The only true waste is potential—the things that could have been accomplished with the time and resources available.

Could you have done more with what you had?

The answer is almost always yes. We waste much potential because we’re inherently imperfect.

What could we accomplish if we were more focused?

We don’t always notice when we’ve stagnated because distractions can feel like progress.

We’re not able to maximize everything, but we do have the ability to be less wasteful.