OPPORTUNITY

I was reading a book several years ago and a line caught my attention. The author wrote that “poverty is not a state of the pocket; it is a state of the mind – a sense of lack” This line with other facts and truths from this book and several other similar books changed my outlook to life from age 17. You may be tempted to laugh at and probably scorn an individual who just woke up to the real meaning of life at 17. But if you have an idea of where I’m coming from, that is a very early start at getaway worthy of emulation among my folks. The culture and atmosphere under which some people like me grew up never gave room for self-discovery or the knowledge that there’s actually a better life out there. Robert Kiyosaki did justice to his book, Rich Dad Poor Dad when he pointed that the difference between the rich and the poor is actually not their bank accounts; it is not in how large the estate of one is, compared to the other. It lies not in physical wealth or class. A difference in their mindsets makes all the difference.

Recently, a very dear friend invited me to read his blog. I noted that the (caption) right at the top of his page is the definition of the word “poor” He quoted an author as saying that the word poor actually means Passing Over Opportunities Repeatedly. Recognising the truth when I see or hear one, I immediately nodded in agreement; “true that, true that”… I absorbed this knowledge and it rested in my archive of knowledge I guess for a day such as this when I would have mulled over it sit back to chew the cud for your enjoyment and (probably) edification.

I’ve come to realise over time that most people never attain their desired success because they’re simply waiting for an opportunity to break through. They live on the cliché; “opportunity comes but once”. And day-in-day-out, they steadfastly lay wait for the opportunity which unfortunately will never come! From my friend’s definition which I’ve analysed and found from experience to be very true, opportunity actually never comes just once. In fact it never comes at all! Rather, we find opportunity (consciously or unconsciously) and seize it. It therefore means that every person actually has the potential to get several opportunities to “make it” in life no matter what your goals and/or pursuits are. His ability or inability to seize and convert at least one of them will determine his end. Contrary to general belief that opportunity comes looking for us, opportunity actually lays in wait and never moves. We (sometimes search for it) find it, recognise it and seize it! That is the simplest way to success and the making of a great man. “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing and the honour of kings is to search out a matter” Opportunities are like treasures. In fact, they are treasures and we have to find them in order to benefit from their potentials.

Wealth or riches never come on a platter of gold. We have to search for it to find it. Afterall, he who seeks shall find. And the good news is that opportunities are very fertile. Once you unlock one, it becomes a chain reaction and the process replicates itself (almost) endlessly. A critical mind would say “but what about people who are just lucky?” That is a valid argument and no doubt, luck has a role to play also in our pursuit of success. Another truth is that we all are born lucky - luck shines on all of us every moment of our lives. Luck shines on you when you capitalise on your ability to recognise an opportunity, capture it and convert it. A friend once gave a quote (I have never asked her for the source); she gave a formula for success as; “Opportunity + Preparedness = Success” This is the truth although it sounds scientific. The lucky man is he who is prepared for an opportunity. He does not live life by the law of chance. Therefore when he finds one, he is prepared to seize and convert it. The same is he whom the world would describe as lucky. It’s about being in the right place at the right time and knowing you are at the right place when you find yourself in one. According to Brian Tracey, in his lesson on Psychology of Achievement, one of the laws that govern the universe is the law of cause and effect. Nothing happens by chance. There is always a cause for any event. According to him, people with a positive mental attitude anticipate good things to happen to them before it happens. In other words, they see what they want and live like they already have it before it materialises. To me, that is being prepared.

To be continued. Stay tuned…