The Plateau of Latent Potential

It’s incredibly frustrating to work hard towards a goal, but the results just don’t seem to show up. 

You’ve given it your all for days, weeks, or even months, yet progress seems non-existent.

You can’t help but wonder, was it all for nothing? Or is it even worth pursuing the goal? 

One thing is for sure.

The reality didn’t meet the expectations and doubt will creep in. 

This is the point where many of us get discouraged and feel like giving up.

The ones that persist and keep trying will eventually cross the threshold, known as the plateau of latent potential. 

The plateau of latent potential is the breaking point, where the hidden efforts meet the desired results. 

Our efforts don’t make a visible change unless they cross a critical threshold.

It feels like an overnight success, but actually the success comes from the hidden efforts.

Just like a stone cutter hitting 100 times at a rock. We all know that progress is made, but we don’t see the actual results. 

Until, the last hit splits the rock in half. 

And most of us give up before the last hit.  

The time between experiencing no results and the desired results is also known as the valley of disappointment. 

It is the period where you don’t see any results because it’s delayed. No significant difference.

Here are some examples of the valley of disappointments that might occur to you:

You’ve been building muscles, and after weeks of intense training, you see no difference in your physique. 

You’ve been investing for more than a year, but didn’t seem to reach your desired goal.

You’ve been dieting for months, and it seems like you didn’t lose any weight. 

That’s one of the core reasons why building habits is challenging.

“Mastery requires patience” 

The seed of every habit starts with one single decision. 

And unfortunately, the seeds of bad habits are like deeply rooted weeds. It takes immense time to remove it.  

And the seeds of good habits are hard because it requires delicate cultivation. 

One thing is for sure, repeating the habits will only make it grow stronger. Even the tiniest improvement can be beneficial if you are consistent.

“The work is never wasted, it’s simply stored”

So, the big question is: How can some break through the plateau of latent potential with ease, while others struggle for years?