Bizlife Smarts

There are many ways to seize opportunity, but let’s focus on 6 that are above board; no shortcuts, and underhanded tricks here! Some will say that the first 3 of these are outside of one’s control. But is that really the case?! In order to seize opportunity, we mostly need things to first align in our favour, and then we take control to make it happen.

Chance and opportunity

The word ‘chance’ has several synonyms, some more common than others. It can closely defined as ‘the possibility of something happening’. Or it can be stretched to mean, ‘a break, an opening, things coming your way’ …or in other words…an opportunity. You know, some may ask, why does it seem that one person succeeds, where others are struggling? For one to be in a position to have good fortune, chance has to come their way. Let’s go on a bit, because the next concept is closely related. The following is important, because chance can also go the wrong way. You know, as in, ‘He allowed them the chance to take advantage of him’.

Serendipity – when opportunity knocks

So, serendipity is simply when chance works out in a positive way. We all know how chance can present itself as a huge opportunity squandered! You know the striker, with a goalmouth wide open before him, and he shoots it wide left. Or the NBA player with an open slam dunk, only to ricochet it off the backboard, all the way to the opposite side of the court. When chance presents itself, serendipity is what makes the chips fall the right way. Don’t let anybody kid you, every person successful in seizing opportunity, has had serendipity on their side.

Does destiny drive opportunity?

The debate over what drives us, fate versus free will; though having a clear dividing line, is inconclusive. Not all of us believe in fate. But when I look around at many of the most fortuitous events and people in the world, I truly believe that some things were simply meant to be. The other day, I heard a highly successful person say that, a common trait amongst the most successful people on earth, is that they knew early on, exactly who they are, and what they were put on this earth to do. https://bodheeprep.com/destiny-not-hard-work-determines-success

But then at some point, free will comes into play. Your fate may be written in the sand, but at some point you are faced with choices that can absolutely change the trajectory of your life. In seizing opportunity, is where fate and free will come together. Hand in hand they help you make the right decision. If Dana White hadn’t dropped out of college he wouldn’t have founded the UFC, at a time when such a sport wasn’t even on the radar. However, without the many key choices he made, he would never have turned it into the juggernaught that it is. Would we have ever tasted the ‘Finger Lickin’ Good’ KFC if Colonel Harland Sanders hadn’t been a brawler and insubordinate; serially losing jobs, having his first restaurant burn down, then inventing his secret recipe at the age of 50, and developing his nationwide franchise at the age of 65? https://community.macmillanlearning.com/t5/talk-psych-blog/chance-encounters-and-the-story-of-life/ba-p/6923. Fate is what presents the opportunity; free will is the choice we make to seize opportunity.

Doggedness to capture opportunity

And that is a great segue to doggedness. Doggedness is tenacity and perseverance; and basically just pure grit. When fate places opportunity in front of you, what you do with it is what makes all the difference. Remember when we told you to be at the table, and not on the menu?! https://bizlifesmarts.com/at%20the%20table%20for%20opportunity Well, now we are explaining it further. I hate to say it, but there are those who sit back, and go into cruise control, when opportunity lands on their lap. Just getting there is the victory for them. That is not enough. What you do when you get into the arena of opportunity, is to grab it by the neck. Think of the G.O.A.T.s in many sports. For various reasons, opportunity was elusive at first. But when it came about, their tenacity is what made them great. https://bizlifesmarts.com/mindset%20to%20win. You must keep pushing until you get over the final finish line. In the words of the late, great Jim Valvano, National Championship winning coach of North Carolina State University; ‘Don’t give up…don’t ever give up!’

Pure talent

Talent, though it helps, doesn’t guarantee you anything in life. Let me give you three lists.

List 1. Freddy Adu, Ted Kaczynski, Vincent Van Gogh, Bobby McFerrin, Macaulay Culkin.

List 2: Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Sylvester Stallone, Sir Richard Branson, Kris Carr, Simon Cowell.

List 3: Albert Einstein, Steven Spielberg, J.K. Rowling, Abraham Lincoln, Walt Disney, Colonel Harlan Sanders.

Please…take some time to try and decipher the lists, before you read on.

List 1 were hugely talented, but failed to achieve their potential, while alive. The second list really didn’t have much talent to speak of, but have achieved immensely. The stars, and the other 5 points, simply aligned for them to succeed. And the final list are those who fit the theme of this piece, in seizing opportunity. Things didn’t start out well for them, as they pursued their dreams, with the obvious talent that they knew they possessed. But once opportunity presented itself, their talent shone through.

Sticking to the plan

Sticking to the plan, is what brings together the previous 5 elements of seizing opportunity. Have you ever watched a predator in the hunt, on a wildlife show? They are faced with so many distrations, ranging from unwanted intrusions, to passing by potential prey, that may seem to be an easier catch. But the successful hunters are the ones that stick to their target.

We are continually distracted and diverted by the non-essential, over-promises, and false opportunities. In sticking to the plan, we prevent these distractions from diverting us from our course. The discipline of pursuing and lining up chance, serendipity, destiny, doggedness, and our talent; and not veering off course, nor being discouraged, it what will enable us to seize opportunity, when it comes.

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