Every minute of every day in the working world, people are using their minds in incredible ways. A marketing committee innovates by playing off of each other's ideas, a sales team remains enthusiastic despite rejection, and a Vice-President stays calm amid the panic caused by formidable challenges.

If you look, you will see it everywhere. People are thriving, along with their companies, even in the most challenging of markets. The reason is simple: the ultimate competitive discriminator in business is the vast, mostly untapped potential lurking in the minds of the people running the show.

Some companies are finding it. Others are not. Either way, this potential is there. Understand it, realize it, use it.