I believe we don’t take opportunities but make them. Sitting on our butts every day opens the door for little opportunity. The famous artist Henry Hartman once said, “Success always comes when preparation meets opportunity”.
Webster defines opportunities as, “a good chance for progress”. Dictionary.com – “a situation or condition favorable for attainment of a goal”. Good chances, situations, and favorable conditions arise not by sitting around waiting for opportunities, but by making them happen. We initiate progress through dedication, hard work, and striving towards our goals and dreams.
As Alexander Graham Bell once said, “When one door closes, another opens, but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”
Sometimes, we fail to act today because we assume the opportunity will continue. I find great opportunity is short-lived and rarely repeats itself. The tough part is knowing when to jump into an opportunity. There is no secret formula. Sometimes we just follow our instincts, deal with fears, and try to make an “educated guess”.
However, to increase our chance of advancing exposure to opportunity, try going beyond the status quo by doing something different.
Make Opportunities: 4 Areas
1 Connect Ideas Through Networking:
Join a civic group: Attending regular meetings via the Rotary Club, J.C’s, 4-H, lions, Business Network International, etc.
Volunteer: Use your skills to help at the PTA, Teen Challenge, AmerCorps, Outreach Centers etc.
Attend Meetup events: Every industry has conferences, tradeshows, workshops, luncheons, etc. Find one and go.
2 Use Your Brain:
Sign up: Find a seminar or workshop or two or three.
Research new ways: Search for areas to invest money or use your talents.
Keep learning: Go back to school or sign up for night classes.
Expand your Mind: Try reading books or magazines beyond your normal interest to stimulate your mind.
3 Sphere of Influence:
Call an old friend. Dust off your old contact list or social media account and discuss your new ideas or opportunities.
Discuss opportunities: Don’t forget about your parents, siblings, and other family members that might have ideas you never thought of.
Interact with Acquaintances: We come across people regularly every day. Show some interest and get to know that person. You might just make a new friend as well.
4 Expand Your Horizons:
Talk to strangers. Get out there and meet new people.
Volunteer beyond your comfort zone. Try your local religious institute, hospital, non-profit, school, or social service project.
Face your fears: Try some extreme sport, face your phobias, and try to confront areas that have held you in fear. It might just stimulate your ability to find new opportunities.
Some opportunities require us to stop doing something we love or even make big changes in our lives. It seems all great accomplishments come when we are willing to make great sacrifices.
Outside of neglecting our families or health, everything else is negotiable. In the end, we might be surprised at how many opportunities arise when we make an effort.