Most of us believe we are capable of more. So why do we keep putting off the things that matter? In this episode, Erick Rheam sits down with speaker, author, and entrepreneur Chris Sund to explore the gap between recognizing our potential and taking meaningful action. Using findings from Chris’s 2026 survey of working adults as a starting point, they examine self-doubt, fear of failure, busy schedules, personal responsibility, and what it really means to become the best version of yourself.
In a 2026 survey of more than 200 working adults, 40% selected self-doubt, 37% fear of failure, and 36% time or busyness as barriers to reaching their potential. Respondents could choose up to two barriers, and the differences between these three figures are too small to establish a clear ranking. On a separate question, 36% reported delaying action “very often” and 42% “sometimes.” These findings offer a useful conversation starter, not a representative measure of all adults.
Choose one area where you have been waiting for the “right time.” Name the barrier as specifically as you can, then schedule one manageable action you can complete in the next seven days. Focus on progress toward what matters—not simply adding more to your to-do list.
Chris Sund is a bestselling author and keynote speaker from Nebraska, and the author of You Are Capable of More: A No-Excuses Guide to Becoming Your Best Self.
He speaks at national conferences, association events, sales kickoffs and leadership retreats across the country.
His message is about human potential: people are capable of far more than they realize, and his mission is to help as many people as possible become the best version of themselves.
Chris does all of this while running a nine-figure company.
As President and COO of Uniti Med, GQR Healthcare and Nebula, he helped grow Uniti Med 10x in two years, earning it the #3 spot on the Inc. Regionals list of fastest-growing companies in the Midwest, and the cultures he has built have been named Fortune Best Workplaces.
He is also the founder of Amplify Speakers and host of the Amplify Speakers Podcast. Chris writes for Forbes and Inc. and has been featured on TV news segments across the US.
Potential alone does not change a life. Awareness helps us see the gap; intentional action begins to close it. The goal is not to do more of everything—it is to do more of what matters.