Many see opportunities as the one event that will turn their lives upside down… for the better. They tend to stand there gazing, hunting for that opportunity they’ve idealized in their mind. At the other extreme, others may spend a lifetime frenetically generating a large number of opportunities with the firm belief that, one of them, will be a jackpot.
Life doesn’t really unfold that way. Opportunities are not wars to be won but battles to be undergone. As we sharpen our observation abilities, we will better be able to tell which are decisive and which are not. Hence better focusing our time, energy and attention.
I’ve tried to compile 10 important characteristics of opportunities that are worth keeping in mind. Here they are:
1. A failed opportunity = learning(s).
2. A failed opportunity with no learning = throwing away a chunk of our life.
3. Rehashing past missed opportunities = regrets and/or moaning => loss of time and energy.
4. Bad luck = delayed good luck.
5. Some opportunities are exploited, others are created. Preparation is your best friend.
Chance favors only the prepared mind — Louis PASTEUR.
6. Opportunity often comes disguised in the form of trouble or failure. It gives us the strength to explore what we did not dare to explore before.
You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have. — Bob Marley.
7. Most opportunities = distractions: when late Steve Jobs was asked about what he was proud of, he answered, I’m as proud of what I did as of what I did not. Life is about focus. The focus is on managing distractions. Many distractions come disguised as once in a lifetime opportunity.
8. Seeing opportunity where others see problems isn’t enough. There’s still a need for long hours of hard work. If you think somebody is lucky, chances are s/he has been preparing for that long before. As they say “it’s a 10 years overnight success” 😉.
9. You can’t really guess what your next big opportunity will be. Give it your best shot and let the universe decide.
You cannot connect the dots forward, you can only connect them backward — Steve JOBS.
10. For an opportunity to be good for you, you need to be good for that opportunity. Said differently, you have to offer value to harvest value.
To sum up, all opportunities are not born equal. They should be gauged against purpose. Few should survive. All others are supposed to serve them.
That’s all folks! ☺
PS: Please add your insights by commenting!
If interested in learning how to work with your nature and not against it, check out my book at WorkWithYourNature.com
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Hi there,
Thanks for your feedback. I see the truth in what you say. In the same time it’s tough to formulate a nuanced idea in the format of a tweet. Thanks for sharing your perspective.