About this quote

Many people don't see their own potential until they are pushed into a demanding situation. Feeling overlooked can mean you simply haven't been given the chance to stretch. Pick one task that is clearly harder than what you normally handle and treat it like an experiment — you'll learn how capable you are by doing, not by waiting. Track the results so you can point to concrete wins when you need to ask for more responsibility.

When to use it

• At a quarterly review at work: "You've handled client crises well—take the lead on the new account; you might be more ready than you think."
• Before a big exam, a tutor tells a student: "You've improved on the practice sets—try the tougher problems next; you'll see how much you've grown."
• A track coach to an athlete before a meet: "You've been hitting times in practice—run the extra lap at race pace and see what happens; you may have more speed than you know."
• A parent encouraging a teenager starting a part-time job: "You already manage your chores and school—apply to run the weekend shift; it's a chance to discover what you can handle."