Keeping Your Mind Open To Opportunities
Most people that miss opportunities fall into one of two camps.
“How much I missed, simply because I was afraid of missing it.” — Paulo Coelho
Opportunities come and go, often unnoticed. They abruptly open and close, and if you’re not paying attention, you can easily miss them. Many people become so fixated on a single path and fail to see what is in front of them.
When I graduated from college, I missed on major opportunities. I interviewed for a sales rep position at a billion dollar forklift company. The first interview went well, but I didn’t take the opportunity seriously. I thought the job was mine so I didn’t pre- pare for the second interview. My arrogance and lack of preparation led to a disas- trous second interview, where the interviewer quickly realized I hadn’t done my home- work. I was called out and sent home, tail between my legs.
I learned a valuable lesson about respecting opportunities. If I had taken that in- terview seriously, my career and life would have been different. While I’ve learned to never take an opportunity for granted, it was a harsh reminder of the importance of preparation and humility.
Opportunities don’t always come in the form of dream jobs or perfect scenarios. Sometimes, they appear as the best of a set of mediocre options. This isn’t to say you’re settling. It’s recognizing that every opportunity, no matter how small, can be a stepping stone to something greater. The key is to seize these moments, even if they don’t seem ideal at the time.
The Mindset Shift
Being open to opportunities requires a mindset shift. Instead of seeing them as a dis- ruption, view them as chances for growth and learning. This perspective allows you to take advantage of situations that others might overlook.
One common reason people ignore opportunities is fear. Fear of failure, fear of change, or fear of stepping out of their comfort zones. However, fear should not be a deterrent. Embrace it as a natural response but don’t let it paralyze you. Taking calcu- lated risks is an essential part of growth.
Opportunities also often come disguised as challenges. When faced with a diffi- cult situation, see if you can find the opportunity within. For example, a setback at work might open the door to learning a new skill or taking on a new role. By ap- proaching problems with a solution-oriented mindset, you can transform challenges into opportunities for advancement.
Be Active
In addition to being open to opportunities, it’s essential to actively seek them out. This proactive approach means regularly assessing your current situation and identifying areas where you can improve or grow. Most people quit at this stage after the first week. Even small steps toward these goals can lead to significant opportunities down the line.
While it’s important to seize opportunities, it’s equally important to find ones that align with your long-term goals and values. Not every opportunity is worth pursuing.
Evaluate them based on how they contribute to your overall vision, and prioritize those that offer the most potential for growth and fulfillment.
Go When You’re Not Ready
I’ve missed plenty of opportunities in my life because I had paralysis analysis. I thought the proposal needed to be perfect, and I sat on my hands too long before ap- plying for a job or a gig. By the time I sent my proposal, the viewer of the proposal would be flooded with dozens of proposals at that point, and mine would be buried in the pile. A key competitive advantage to opportunities is to arrive first. It’s better to arrive first than to be perfect, arriving last.
It’s a great skill to become comfortable going for it when you’re not 100% ready. When you do succeed, you will build a lasting confidence in yourself that will keep building on itself.
If You Missed An Opportunity, Stay Strong
Many people fall into one of these two mindsets when it comes to missing opportuni- ties.
There will be another opportunity out there, so I won’t sweat it.
I missed this opportunity and might as well stop now.
Both these mindsets are bad to have. If you always think there’s an opportunity out there, you may not work as hard because you won’t feel the scarcity in the opportuni- ties. It’s similar to how modern dating apps have made people think there will always be options out there so they don’t put there best face on for a date.
On the flip side, you should not stop. You may be able to come across something again, but you have to be ready for it when it comes. Hard work is when luck meets opportunity. You may have to work hard and not see results from it for a while. Howev- er, hard work will help your odds at being lucky.
Opportunities are everywhere, but it’s up to you to recognize and seize them. Overcome fear, embrace challenges, and actively seek chances for growth. Build a network of connections and stay open to new possibilities. By doing so, you can turn fleeting moments into significant milestones on your path to success.
Life can occasionally feel like it’s getting away from you. That is why I started Setup Sunday newsletter. Sunday is often the perfect day of the week to prepare yourself for what is going to come for the week ahead. If you want tips each week to look at how to set yourself up for a better future, start here and grow each week.