Maximise Potential

  Labor Day, celebrated on the first Monday of September in the United States, is more than just a long weekend. It is a day dedicated to honoring the hard work and contributions of American workers throughout history. The holiday originated from the labor movement in the late 19th century and today it serves as a reminder that success—whether personal or collective—is largely a result of dedication, determination, and, above all, hard work. I want to take this moment to speak about success and of course some of the elements that can help us get closer to where we want to go. Success is tantalizing, and the word evokes many positive images. As long as your success does not depend on tearing other people down, you can be happy when you are moving toward your definition of success. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to success. Each of us can define what it means to us, and that definition will be influenced by our goals, values, and vision. Hard work lies at the core of success,...

  I am here to speak about the term “jumping the shark” which serves as a cautionary metaphor. Originally coined to describe the moment when a popular TV show declines in quality by prioritizing gimmicks over substance, this phrase has since transcended its origins to become a symbol of decline in various domains. But what does “jumping the shark” truly mean, and what lessons can we draw from it for innovation, leadership, and relevance? The phrase originates from a 1977 episode of Happy Days , a series of that era. In the episode, Fonzie, the show’s iconic leather-jacketed character, performs an outlandish stunt: water-skiing over a shark while wearing his signature outfit. Although the episode drew viewers, critics and fans alike began to feel the show was losing its authenticity. From that point on, the term “jumping the shark” became shorthand for a desperate, often misguided attempt to revive or maintain popularity, often leading to creative decline. Over time, “jumping the sh...