I’ve learned a few lessons in my 34 years of life, and one is that opportunity rarely comes knocking at our door, nor will it stick around to enjoy a cup of tea with us if it does. It is a constant traveler and it won’t hesitate to pass us over if it senses indecision or waffling on our part.
Opportunity waits for no one.
I think opportunity behaves more like a shooting star. It is only seen by those who are actively and constantly looking for it.
Sadly, we often miss opportunity because we perceive it to be a neatly wrapped package that sits and waits until we finally find the time to open it. But no, opportunity is much swifter than this. It shoots off quickly when we take too much time to deliberate.
When we start worrying and hesitating because we can’t see how every single detail will play out, opportunity senses this hesitation and runs.
So how do we learn to spot opportunity and be ready to move on it?
First, opportunity, like a shooting star, is only seen when time is taken to look. We need to set aside space in our lives to sit, look, be still, and listen. Introspection helps us spot opportunity much quicker.
Second, opportunity is not your grandma who just keeps giving you another piece of chocolate cake each time you ask. Opportunity offers us a piece of cake and then it moves on to offer it to someone else. We must either take the cake or pass, but to do this with ease, we must be crystal clear on where we are going in life.
Third, opportunity favors the proactive person, the one who moves on an opportunity quickly (usually 24 hours to 2 weeks max). Quick decision makers definitely win in the world of opportunity.
Fourth, opportunity is great at being hard to find if it is all we are looking for. But can be found easily when we stop looking for ways to help ourselves and start looking for ways to get outside ourselves and help other people.
Fifth and lastly, sometimes a good opportunity will turn sour for one reason or another. In this case, we have to learn to cut our losses and get out quickly. We have no choice but to chalk it up to a lesson learned. After all, nothing is wasted in life.
Your turn. What valuable lessons have you learned about opportunity? Did I miss anything?
Photo Credit: Costa1973 via Compfight cc
