Seize the opportunity
The difference between seizing the opportunity when it strikes and missing it often determines whether you make it in life or you do not. There is always this one big opportunity that comes once in a very long time. Those who quickly identify such opportunities and then do everything possible to grab the opportunity end up very successful in life. On the other hand, those who waste such opportunities end up in a very sorry state.
Look at football, as an example. In his best days, Didier Drogba never ‘played’ with scoring opportunities! Each time he had an opportunity to score, he did just that. Because he knew that there was no guarantee that another scoring opportunity would avail itself to him again. And many times, when he seized the scoring opportunity once or twice—that was what made them win big matches and big trophies. Ronaldo and Messi are also super great strikers simply because they seize their scoring opportunities more often than the rest of strikers in the world. It is about how much of their opportunities they seize.
In fact, at that highest level of football, people like Drogba go on to master the art of being found in a place at the right time when an opportunity will find them and then they convert it into reality or fruition. Basically, they start creating opportunities. They know where to be in what situation. Then opportunity finds them more often and they always seize their opportunities and that makes them rise above the shoulders of the rest of their peers in the world.
In the rest of life situations too, the principle is the same. You need to continuously improve your rate of conversion—the proportion of the opportunities that you seize. You need to make this proportion approach 100 percent. Never ignore a good opportunity. Do not delay to seize a good opportunity. It will not wait for you. Life does not wait for slow people. You will regret when the next person sitting near you grabs your opportunity simply because you were procrastinating.
As you keep improving your conversion rate, also remember to keep learning the art of finding yourself in the situations that improve your chance of meeting opportunities like do the top strikers in the world! As time goes by, you will soon be meeting opportunities far more often than your peers and with your improved conversion rate, you will simply be very successful. This is a special secret to winning in life. This is a framework that will surely yield you great results when you use effectively.
To be master of this game, you need a couple of competences. First, is the ability to identify good opportunities. Your starting point is to learn from life itself. Observe successful people how they make their fortune. Read their biographies and talk to them or people that know them well to understand their journey to success. Focus in particular on the turning moments in their journey to success. You will notice how they identified opportunities and grabbed the opportunities which in turn became major milestones in their quest for success.
Second, you need to timely seize the opportunity. This involves a complex blend of different competences depending on the opportunity. You need to develop a long list of competences and then use different combinations of your competences depending on the opportunity at hand. In particular, some of the competences you need include: lobbying, negotiations, communication, pitching, planning, execution, implementation, being result oriented and so on. Basically, you need a lot of soft skills and put them to best use. Where you may have big gaps, use your networks to partner with your friends that can add value to your bid.
Remember that life favours those that seize the opportunity when it strikes. Transform yourself into one of those favoured by life. Become the master of converting opportunities and you will never regret. Time your movements and actions in a way that improves your chance of meeting great opportunities in life. Be prepared to convert the opportunities into realities. This way you will become the role model of many! Good luck!
