His survey of more than 200 working adults points to a gap that has little to do with talent, and a personal mission to help people close it.
If you asked a room full of working adults whether they are capable of more than they are doing right now, the answer would be close to unanimous. That is what bestselling author and keynote speaker Chris Sund found when he surveyed more than 200 working adults for his book, You Are Capable of More: A No-Excuses Guide to Becoming Your Best Self. Ninety-two percent said they believe they are capable of more than they are doing today.
For Sund, that number is the story. Almost everyone carries a quiet sense that they could be doing more with their lives, whether that means a bigger role at work, a healthier routine or a dream they set aside years ago. He does not see that feeling as a flaw to fix. He sees it as evidence of potential that has not had its chance yet.
It is also why his work begins with a personal mission. Sund wants to help as many people as possible become the best version of themselves, and his survey showed him just how many people are carrying that unused potential.
What the Numbers Show
The 92 percent figure was only the beginning. Seventy-eight percent of respondents said they delay action on things that matter to them. Eighty-five percent said they second-guess themselves because of their own inner voice. Seventy-one percent said they fall short of their potential on a daily or weekly basis.
When people named what holds them back, the answers came in a clear order: first, self-doubt and fear of failure; second, being too busy; third, getting comfortable. Sund points out that none of those barriers is about ability. They are about the stories people tell themselves and the permission they keep waiting for.
“There is more inside of you than you have been using,” Sund said. “Most of the time the next level is not about learning something new. It is about finally acting on what you already know.”
Why Capable People Hold Back
Sund has spent his career hiring, developing and promoting people, including more than a decade in healthcare staffing. Over and over, he watched capable people hold back until someone told them they were ready. The survey put numbers to what he had seen up close for years.
His message is simple: stop waiting for permission and start taking ownership. Through honest personal stories, including his own setbacks, the book shows readers how to move through self-doubt, take ownership of their choices and build the habits that turn good intentions into progress.
Several chapters speak directly to the barriers his research uncovered. Train Your Inner Voice shows readers how to keep moving without waiting for doubt to disappear first. Time Is Your Edge makes the case that most of life is made of ordinary days, and that how those days are spent decides where a person ends up. The Comfort Ceiling names the invisible limit people quietly set for themselves. Each chapter ends with actions readers can take that day, and a closing Playbook helps them put the lessons to work.
“My goal is to help people become the best version of themselves,” Sund said. “Self-doubt does not have to disappear for you to move forward. It can come along for the ride. It just does not get to drive.”
A Book That Has Found Its Readers
Released on August 13, 2026 by Game Changer Publishing, You Are Capable of More won the How-To category at the 2026 Paris Book Festival and became an Amazon bestseller. Reedsy Discovery rated it a “Must Read,” BookViral called it “A Recommended Read,” and it earned a five-star review from Literary Titan. It has been endorsed by professional athletes, Olympians and bestselling authors.
Sund writes for Forbes and Inc., including the Forbes article You’re Capable of More: Here’s What’s Actually Stopping You. He has also been featured in CEO Weekly, US Business News and MSN. He has shared the book’s message on morning TV in Tampa, Austin, Kansas City, Omaha, Sioux Falls and Des Moines.
Beyond the Book
Because Sund’s mission is to reach as many people as possible, the message of You Are Capable of More does not stop at the last page. Its website offers free assessments, articles and resources so anyone can take their next step, whether or not they have read the book. The free assessment helps people see which barriers are holding them back and where to focus first.
The larger message is a hopeful one. If 92 percent of people believe they are capable of more, then the gap between who they are and who they could be is not a lack of talent. It is a matter of taking the first step, and then the next one.
Readers can find a free assessment, articles and other free resources at You Are Capable of More. The book is available in paperback, hardcover and ebook on Amazon. To learn more about Chris Sund and his keynotes, visit chrissund.com.
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