"成功とは、成功することであり、成功の可能性を持つことではありません。広い土地はすべて宮殿の候補地ではありますが、それが建てられるまでは宮殿ではありません。"

Success is all about what you actually achieve, not just what you could achieve. It's the difference between dreaming and doing. Anyone can have potential, but potential doesn’t pay the bills—it’s the results that count.

Let’s take a stroll down history lane. Think about Thomas Edison, the guy who invented the lightbulb. He had thousands of ideas and experiments, but if he’d stopped at just having potential, we’d still be lighting candles. Edison understood that it wasn't enough to have a brilliant idea; he had to make it happen. After countless trials, he finally created a working lightbulb. That’s success.

Now, let's say you're passionate about cooking. You dream of opening a restaurant. You’ve got fantastic recipes, you can whip up a five-star dish with your eyes closed, and everyone says you’ve got what it takes. But if you never open those doors to your own place, all that potential amounts to nothing. It’s the moment you serve your first customer, the day you open your restaurant, that you can say you’ve succeeded.

So, how do you apply this to your own life? First, identify your goals clearly. What do you want to achieve? Then, chart out the steps to get there. Don’t get stuck in the planning phase—take action. Sure, things might not go perfectly, but that’s part of the journey. Learn from setbacks and keep moving forward. Remember, a palace isn’t built overnight. It’s constructed brick by brick.

Think about this: imagine you’re a writer who dreams of publishing a novel. You have an incredible concept and the first few chapters are stellar. But if you never finish the book, if you never send it to publishers, your potential remains just that—potential. You must push through the tough parts, the writer’s block, the self-doubt. Keep writing, keep editing, keep submitting. That’s how you turn potential into success.

Here’s a relatable scenario. Picture a high school student who is brilliant in math. Their teachers say they could be an amazing engineer someday. They’ve got the potential, no doubt. But if they don’t study hard, if they don’t apply to college, if they don’t put in the effort to learn and grow, that potential will never become reality. They need to take action—do the homework, ace the exams, get into that engineering program. Only then does their potential translate into success.

Success is a journey. It’s the consistent effort, the determination to keep going even when things get tough. It’s about building that palace, one step at a time. So, next time you find yourself dreaming about what could be, remember to turn those dreams into action. Build your palace.