Whether it be because of their lack of obvious innovation or their stubbornness to effectively compete with giants like Google and Apple, most of us have implicitly agreed that Microsoft has lost its ‘mojo’. We have all sorta looked over Microsoft and labeled them as irrelevant in today’s technology game. There seems to be little to no need for Microsoft today. Many have converted to Apple and Google for our operating systems, computers, tablets, apps, and smart phones. There seems to be little to no need for Microsoft today. I’m guilty of doing all of the above. lol.

It seems that everyday, new startups are emerging on the scene with an idea on how they can leverage technology in a new and creative way. And yet, one of the pioneers of the tech-age sits silent and asleep. Microsoft has had several setbacks in their efforts to stay relevant. We’ve seen Microsoft fail miserably with products like the Microsoft Zune mp3 Player. We’ve even seen Microsoft fail miserably with OS releases like Windows Vista. You would think that the global leader in software and operating systems would at least get this right. Even some of Microsoft’s most recent products such as Bing and Microsoft Surface have failed to showcase their true potential.

Microsoft has lost its ‘mojo’.

However, I wouldn’t totally put Microsoft in the retirement home just yet. We can’t forget how they have fought to make their claim to modern technology with products such as the Xbox, Microsoft Surface, and Bing; or the major acquisitions they’ve made of companies like Skype; or the major investments they’ve made in new tech companies like Facebook. In their own way, Microsoft have stayed in the race. I would also argue that we may be underestimating what may be Microsoft’s biggest secret yet. And it’s not robotics (although I do think this will change the game once they really bring robotic technology to the markets).

Microsoft’s biggest secret is already on the market. It’s already available in the stores. Many of us plan on buying this Christmas for our kids. We’ve seen it exploited in video games on the Xbox 360. We’ve even seen the commercials of people dancing in front of it, and we’ve already written it off as just a better version of Nintendo’s Wii. As with everything with Microsoft, the success of this big secret is based on how well they can reposition it. It’s not just a new way for users to engage in video games. This thing has the potential to be the new way we engage in everything – how we shop, how we connect, how we surf the web, how we read, how we learn, and how we play. I’m sure you already know what I’m describing. If not…

Watch the video below:

“The Holstee Manifesto is a call to action to live a life full of intention, creativity, passion, and community. We are amazed to see how rapidly these words have spread across the globe, and are honored by the countless people who have experienced these words to be a source of realization and inspiration in their own lives. We want the Manifesto to hold us accountable to living each day as fully as we can and are so encouraged by the amazing community of people joining us in that journey.” -Holstee

Here’s what I know for sure:

All of us have potential and possibility.

It lies in all of us. The potential to do something that matters. The potential to say something that stirs the mind, heart, and soul to change. The possibility to create something that has never been seen. The possibility to learn something new. The potential to be a better you. The potential to do the impossible. We ALL have it. You. Me. Us.

But for many of us, this potential and possibility remains asleep… just waiting. Waiting on us. Waiting on us to notice our own worth. Waiting on us to challenge ourselves. Waiting on us to care. It lies asleep. Just waiting. And every now-and-then, someone comes along crazy enough to stir their own potential to life. We call these people geniuses, talented, creative, successful, leaders, etc. We label them as if they are a rare breed. And all the while, our own potential remains asleep. Just waiting.

I look at all the people who’ve gone on to do great and epic things in their lifetime, and I think of what would have happened if they hadn’t awakened the possibility in themselves. Who would they be? Where would they be? And who would we be as a result of them not awakening their potential?

Who would we be if people like Oprah, Martin Luther King Jr., Michael Jackson, Mother Teresa, Jesus, Gandhi, Tyler Perry, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mya Angelo, J.K. Rowling, S. Truett Cathy, Walt Disney, Billy Graham, and millions of others hadn’t awakened the possibility in themselves? How would our music sound? What TV shows would we NOT have? What freedoms would certain races and ethnic groups not possess? Who and what would we believe? What would technology look like? What would we eat? What would replace all the Disney movies? Who would be the greatest entertainer in history? Who would people look to as great examples of humanitarians?

The world would be different.

We would be different.

 You would be different.

I would be different.

I think we focus so much on the end result of those who decided to awaken possibility in themselves, that we overlook the possibility of what the world would have looked like if they had not. It saddens me that so many people die with their song tucked away in their hearts with them in the grave… never to be heard. I ask myself often, what would the world look like if more of us decided to awaken our own possibility; if each of us decided to really LIVE and SHINE rather than settle for jobs, paychecks, and mediocre lives? How different would we be? How much better would we be? As Oprah would say, “Your purpose is to live out the fullest expression of yourself in the earth.” In other words, GIVE IT ALL YOU GOT!

Think for a second: “How different would the world be without you?”

Stop and actually think about that.

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Better yet, here’s a better question: “How different WILL the world be with YOU?”

This isn’t about going to college, finding a career you like, getting a job that pays well, or how to live happily ever after. This is about YOU. This is about ME. This is about US. NOW. This is about what the world WILL or WILL NOT look like in the next 5 years, 10, years, 20 years, 50 years, 100 years… because of US. Because of you. Because of me.

I’ll leave you with this quote to ponder:

“Whatever we choose or not choose to do today will create our world tomorrow. The choice begins with you. Choose to wake up.”