the gap between your vision and your reality.
The definition of power I often think about…
The gap between your vision and your reality.
If we look at physics:
Power = work divided by time. So it matches the physics concept perfectly.
But here's what makes this definition useful:
It's neutral. Neither positive nor negative. Power gets framed negatively so often — maybe that's people with power creating narratives to keep others from seeking it?
Work isn't just money. It includes influence, relationships, strategic thinking — all the ways we create change in the world.
It makes power concrete. Instead of some abstract concept, power becomes: "How fast can you close the gap between what you want and what you can make happen?"
Powerlessness isn't about lacking resources. It's about that gap between vision and execution being too wide or taking too long to bridge.
Building power? That's just building your capacity to make your vision real.