Potential is a choice. It may be inside you already, but how exactly do you proactively unlock it—turning a natural gift into a game-changer?
“I want to challenge the myth that you have to be exceptional or perfect to step into greatness,” says GSTQ founder Dany Garcia. “So I’ve created a mini playbook, distilling the process of maximizing your potential into four key pillars.”
Our community is reframing the conversation around potential as something truly multidimensional: a virtuous circle of visualization, exploration, and recognition.
GSTQ Founder Dany Garcia challenges our community to think about our individual potential in a new way.
Below, learn more about Dany's 4 Pillars of Potential as our community reveals their secrets to unlocking it at every stage.
“Early in my career, I gravitated toward work that required skills for which I had natural talent. But then I realized, in order to grow, would need to stretch myself. Instead of dismissing my potential in something because it was hard, I changed my mindset: I discovered that I could ultimately still be really good at something, even if it required more effort. I deserved to be given the opportunity to try— and those wins were ultimately the most satisfying!"
“Create space in your life to discover what inspires your passion, ignites that spark of curiosity and motivates you to invest in your own life—because it will absolutely impact every aspect of your career.”
“Everyone knows taking the first step is the hardest. So, how do you push through the fear of failure? If you never try, there’s no risk in discovering you don’t have the level of potential you originally thought, right? I find that it’s just like jumping into a cold pool—I can’t overthink it. So, resist the urge to over-plan when you start a new endeavor. You have to quickly tackle something small initially to get that first win under your belt. Don’t overthink it."
• Ramp up your focus by finding a platform and community to expand your initiative.
• Effectively create and manage a network of supportive, like-minded women.
• Fine-tune your messaging and technical skills across all communication channels, including
social media.
• Brand your narrative by identifying what makes it unique and newsworthy.
“The best creative results come from engaging conversations. Ideas may start with that solo spark, an individual’s initial inspiration, but they evolve to reach their ultimate potential when they are challenged and influenced by others you respect and trust. A diverse community with different perspectives will go beyond simply supporting your instincts—they will ask the hard questions, forcing you to defend your thought process for the better.”
"We cannot be successful in a quiet manner. We must be successful as loudly as possible. So that everyone else can see, and they can learn, and they can be inspired, and they can say, ‘I can do that.’ We aren’t doing our job if we are just quietly being successful."
“A big part of connecting with others is accountability. Simply showing up and saying out loud what you want to accomplish makes it more real. That interaction can accelerate your momentum, pushing you further to take steps toward achieving your goal.”
Potential isn't a linear path—a straight line to get from point A to B. It's multidimensional.
And it comes in more than two sizes—not only great or none. Just as no dream is too big, no potential is too small.
Potential is a choice. Step into yours.
• After you’ve reached certain milestones, analyze your achievements to ensure you understand exactly why and how you succeeded—that it wasn’t just a happy accident.
• If you’ve faced roadblocks or failures, do the same.
• Redefine what both failure and success mean to you.
• Learn how to pivot to a new path, instead of simply ending your journey.
“As much as figuring out 'what’s next' is about looking ahead, I've realized that it’s also about looking back, remembering what I love to do, what inspires and motivates me. It's also about recognizing that past achievements weren't an endpoint, just a marker along the way. The journey, moving forward, is more circular than linear, with the things that matter most existing in the center.”
"We all grow and change, and mistakes are inevitable. Eventually though, you get comfortable with missteps and learn that you can quickly make adjustments. You learn to treat the highs and lows of the journey as nothing more than information opportunities that are allowing you to adjust and realign. Most importantly, you begin to experience the incredible joy that comes from living daily in a space where your internal and external brand representations are completely aligned. For me, that is truly a life well-lived."
“Sometimes I need to remind myself that dreams don’t have an expiration date. Whenever I'm in that 'it's too late' mindset, I think of women like Julia Child, who didn’t get her first TV show until after 50. Or the style icon Iris Apfel who didn’t become a household name until her 80s. These are the stories that we know, the women included on lists of famous 'late bloomers.' But there are so many others—lesser known stories of women who started medical school at 40, ran their first marathon at 60, published their first book at 70. I try to keep all of this in mind as I embrace a 'never too late' mindset.”
• It’s now time to expand your focus beyond your own journey.
• Embrace the virtuous circle—seeking support and then, in turn, supporting others in a meaningful way.
• Check in with your current community, but also actively attempt to discover new talented individuals you could support.
• Remember that any woman’s success moves the needle for all women.
“Mentoring others isn’t about molding them to your way of thinking, simply drawing upon your own experience. It’s about meeting them where they are and trying to genuinely understand their passions and how they think—their true potential. Only then can you best support them on their individual journey.”
"Doing well in life means so much more when you bring community with you. My management style is empowerment. I love hiring people who do things better than I do. I’ll do me, and everyone else can do them."
“Helping others isn’t just the right thing to do or an act that brings you joy. See it also as an opportunity, an education. When you give feedback, you typically get direct or indirect feedback in return, which helps highlight your strengths and what you need to work on. Most important, when you connect with a broad range of individuals on a deeper level, it expands your world view through authentic, diverse perspectives.”
Tap Into Your Potential
Amplify Your Potential
Realize Your Potential
Recognize Others' Potential
