This year, I’m embarking on my own reading challenge and for the “book to movie” category, I chose Julie & Julia, My Year of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell. Why? It’s a story that resonates with me. Not only does it feature two names I share – Julie & Julia – but it also centers on something I love: cooking.  

But it’s more than that. I’m fascinated by the power of intention and curiosity to fuel growth, even when life feels messy or uncertain. In her memoir, Julie Powell begins a bold journey: cooking 524 recipes in 365 days from Julia Child’s iconic cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

Julie started her project feeling stuck in a dead-end secretarial job. Through her yearlong recipe challenge, she tapped into her curiosity, creativity, and resilience. Blogging about her journey made her one of the first food bloggers and set her on an entirely new career path as a writer.

What would your career - or life -  look like if you committed to unlocking your potential with this kind of curiosity and intention?   

What Is Unlocking Potential?

Unlocking potential can be messy – like a souffle that keeps collapsing no matter how many times you try. Growth isn’t always easy. It might seem simpler to hold fast to the knowledge and skills you’ve already mastered. Why take on the challenge of learning something new when your plate is already full?   

Adam Grant, in his book, Hidden Potential, challenges the idea that learning is linear. Many think that learning  looks like this:

Knowledge -> Comfort -> Practice -> Progress

Grant notes that learning is much more iterative, full of stops, starts and moments of discomfort:

Knowledge -> Practice -> Discomfort -> More Practice -> Progress -> Comfort – with plenty of feedback loops along the way.

Julie Powell’s story is the perfect example of this messy process. She faced kitchen disasters daily — burned dishes, failed soufflés, and the occasional lobster mishap. Yet every misstep was a part of her learning and sharing journey. These challenges not only helped her grow but also made her story relatable and inspiring to others.

Unlocking potential isn’t about avoiding failure—it’s about embracing it as part of your path, purpose, and journey. Her story reminds us that growth isn’t just about skill-building; it’s about possibility and potential.

 

The Power of Intentionality – Lessons from Julie

Julie’s commitment to cooking every recipe gave her a clear goal and direction. What ambitious goal could you set to grow intentionally? It doesn’t have to be about cooking – it could be taking on a challenging project or assignment, developing a new skill or exploring a passion area.

Julie’s journey points out three key lessons:

1.      Embrace Curiosity: Julie’s curiosity about French cooking kept her motivated, even when things went wrong. What are you curious about that could unlock your potential?

2.      Stay Resilient: the path to growth is rarely smooth and can be fraught with stops and starts. Julie’s stops and starts provided for interesting discussion on her blog moving her forward.

3.      Leverage Support: Julie relied on her blog readers and her husband for encouragement. Who can you turn to for advice and feedback as you grow?

Practical Steps to Unlock Your Potential:

The Design Your THRIVE Intention framework identifies 10 elements that promote THRIVE at work. These three elements are focused on potential:

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Identify areas where you want to build your confidence. Learning and doing grows confidence – and confidence builds THRIVE at work.
• Ask yourself: What tasks or functions do you love or perhaps ones you might struggle with? How can I refine these – add, delegate, or delete where you are able?
• Like Julie, experiment and discover what’s meaningful for you.

Maximizing Potential:

• Look for opportunities that leverage your strengths or stretch you in new ways.
• Consider short-term projects, rotating assignments, or exploring career options. Think about where you can grow and shine.
• If you feel stuck, lean into your passions or interests to take a step forward.

Learning and Growth:

• Invest in yourself - Commit to ongoing learning, whether it’s a course, mentorship, or  hands-on experience.
• Ask:  What might prepare you for future opportunities or promotional paths?
• Julie’s journey as a blogger opened unexpected doors – what might learning something new unlock for you? 

Intention is the First Step

Julie Powell’s quirky goal of cooking every recipe in Mastering the Art of French Cooking was transformative. By committing to a challenging project and sharing her experiences, she created new opportunities and potential.

What’s the first step you can take today to unlock you or your team’s potential?

Whether it’s learning something new, pursuing a passion, or setting a bold goal, remember that growth starts with intention.