It has been said that life is full of opportunities, but the ironic part of it is that not everyone see or recognise them as they pass. Someone might be sitting and wishing for an opportunity without recognising that it has been passing by them. What makes a difference between those who make progress and others may not even be intelligence, connections, or wealth, but the ability to stay alert. That is, to keep their eyes open and their mind ready, so as to know when to take an action at the right time.
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You need to understand that the opportunity that you are hoping for may not even come in the way you expect it. So it is left for you to be able to recognise it as an opportunity. For example, a friend of mine who graduated from school was waiting for job, and after about 6 months, it did not come. Then a particular N.G.O came to the neighborhood to conduct an outreach programme. He volunteered to help them with a couple of services. While in the process, they took notice of him and how dedicated he was even without pay. So they called him to have a word with him. It was then they discovered that he is a graduate and with a very good result. That was how they offered him employment opportunity into the N.G.O. You see, the opportunity came in a way that he was not expecting, but he did not miss it. In the same way in life, opportunities can come in various forms and some may even be masked as challenges, so you should be sensitive to recognise them.
You have to train your eyes of the mind, so as to be able to see beyond the obvious. You have to stay alert, but beyond that, you have to learn to see possibilities even where others see problems. For example, if some is laid off from work, they may see it as disappointment or as a setback in life. But the same scenario can also become an opportunity for the same person to start up their own business and channel their energy towards it. You see, same scenario, but different perspective, and it will lead to different result. This does not always mean that every problem that comes your way is an opportunity in disguise. But it means that even in a very difficult situation, you should remain observant and identify good and constructive steps that you can take forward.
It is also worthy to note that you need to prepare for opportunities before they arrive. Imagine someone who is applying for a job as a hairstylist, but she does not know how to make hair at all. If the job comes, and she is called for a mega hairstyling gig, how will she take advantage of the opportunity? Opportunity will become very valuable when your preparation meets the right moment. One of the reasons why some people struggle to take advantage of opportunities is not because they did not come, but because they did not prepare themselves. It is preparation that will position you to respond to opportunities when they come. This is why you have to build up capacity, learn new skills, improve on your character, build good relationships, and remain open for personal development. You may not control when opportunities will come, but you can control what to do with them.
In addition to being prepared, you also need to surround yourself with the kind of people that will keep you alert. How you respond to life's possibilities and even how you notice things can be influenced by the people around you. Be in the company of the people who will challenge you to think, who will encourage your growth, who will share useful information with you, and who will make you take responsibilities for your actions.
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Finally, you need to learn to act on time. It does not stop at recognising opportunity or being prepared, but you have to act and do that on time. Without putting in prompt action, it might produce little or no significant result. There is a time to pay attention and observe, a time to prepare, and a time to take the required actions. You have to know the difference between patience and unnecessary delays. You have to understand that an opportunity may not remain eternal, so you have act when it can still produce the best result.
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