The Roman philosopher Seneca the Younger once quoted that:

“Luck Is What Happens When Preparation Meets Opportunity”

Opportunity is there all of the time! Are you prepared? I originally heard this quote while listening to Earl Nightingale’s “Lead The Field” series many years ago on cassette tapes. It has since become a guiding light in my own quest to better my own life and help others do likewise.

I like to say:

“Opportunity is knocking, but too many are afraid to open their doors.”

Opportunity is everywhere. Are you prepared to take advantage of it?

We get stuck in these comfort zones not because they are what we want, but more because fear keeps us from exploring new aspects of our lives that may unveil opportunities.

• I wished I knew about xxx back then when I had yyy!
• I wish I could turn back time.
• Where was I when this happened?
• If I had to do it all over again…
• I wished I bought stock in Google!
• I woulda, shoulda, coulda, if only ida…

How often have you found yourself realizing after the fact, that you’ve missed an opportunity? I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been caught off guard and missed a great chance at something! You just wan’t to shoot your toes off one by one.

We can have big dreams, tons of great ideas, lots of time and even a burning desire to achieve. None of those will do us a lick of good if we’re not prepared to handle the opportunities as they come our way!

Forget “Luck” – The lotteries, casinos, and internet scammers are filthy rich on the poor folks trying to get “lucky”. Let’s think like an entrepreneur. An entrepreneur prepares him or her self for the opportunity that is all around! They invest the time and effort, often at great sacrifice, to prepare themselves.

 

How Can We Prepare?

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Let’s think of ways we can better be prepared to open the door when opportunity knocks.

Look at the obstacles you face daily as opportunities. Learn more about them. See it as a chance to learn something new.

“View the events you consider obstacles as perfect opportunities to test your resolve and find your purpose.”
— Wayne Dyer

Often just learning more about something sparks fresh ideas. Knowledge is one way we can prepare ourselves for opportunity.

Know Specifically What You Want

Have a clear definition of what you want to achieve.

“I want to make a lot of money” is not a clear definition.

“In four months from now, I will be earning an extra $500 per month to pay down credit card debt.” is a much better defined goal.

Make a list of everything you’d like accomplish and put it somewhere where you will see it everyday.

Create A Success Environment

Surround yourself with success. Tune out the negative and unproductive stuff. Reclaim the time spent diddling away on social media and useless emails. Use it to train yourself on how to be successful or use it for activities that are motivational and uplifting.

Use your commute time, whether you’re sitting in traffic, out walking, or in a waiting room, to listen to training or motivational audio.

Practice

We are creatures of habit. It has been noted that it take about three weeks for a routine to become a habit. Set a daily routine – write it down – of steps that you’ll do each day to move yourself closer to what it is you want to achieve.

Focus

Eliminate distractions and let yourself focus on getting tasks done in a timely manner. For example, if you’re writing content for your blog, set a timer for say 30 minutes and focus solidly on writing. It is too easy to wonder off course and find yourself disappearing down one rabbit hole after another.

Think Long Term

A little focused, consistent action each and every day will move your forward one step at a time. These small accomplishments eventually add up to the big ones you want to reach. In Chinese business culture, there is often a 100 year plan.

Join Groups Of Likeminded People

Being in a community of people where you can discuss ideas, share experiences, learn each other’s techniques, collaborate on projects can be a huge boost for your own success. It is easier to reach success together than try it alone.

I spend a lot of time involved with a training community called Wealthy Affiliate University! They have really helped me to prepare for opportunity.

 

I sincerely do hope this post will inspire you to become better prepared! Get the door, Opportunity is knocking! Your comments and questions are always welcome.