Rishav was the kind of guy who everyone believed in.

Smart. Articulate. Creative. He had ideas that made you stop and listen. Dreams that sounded big, but not unrealistic. “If I just sit and do it,” he’d say, “I could build something crazy.”

His friends said it. His teachers said it. His mom believed it with her whole heart. Even Rishav believed it. Too much, in fact. He felt ready without actually doing anything. He felt like someone destined to succeed. The problem? That feeling of potential slowly replaced the need for proof.

Months passed. Then years. The dream was always next month. The idea was always in draft. The identity of “I’m capable” never evolved into “I’m committed.”

And that’s how the Potential Trap works. It feels like momentum. But it’s really just mental masturbation.

Why Most Talented People Fail to Execute

The world isn’t short of talented people. It’s short of people who consistently execute.

Most people aren’t stuck because of lack of skill they’re stuck because of a psychological loop: a mix of ego, fear, and reward chemicals that make thinking feel just as good as doing.

Let’s break this down.

1. The Ego Protection Loop (Carol Dweck’s Fixed Mindset)

Psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck, in her research on mindset, discovered that those who tie their identity to being “talented” often resist taking action because action comes with the risk of failure. It’s called a fixed mindset.

People in this mindset would rather not try than try and risk being seen as “not that good after all.”

That’s the trap. When you believe “I’m gifted,” your brain starts protecting that belief like a precious jewel. Even if it costs your real growth.

Rishav didn’t procrastinate because he was lazy.
He procrastinated because taking action could threaten the image of “someone destined for more.”

2. The Dopamine Illusion (UCLA Neuroscience Study)

Here’s where it gets more fascinating.

In a study by UCLA neuroscientists, researchers found that just visualizing a successful outcome (like imagining yourself giving a TED Talk or building a million-dollar brand) can release enough dopamine to create a temporary high, a sense of “achievement.”

But here’s the kicker: the brain can’t tell the difference between imagination and real experience when it comes to reward chemicals.

So every time Rishav dreamed about launching his startup or creating a viral app his brain rewarded him as if he already had. Over time, he became addicted to the high of “what could be,” instead of facing the discomfort of starting.

3. The Identity Trap

Rishav wasn’t building something. He was building a self-image.

The “potential genius,” The “future founder,”
The “guy who will surprise everyone one day.”

And ironically, this identity meant to motivate became a trap. Because now, not succeeding would be humiliating. So he postponed again and again until the future quietly faded into a blur.

Execution Hurts Because It’s Real

Ideas are safe. They don’t bleed. They don’t get judged. They don’t make you question your worth.

Execution is brutal. Execution exposes your gaps.
It demands consistency, discipline, and confronting your weaknesses.

But it’s also the only thing that transforms potential into power.

The Way Out: Trade Potential for Proof

Nobody cares how capable you could be. They care what you actually do. And the good news? You don’t need to start big. You need to start messy.

Post your first ugly design. Write that cringe first paragraph. Launch a product no one notices. But do it anyway.

Because every piece of execution adds to your real story, not the imaginary one in your head.

Rishav’s Redemption (Still Possible)

Rishav could still change. But only if he’s willing to let go of the pride of “being someone with potential” and embrace the humility of “someone learning through action.”

Because the world doesn’t reward daydreams. It rewards those who build anyway even with shaking hands, even without clarity, even when no one claps.

So ask yourself this today:

Do you want to feel capable?
Or do you want to become undeniable?

The difference is action. Messy. Raw. Consistent.

Start today. And let the world see evidence, not just energy.