Aiming for Potential

Most people aim to solve immediate problems, but the real goal should be expanding your potential. Focus on versatility, tackle complex tasks, and keep growing.

We’re taught from a young age to focus on objectives: finish your homework, pass the test, get the job done. This mindset persists as we grow older, turning life into a series of tasks to complete and problems to solve. On the surface, this seems like a sensible approach. After all, solving problems is productive, and productivity is the ultimate goal, right? But what if this relentless focus on problem-solving actually narrows our potential? What if, by aiming solely at the objective in front of us, we miss the bigger picture?

The truth is, most people spend their lives stuck in this mode of thinking—chasing one objective after another, with no regard for the broader impact on their potential. It’s like playing a game of whack-a-mole: as soon as one problem is solved, another pops up, demanding the same energy, the same narrow focus. But this cycle, while it keeps us busy, doesn't necessarily lead to growth. It keeps us good at solving a particular set of problems but leaves us ill-prepared for anything outside that scope. We become specialists in mediocrity, masters of the mundane.

The Misguided Pursuit of Objectives

People often mistake the completion of tasks for progress. They equate being busy with being productive, and ticking off a to-do list with achieving something meaningful. But real progress isn’t just about moving from point A to point B—it’s about expanding the entire map. Imagine you’re navigating a dark forest with a flashlight that only illuminates a narrow path. If you focus solely on following that path, you might reach your destination, but you’ll miss everything else along the way. Your understanding of the forest remains limited, and your journey is confined to the narrow strip of light. But what if, instead of just walking the path, you focused on broadening your light? Suddenly, the forest reveals itself in all its complexity, offering countless new paths and opportunities.

This is what it means to aim for potential rather than objectives. Instead of just solving the problem at hand, you work on expanding your ability to solve any problem. You don’t just complete the task—you learn, you grow, you evolve. You turn each challenge into a stepping stone that builds your capacity for the next, more complex one. This shift in mindset is subtle, but it’s transformative. It’s the difference between playing a finite game, where the goal is to win, and playing an infinite game, where the goal is to keep playing and keep improving.

The Value of Versatility

One of the most valuable skills you can develop is versatility—the ability to adapt and thrive in a variety of situations. Versatility is what allows you to navigate complexity, to switch gears effortlessly, and to apply your skills in unexpected ways. Think of a Swiss Army knife: its value lies not in any single blade or tool, but in its ability to be whatever you need it to be in a given moment. This is the kind of adaptability that comes from having a wide-ranging set of skills and the mental flexibility to use them creatively.

But versatility isn’t just about having a broad skill set; it’s also about the way you think. It’s about being able to draw connections between disparate fields, to see patterns where others see chaos, and to apply lessons from one area to solve problems in another. This kind of thinking doesn’t come from a narrow focus on objectives—it comes from a deliberate effort to explore, to experiment, and to build a diverse toolkit of experiences and knowledge.

Consider how this plays out in creative work. Writing a screenplay, for example, isn’t just about crafting dialogue or building characters. It’s about understanding people, tapping into emotions, and weaving a narrative that resonates. It requires empathy, strategy, and a keen sense of what matters. But more than anything, it’s about learning to see the world through multiple lenses. It’s about taking the raw material of human experience and shaping it into something meaningful. And it’s in this process—this messy, complex, and deeply human process—that real growth happens.

Building a Mental Map

When you engage in complex tasks, you’re not just solving problems; you’re building a mental map. This map is a representation of how different pieces of knowledge fit together, how they can be applied, and why they matter. It’s what allows you to navigate new challenges with confidence, to see opportunities where others see obstacles, and to approach problems from a strategic vantage point. The more you work on complex tasks, the more detailed and comprehensive your map becomes.

But here’s the catch: building this map requires you to step outside your comfort zone. It demands that you tackle tasks that are not just difficult but also unfamiliar, that you stretch your abilities and challenge your assumptions. It’s in these moments—when you’re grappling with something you don’t fully understand—that the real learning occurs. You’re not just adding new paths to your map; you’re expanding the entire territory.

From Performance to Potential

The shift from performance-driven thinking to potential-driven thinking is more than just a change in perspective; it’s a change in how you approach life. Performance-driven thinking is about doing things right, about meeting expectations and achieving predefined goals. Potential-driven thinking, on the other hand, is about doing the right things—about making choices that maximize your growth and open up new possibilities. It’s about prioritizing learning over immediate success, and long-term impact over short-term gains.

Imagine a company that focuses solely on quarterly earnings. They might do well in the short term, but over time, their narrow focus on hitting targets can lead to stagnation. Contrast that with a company that invests in research and development, in exploring new markets, and in cultivating a culture of innovation. They may face setbacks along the way, but their long-term potential is far greater. The same principle applies on an individual level: if you focus only on what’s directly in front of you, you’ll miss the opportunities that lie beyond. But if you invest in your potential, in building skills, knowledge, and resilience, you set yourself up for success in ways you can’t yet predict.

Mission-Oriented Thinking

One of the most effective ways to stay focused on potential is to have a clear mission—a guiding principle that informs your decisions and keeps you aligned with your broader goals. A mission provides context and meaning to your actions, making it easier to prioritize tasks that contribute to your long-term growth. It’s not just about having a goal; it’s about having a purpose that drives you to continuously improve and expand your capabilities.

For me, that mission has always been to aim for the most complex tasks available. I’ve found that the most rewarding experiences are those that push me beyond my limits, that force me to think deeply and creatively about how to solve problems. It’s not about achieving a specific outcome; it’s about the process of striving, of learning, and of growing. This mission has guided me through countless challenges, from writing art, to code, to startups, to think tank and academic research. And it’s taught me that the real value of any task lies not in the result, but in the journey.

Expanding Your Potential as the True Goal

Ultimately, the goal should not be to solve every problem or to meet every objective; it should be to expand your potential, to become someone who can handle whatever challenges come your way. This means stepping outside your comfort zone, seeking out complex and unfamiliar tasks, and approaching each experience as an opportunity to learn. It means prioritizing growth over immediate success and embracing the discomfort that comes with pushing your boundaries.

By shifting your focus from performance to potential, you not only increase your capacity to solve problems but also unlock new opportunities that were previously out of reach. You become not just a doer, but a thinker, an innovator, and a leader. You build a mental map that allows you to navigate complexity with confidence and to approach each new challenge with a sense of curiosity and possibility.

Conclusion: The Infinite Game of Potential

In the grand scheme of things, it’s not the objectives we meet that define us, but the potential we cultivate. Every task, every challenge, every experience is a chance to add another layer to our understanding, to build another path on our mental map. And the more we focus on expanding our potential, the more we set ourselves up for a life of continuous growth and discovery.

So don’t just aim to solve problems. Aim to expand your potential. Seek out complexity, embrace challenges, and let your mission guide you. This is not just the path to success—it’s the path to realizing your full potential and playing the infinite game of life