STRENGTH & FOCUS: How to recognize your opportunities in life
Greetings, and thanks for reading this week’s edition of Strength & Focus on NEPA Scene. Today, we’ll be discussing opportunities in life. Whether you know it or not, we are all presented with tens, maybe even hundreds of opportunities a day, and if you chunk down and get specific enough, possibly even thousands.
Are you someone who takes advantage of opportunities that are presented to you?
Do you take the opportunity to create opportunities?
Do you understand where I’m going with both of these questions, or are you shaking your head in confusion or uncertainty?
If the latter, perhaps you’ve heard yourself say or think, “I don’t have the same opportunities as other people,” and if that’s the case, perhaps you do have the same opportunities as other people – you just need to learn to recognize them.
Each day, you have countless opportunities to make things happen. Some opportunities are presented and some are created. Your objective is to learn to recognize them and take action. You are responsible for your actions with every opportunity taken; likewise, you’re also responsible for opportunities thrown aside or when you’re powerless to act. I discuss this in much greater detail in my chapter, “Transform Pebbles into Mountains,” from “The Change: Insights Into Self-Empowerment” book series.
The greatest achievers are those who recognize opportunities and take immediate action. Sir Richard Branson is quoted as saying, “If someone offers you an amazing opportunity and you’re not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later.” He’s not the first to utter these words. One of the best-selling personal development authors of all-time, Napoleon Hill (author of “Think and Grow Rich,” and “The Law of Success,” among others) constantly encourages the reader to take opportunities throughout his works. Hill describes numerous stories of entrepreneurs who amassed great success and wealth because they had the insight to realize opportunity was knocking and the initiative to take proper action.
What about you? Have you easily recognized and taken opportunities in the past, or do you hold regrets? Do you have memories of proud triumphs, or does the fog of what if haunt you at night? Successful people are able to make quick and clear decisions, while unsuccessful people are hesitant, often going back and forth between options and excusing themselves under the false assurance of waiting for the next time.
So how does one learn to recognize opportunities? As stated before, opportunities can be both created and presented. Perhaps you’ll generate opportunities for yourself by building a blog to share your expertise with potential clients, or maybe you’ll volunteer your services pro bono to market your business within the community. Imagine a colleague offers a chance to collaborate on a group project or invites you to attend a networking event – do you choose to accept even if it means restructuring your schedule and priorities for the greater good, or do you decline and wait for the next time because you’re too busy? Are you already in the habit of making and taking opportunities for yourself and your career? If yes, great! What are your results? If no, isn’t this something that could help you produce better results in your personal and/or professional life?
As you go about your day, consider the people, events, and activities in your life; begin to monitor opportunities that are presented and those that you create. If you’re interested in learning to recognize opportunities so that you can take greater action, contact me at rich@thepathofme.com and I’ll send you a 10-page resource guide as a gift because you’re an active reader of my column. I’m sure you’ll find this resource guide extremely helpful and beneficial.
As always, thanks for reading and be excellent!
