What is so appealing about Harry Potter?  Five weeks after the premiere of the latest movie, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, it's still appearing in local theaters. Not only that, Harry Potter is the highest grossing film series of all time, at over $5 billion.

As a fan, I understand why people of all ages and nationalities are in love with Harry Potter.  It is because we recognize our untapped capacity for greatness.

Harry Potter is a boy who is overlooked in his day-to-day life, something almost all of us can relate to. 

When Harry Potter comes of age, however, he learns that he has a tremendous resource of power within.  Not only does Harry learn he comes from a family of incredible power and resilience, but he also learns that as an infant he revealed the potential to be one of the most powerful wizards alive.

We follow Harry through seven volumes of Hogwarts wizarding school, cheering him on as he develops his powers and uses them to overcome adversity and life-defining challenges.

Harry Potter, an unofficial hero of modern culture, personifies our collective aspirations for greatness. Here's what Harry teaches us about ourselves:

• Many of us feel overlooked in our daily lives

• Despite negative feedback we receive in the outside world, we believe that inside we contain a tremendous potential for greatness

• Once we've tapped into the source of our greatness, we can cultivate our personal power through study and practice
  

How can we actualize our internal Harry Potter?

• Examine the source of our power.  For Harry, it was his wizarding heritage and a defining childhood experience.  What do your family legacy and childhood challenges say about who you are and what you can offer the world?

• Identify opportunities to cultivate our personal power.  Harry learned to be a wizard at Hogwarts. Opportunities for us might include educational programs, certifications and/or trainings that can help us to build upon the potential revealed through our strengths and talents.
  

• Believe in your personal potential, and surround yourself with people who believe the same.  Harry didn't thrive until he left the limiting environment of his aunt and uncle's home; building himself a community of mentors, teachers and like-minded friends at Hogwarts.

• Face challenges to your power head-on.  Harry had several nemeses at school, and various threats that emerged at different stages to diminish Harry's power.  Many of us shrink from these opportunities, internalizing their harmful messages.  Rather than letting the "bad guys" win, keep this in mind.  Each of us is more powerful than we know.  We each have the potential for greatness, an inner Harry Potter.  Any message to the contrary is false. Don't be afraid to stare down challenges to your power, learning how and why they affect you. Armed with that knowledge, put those challengers in their place. That's what Harry would do.