed themselves into world-class achievers. For me, one of the most transformative concepts in the book was his take on “dormant potential,” the idea that life experiences—positive and negative—can create reservoirs of untapped ability. This gave me a new lens to view my past failures as fuel for my future success.
One particularly powerful section of the book is when Grant discusses the importance of surrounding yourself with “supportive challengers.” He makes the case that true growth doesn’t happen in isolation; it requires mentors and peers who challenge your ideas and push you beyond your comfort zone. That insight helped me re-evaluate the network of advisors I had built over the years, and I started seeking out people who would not just cheer me on but question my assumptions and push me to be better. That mindset shift directly influenced the way I structured Measured Transformation—building a team that was willing to question the status quo and constantly experiment.
Ultimately, Hidden Potential is not a feel-good book about untapped genius. It’s a manual for anyone looking to close the gap between their current self and their future self. Adam Grant doesn’t sugarcoat the effort required to unlock hidden potential. Instead, he shows that the process is rigorous but worth it. For me, this book was the catalyst that helped me believe that my years in the corporate world were not a detour but preparation, and that I had the tools I needed to become a successful entrepreneur—again.
Key Takeaways from Hidden Potential
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Potential is not fixed: Success isn’t about innate talent or genius; it’s about growth. Your potential is something that can be developed through deliberate practice, learning, and persistence.
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The Capability Gap: The difference between where you are now and where you could be is more important than talent alone. Closing this gap requires focusing on learning agility, grit, and continuous improvement.
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Grit and Perseverance: Hard work and persistence over time often trump raw talent. Grant shows how sustained effort and resilience are critical to unlocking hidden potential.
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Learning from Failure: Setbacks and past failures aren’t roadblocks but rather opportunities for growth. Dormant potential can be activated by embracing failure as part of the learning process.
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The Power of Feedback Loops: Constructive criticism and feedback are essential to self-improvement. Seek out people who will challenge your thinking, not just reinforce your current beliefs.
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Surround Yourself with Supportive Challengers: Growth doesn’t happen in isolation. Surround yourself with mentors and peers who will push you, challenge you, and support your development.
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Cultivate Adaptability: Adaptability is a key trait of high achievers. Being flexible, willing to pivot, and learning new skills as challenges arise are critical to long-term success.
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Embrace Discomfort: Real growth often happens when you’re outside your comfort zone. Grant argues that pushing beyond what feels safe or comfortable is necessary to unlock new levels of performance.
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Focus on Long-Term Development: Rather than focusing on short-term wins or immediate mastery, the book encourages a long-term approach to developing your potential through continuous learning and evolution.
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Potential is Contextual: Different environments may reveal or stifle your potential. Finding the right context where you can thrive and be challenged is crucial to realizing what you’re truly capable of achieving.
If you’re feeling stuck, whether you’re contemplating a career shift, launching a new business, or just trying to push through a plateau, Hidden Potential will give you both the motivation and the strategies to take that next step. It’s not a magical solution, but it will make you realize that your potential is not a fixed quantity—it’s something you can grow, stretch, and ultimately, realize. For me, reading it was a game-changer.
