When a woman says a man has “so much potential,” she is not giving him a compliment. She is calculating his future usefulness. She is not admiring his work ethic, intelligence, or character. She is scouting for how much of his success she can hijack. The word “potential” is her code for “what can I extract from you later?” She has no interest in who the man is today. She only cares about what he might build tomorrow, and how much of it she can claim as hers.
“Potential” is not a word of encouragement. It is a measuring stick. She is not cheering you on. She is taking inventory. She is gauging how long she needs to stay attached before your labor pays off for her. She is not planning to build alongside you. She is planning to collect. The man builds, she inherits. The man sacrifices, she benefits. This is the entitlement that hides beneath the smile.
The “potential” narrative is a setup. If you succeed, she will act like she was part of the journey. If you struggle, she will abandon ship and look for a man whose “potential” is closer to cashing out. In her mind, your future is already hers, and if you fall short of delivering it, she will punish you for wasting her time.
Women who chase “potential” are not partners. They are opportunists. They hover around men who are climbing, waiting to swoop in once the work is done. They will not push you up the ladder, but they will demand to be at the top when you get there. They think loyalty is optional, but rewards are guaranteed.
“Potential” is not about what you can become. It is about what she can take from what you become. The moment her expectations are not met, she will leave, blame you, and try to walk away with half of what you built.
