“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” --Seneca
The good news is we are all surrounded by opportunities, both personal and professional. The kicker is we may believe we are overdue for a little luck and our preparation is ready to be rewarded – only to realize that we are unprepared and surprised to find opportunities surface at the most inconvenient time.
Four keys to capturing new opportunities – to move from where we are to where we need to be:
- Value
- Cost
- Gaps
- Support
True opportunities must have value and capture your heart, not just your head. For example, pursuing a new career may seem to be logical--but is it really your passion? I have made several career changes where I realized I took the job to please someone else; I followed my head—not my heart.
There is a cost to capturing a new opportunity—the opportunity cost of not spending your time and money on another priority. For example, what if you commit to returning to school to increase your promotion opportunities, only to witness your family life is deteriorating? You really cannot have it all—opportunities require tradeoffs.
Preparation is great but you will have gaps to close. These gaps can be what you need to know (technical knowledge & interpersonal skills) as well as who you need to know (networking & work relationships).
Finally, you need momentum to move forward and this requires support. The truth is no one ever gets there alone and you may need a catalyst to be your accountability partner.
What is the opportunity you are looking for – has it already arrived?
As always, I welcome your comments and feedback.
Todd
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