The world is full of opportunities—and the more we grow, the more likely it is we’ll miss out on opportunities. Perhaps we were focused on another project or we were busy providing a different solution or a global pandemic forced us to take our eye off the ball.
Whatever it happens to be, most of us have watched an opportunity (or opportunities go by), but not everyone reacts the same way. Some people feel there’s nothing they can do; the moment has passed and that’s that. But some people keep on going and see if they can create another opportunity.
This is a profoundly different way not just of thinking but of living—and anyone can learn it. When you feel like you missed the boat, there are five things you can start doing that will help you create new opportunities…be it for yourself or others.
Never Give Up
Just because it didn’t happen the way you would have liked, doesn’t mean you should stop from going for it? If it matters enough, keep going, but get creative. Maybe there are different ways of moving things forward.
Most people who are successful don’t just suddenly become so. Do the work and keep going. As the bestselling novelist Kate Morton said, “Some say I’m an overnight success. Well, that was a very long night that lasted about 10 years.”
Or in Churchill’s words, “Never, never, never give up.”
Make In-Course Corrections
Not giving up is about persistence, which is good as long as you’re open to making changes as and when necessary. You may have planned one route to your destination, but maybe a different way will prove better. Don’t be stubborn. Develop the behavioral flexibility to pivot or turn on a dime. Learning to adapt quickly to changing circumstances means you can make the most of the present moment.
You’re doing something and it’s not working. Great! That’s feedback to do something different. So DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT!
Keep changing what you do until you get what you want.
Don’t Take NO For an Answer
What do you do if someone says something’s not possible? For me, it’s like a red rag to a bull; it spurs me on to find a way. That doesn’t mean it’s not important to listen to what people have to say. But, it’s your decision about what you do next.
We all have different maps of the world. They filter what we see, hear, and feel. What one person thinks is possible, can be very different from what you think is possible.
As Rob Ross said, “We have no limits to our world. We’re only limited by our imagination.”
Use Your Internal Team
If you listen to how people describe their experiences, they will often make distinctions about different aspects of themselves. As somebody said to me recently, “There’s a part of me that is just bored with my current job, but on the other hand I really like the money.”
In fact there are lots of different parts to each of us.
That means you could have a team working for you and with you. So how do you feel about the different parts of you? Do you honor and engage with them? Do you know how to do this?
There’s a whole skill set worth learning here if you want to maximize your potential. The first step is to begin paying attention to these different aspects of yourself. Don’t pre-judge. Listen and learn. The wisdom is within.
Commit to Yourself
Get clear about what’s most important to you at this time and commit to honoring this in the decisions you make and the actions you take.
Not sure what really matters right now? Then commit to finding out. You don’t have to do this on your own. You could find a coach or take an appropriate training.
Trust me, you’re worth it.
This article was first published at International Teaching Seminar. Reprinted with permission.
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