Maximizing Your Potential: Using Your Brain to Think

The Chicago Times once printed that Henry Ford was an ignoramus. Mr. Ford sued, challenging the paper to prove it.

The proof was attempted in court. During the trial, Mr. Ford was asked a series of simple, general information questions, such as,

* Could you name the Presidents of the United States?
* When was the Civil War?; and so on.

Mr. Ford, who had little formal education, could answer very few. Finally, in exasperation, he replied, "I don't know the answers to these questions, but I could find a man in five minutes who does. I use my brain to think, not to store a lot of useless facts."

A similar story is told of Albert Einstein. Someone once asked him how many feet are there in a mile. "I don't know," he was reported as saying. "Why should I fill my head with things like that when I could look them up in any reference book in two minutes?"

Both of these men, giants in their respective field, knew what every good leader learns sooner or later: that the ability to get information and act on it is what gets things done.

As one business leader recently put it, "I want people around me who can solve problems, not recite facts."

History is filled with many instances where individuals, many without a high school diploma, became successful businesspersons because they knew how to gather information they lacked and they acted on it promptly. They are, whether living or deceased, examples of people who know how to maximize their potential and did. What are you doing about yours?

Remember: When you maximize your potential, everyone wins. When you don't, we all lose.

Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, Management Consultant and Trainer, conducts seminars, lectures, and writes articles on his theme: ... helping you maximize your potential. He offers a free health survey at http://eagibbs.usana.com; and free state tourism guides at http://www.ExecutiveAndGroupTravel.com. Reach him at eagibbs@ureach.com.

---

The Gravitational Pull of ANTs, WORMS & FEARS

What is an ANT? An ANT is an acronym for... Read More

Believing in a Better Lifestyle

How many of you have ever thought about the link... Read More

The Synchronicity of Success

I love the idea of synchronicity.Perhaps it's just part of... Read More

Top 6 Business Success Strategies

"The principal purpose of business is to create a customer."... Read More

A Gold Medal in Love

Five-time gold medal-winning figure skater, Jenny Kilmer, has won the... Read More

Work Smarter Not Harder

When you are working over time but yet you do... Read More

Reach Your Goals - Friendly Competition

Friendly competition Get together with a group of like-minded friends... Read More

Success In An Ever Changing World?

Well, it's that time of the year again. No, I... Read More

Be Successful : Take Back Control of Your Life

What would happen if you lived your life by design... Read More

Double Your Brain Power

Do you think you have an "average" or perhaps an... Read More

Do You Need A Change Of Mind?

Napoleon Hill, the famous inspirational writer, once met a reader... Read More

Five Principals for Prosperity

Many years ago, forty to be exact, I started my... Read More

Knowledge Is Not Power

Whoever first said that knowledge is power was probably selling... Read More

The Story of Big Jim

The power went out. Again!I looked out my second story... Read More

7 Dynamic Strategies for Creating a Life that Works

Everyone wants a life that works effectively, whether that means... Read More

Breakfast of Failures

"If you want to increase your success rate, double your... Read More

Success Through Clear Dreams - I Do Not Want To Lie On My Death Bed Saying I Wish I Had Done That

Many UK citizens want to settle or retire in Spain... Read More

Run Towards Fear: A Prescription for Success

Fear, or negative anxiety, is the modern day bubonic plague,... Read More

Choice and Change - The Two Constants

OK, so here we are. We've switched the calendars out... Read More

Two Key Success Skills - Take Action Now And Be Bold Enough To Talk

I am writing this article to cement two key success... Read More

Goal Setting: Pops Proves Its Never Too Late

Pops first set the goal in high school, but when... Read More

How To Get As Lucky As J. Paul Getty

J. Paul Getty appeared to be incredibly lucky, but it... Read More

Millionaire Mind - Secret Of The Millionaire Mind Revealed

Hey Future Millionaire,There's so much value in reading about the... Read More

How to Make Success a Habit

Want to make success a habit in your life? If... Read More

+ Persistence =

"Never, never, never give up; never give up, never!." -... Read More

Success Lessons From Tennis That Can Change Your Life

Most sports are full of lessons for the discerning. Tennis... Read More

Learning How To Fall: You Have To Learn To Fall Before You Can Ride With Confidence!

About a month ago, I was hit by a car... Read More

A Stop On the Road of Life

With three kids, a business, a husband with a business,... Read More

How to Find Out What You Want from Life

No matter how young or old you are, you must... Read More

Obstacles to Success. Why Dont I Believe In Myself and What Can I Do About It?

Why do so many of us lack belief in ourselves?... Read More

10 Principles of Success

How do we define success? Webster's dictionary defines success as... Read More

The Not So Secret Secrets of Success

Have you ever heard of the "secrets of success"? Many... Read More

Reaping a Multiple Reward

For every disciplined effort, there are multiple rewards. That's one... Read More