This is probably one of the most important questions we can discuss. This being the United States of America, It seems to me that Opportunity is something that ALL Americans have around them and can take advantage of, no matter the quality of the economy.
Opportunities come in many flavors, styles, degrees of visibility, levels of difficulty and accessibility. Opportunities sometimes don’t look like opportunities, sometimes they look like disasters or problems. Sometimes factors stand in the way of opportunities that come your way. It may be a lack of money, time, resources, emotional support, belief or prejudice.
But, what IS an opportunity? Well, let’s start with what it is not. It is not a guaranteed result.
Catch that?
NOT a guaranteed result.
I don’t care what someone tells you about any opportunity, specifically or opportunity in general. By its definition, opportunity is a chance to win and it is a chance to fail. No one is guaranteed anything in this country except Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. See the Declaration of Independence.
Pursuit. . .
What does that mean?
It means you can chase Happiness to your heart’s content. Notice it doesn’t say “Life, Liberty and Happiness.” Want to know why? Because those old men knew something too many have either forgotten, never knew or choose to ignore: Happiness comes from within. Therefore, it cannot EVER be guaranteed.
What does that have to do with Opportunity?
Everything.
Opportunity requires something from WITHIN each of us.
It requires that we believe certain things and accept certain facts.
I believe that some of these things are:
- I can do it.
- I may not do it.
- I will have to work for it.
- Obstacles are always in the way. I choose whether or not to ignore them.
- I create my own limits.
- I do not have to let others’ opinions stop me.
- I must be determined to win.
- My beliefs determine whether I see opportunities or not.
- If I quit, I fail.
- Success is not guaranteed.
- Failure is not guaranteed.
- The chance is the only thing that guaranteed.
- The odds are never the same for any two opportunities or for any two people.
- Life is not fair, but you can make it work in your favor.
- Your biggest obstacle is in your own head.
I know that a lot of people will immediately question and deny some if not all of these 15 things. More will deny that there are any opportunities unless you are the right color, gender, ethnicity or have the right bank account already.
Hogwash.
There are enough examples of people facing impossible odds and winning. Against all kinds of obstacles including the ones listed above.
So, what is the difference? Those that triumphed did not quit. They didn’t let anything stand in their way. The rest quit. It’s that simple.
Now a word of caution. The winners are on the ball enough to watch what they did and notice whether or not it was working. Sometimes they quit on one or another opportunities, but they NEVER QUIT ON THEM SELVES!
Opportunity is the possibility of achieving what you want and believing that you can do it. Not hoping. Not wishing. Believing. And not quitting on your belief.
