Lean Quote: Find and Develop the Potential Within You

On Fridays I will post a Lean related Quote. Throughout our lifetimes many people touch our lives and leave us with words of wisdom. These can both be a source of new learning and also a point to pause and reflect upon lessons we have learned. Within Lean active learning is an important aspect on this journey because without learning we can not improve.

"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful." — Albert Schweitzer

We are privileged to live in a country that offers boundless opportunities and abundance. But there is no magic key or instant formula for success. People should take the time to look within themselves to find and develop their own potential.

According to an ancient legend, a group of wise men were disturbed when they saw how humankind abused its wisdom. They decided to hide the secret of success and happiness where no one would never again find it. But where? The chief of the wise men called a council to decide.

One wise man said, "We will bury the secret of happiness and success in the dark depths of the earth."

The chief wise man responded, "No, that will never do, for humans will dig deep down into the earth and find it."

A second wise man proposed, "We will sink the secret of happiness and success into the deepest ocean."

But again the chief wise man replied, "No, not there, for people will surely dive into the depths and find it,"

Another wise man suggested, "We will hide it on top of the highest mountain."

Again the chief wise man rejected the idea. "No, for humans will eventually climb even the highest mountain and find it and again take it up for themselves."

Then, the chief wise man said, "Here is what we will do. We will hide the secret of happiness and success deep inside every individual, for they will never think to look for it there." 

To this day, according to legend, people have been running back and forth across the earth digging, diving, and climbing in search of something that they already possess within themselves. You, too, already possess all of the resources you need to be superbly successful. You simply need to develop them by becoming more of who you really are.