(When you have an opportunity)
Raise your hand if you like toast? I know we're not in class and I sound like a school teacher, but research shows that if a person uses physical action with an answer to a question than they become much more attentive and you don’t want to (MISS) this one. Missing opportunities can be detrimental.
So did you raise your hand? Ok so maybe you don’t care about toast but have you ever tried placing bread in the toaster and accidentally let it cook too long only for it to turn into an unedible burnt piece of toast? Well, opportunities can be like toast. Let me explain.
I have a neighbor whom I’ve known for a few years and who I occasional visit and have dinner with. She’s been a very successful chemist for more than 34 years and she also loves to invest. Over many conversations, she has shared with me various stories of her journey’s in life and a few months ago she shared about a mistake she made. She said many years ago she had the opportunity to invest in a small company. She didn’t know much about it, but she said during that time she had a gut feeling that she should invest, and she had the means to do so but she decided not to. Today that company is huge and very successful and she said that if she would have invested at that time, she would be a wealthy woman today.
Now don’t get me wrong, money is great, but this story is not about money. It’s about an opportunity. It's about a missed opportunity and opportunities come in many forms. Many people associate opportunities with careers, but they come in the form of relationships, ideas and they can even come in the form of forgiveness and I love you’s.
I like a quote by Tom Peters that says, "If a window of opportunity appears, don't pull down the shade.” Just to be clear; I’m not suggesting that every opportunity is the right opportunity. However, I am suggesting that when we feel that an opportunity has the potential of being right, it should be investigated and thought out before being dismissed. I’m also suggesting that we shouldn't allow fear to keep us from an opportunity that seems right for us.
The late author and pastor Miles Monroe once said “The wealthiest place in the world is not the gold mines of South America or the oil fields of Iraq or Iran. They are not the diamond mines of South Africa or the banks of the world. The wealthiest place on the planet is just down the road. It is the cemetery. There lie buried companies that were never started, inventions that were never made, bestselling books that were never written, and masterpieces that were never painted. In the cemetery is buried the greatest treasure of untapped potential".
Today I hope I can encourage you to take a look at your opportunities a little closer. I heard someone once say that the worst thing that could happen is that it doesn't work out and that’s ok; I believe we all can learn something from every situation. However, if you never even try, well then that’s a different story, regret sets in and although you can always forgive yourself why add another missed opportunity to your list of regrets when you don’t have to.
I wrote (Opportunity Toast) for today’s recipe because I believe that opportunities have deadlines and if you let it cook too long, it becomes toast. Burnt toast that is no longer edible and the last thing we want to hear is " that opportunity is toast."
Heres’ a thought, there are two types of toast that you could have, the overcooked toast of regret or the toast of two glasses of congratulations from the opportunity that you decided to seize. By the way, every day that you wake up is an opportunity so Carpi Diem!
Well, I hope you enjoyed this recipe, please feel free to share your personal "when you have an opportunity" recipe with me. Some of the best recipes are the ones that are passed down. Until next time, ‘I’ll Chef Ya Later!
Special Note!
I haven’t perfected this recipe, but it gets better each time I make it!
Special Ingredient's
Access your life and see if there are any opportunities before you that are a good fit
Don’t let fear prevent you from moving forward
Prepare ( This is crucial, don’t wait for the opportunity to come before you make the decision to get ready.)
Be thankful while you’re waiting for your opportunity, this means being thankful for what you currently have.
Be patient while waiting for the ( right) opportunity
Be prayerful
This weeks challenge
Seize an opportunity that is right for you! Maybe it's an opportunity to tell someone you love them, or a job position or an opportunity to make a new friend.. Whatever it may be. Go for it!