Have you ever wondered how some people seem to get all the lucky breaks, and make the big leaps, whilst you sit there waiting for your phone to ring?
You’re busy doing the work, and getting results, but the big breaks in your world are about as rare as carrot sticks in a Krispy Kreme shop.
Firstly, let’s define “opportunity”
We often see opportunity as something that finds us, but I’ve learnt that we have to find it.
By definition ‘opportunity’ is a time or set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something. Nowhere in the definition does it state who creates the opportunity.
And yet many of us sit there waiting for opportunity to appear before us, instead of creating it for ourselves.
Opportunity Tip: You have to go find it.
Are you shining bright or sitting in the dark waiting?
Now that we’ve determined that you have to put yourself forward so opportunity can find you, the next step is to work out how. And it’s pretty simple.
You need to shine brighter by being honest with yourself and those around you about who you are, what you want, what you believe in and the results you want to achieve.
If you stay hidden in the dark with the rest of the stars, how will opportunity know which one to pick?
Opportunity Tip: Shine your own light.
It only takes one star to make a huge impact.
A few years ago I had an opportunity to climb Mount Kinabalu in Borneo. We’d made the first part of the climb and had grabbed a few hours sleep at the rest house. At 1.30am we were woken to eat and get ready for our climb to the Summit. It was pitch black and as I looked up towards the Summit I saw a trail of tiny lights leading up to the sky.
At first I thought they were the stars, but I soon realised they were the headlamps of my fellow climbers making their way up the mountain.
Each one was so small and seemingly insignificant, but the more I thought about it the more I realised it only takes one star to have a huge impact in the world.
Opportunity Tip: You may be small, but never insignificant.
What’s the impact you want to create?
As I looked up at those lights something within me stirred and I knew I wanted to make an impact. I wanted to create a ripple effect around me so each small step that I took would reach out and multiply.
As the sun rose that morning and I looked out from the summit at the world beneath me, I realised it was up to me to make a difference, and be the difference in my life.
I could no longer wait for others to give me the permission I sought or tell me what I needed to do.
Opportunity Tip: Create a ripple effect from each small step you take.
You have to be clear about what it is you want.
Opportunities are endless and you need to be clear about what you want to attract.
For example I went into this year with a clear intention to do more speaking and live events, and to collaborate.
But I didn’t stop there. I told people that’s what I wanted to do. I sought out opportunities and relationships that would allow that to happen.
Within a few short months, I’ve been invited to present a workshop at TEDxCanberra, I’ve spoken at the Team Women Australia event, been booked to speak at other business events, and have been invited to present in New York.
I’m also collaborating on another project with Team Women Australia, working on a new project with some amazing women based in the US & Canada and have my sights on a few other projects I want to create.
Opportunity tip: Be intentional about what you want to create.
Opportunity is different for all of us.
Determine what it is you want and go make it happen. We aren’t in school anymore. We don’t have to wait to be picked for the team. It’s now up to us to pick ourselves, step forward and create the life we want.
To feel how we want to feel.
To play how we want to play.
To work how we want to work.
To live how we want to live.
You have to put yourself forward so the opportunities you’re looking for are able to find you.
Opportunity Tip: Create opportunities that feel good to you, even if they don’t make sense to those around you.
If you want opportunity to bang on your door, paint it red, put the light on and invite it in.
