What to do When Opportunity Arises
Life is full of opportunities at any age. Twenty-year-olds have the opportunity to further their education or begin to pursue a career, and 40-year-olds have the opportunity to grow their family or chase after that new promotion at work. Regardless of age, circumstances, or time, everyone is presented with opportunities, but it is how you respond to them that determines how positively they impact your life.
New opportunities can often seem daunting. They may be completely new and open up doors you would have never thought you would walk through, or they may seem out of your capabilities and reach. However, if you allow the fear of new experiences to stop you from taking them on, you may miss out on the growth they could bring.
When faced with opportunities, it is a lot easier said than done to jump right into them and disregard all of the concerns they may bring. That is why I have outlined a thinking process below that can be adopted by anyone at any stage in life. This process will allow people to seize opportunities while ensuring that they are beneficial to their personal or professional life.
1. Be present to recognize the opportunity in front of you.
People are often so focused on the future and working towards the end goal they always imagine that they forget to be in the present. People look beyond what is right in front of them. Whether it is a college student working towards a full-time job post-graduation or a 40-year-old working towards future retirement, it is easy to get caught up in preparing for the future. That is why it is important to pause and look around you. Look around your university, workplace, or outside community to see what opportunities are available that can benefit you now and down the road. There are endless possibilities all around you, big or small, it doesn’t matter. You just need to slow down and take the time to realize them.
2. Evaluate and determine the potential value of the opportunity in your life.
Even though there are plenty of opportunities surrounding you, they may not always be the most beneficial. Learning to recognize the opportunities in front of you and then determining what value they add to your present or future life is key when deciding to jump at an opportunity. It is best to break opportunities down in regard to time, energy spent, and fulfillment received when figuring out if they are worth it.
If you are already a busy person, then taking on a new adventure that is time-consuming or would distract you from current responsibilities may not be the most advantageous move. It is also important to understand that whatever you do, you want to follow it passionately, and that often takes up a lot of energy. However, if you truly enjoy what it is, then the energy it consumes may not seem so draining. On the other hand, if it gets to the point where your energy is spread too thin then it is hard to fully maximize the experience.
Lastly, life is too short to be a part of activities or jobs that you don’t find any fulfillment in. Sure, an opportunity may seem like the right choice to help you advance your career or make you more attractive to future employers, but if it only drains you instead of filling you, then it is best not to jump right into it.
3. Be confident and own the opportunity.
It is crucial that when you decide to take on an opportunity, you go all in and truly own it. Any opportunity is ultimately what you make of it. So, when you decide to pursue something, go all in and pursue it passionately. Not only should you give all you have to a new adventure, but you also have to have confidence in yourself. You need to have a deep seeded belief in yourself and the abilities you have. It is important to keep in mind that the right opportunities will only help grow and strengthen your abilities, not illuminate your weaknesses.
Taking risks and taking in new opportunities can be a challenge for anyone. But, with the right thought process and mindset going forward, there can be a lot of growth and success within these experiences and opportunities. Understanding how the opportunity will impact your life and what you can contribute to the experience is what will make the difference in maximizing an opportunity. Next time you are presented with an opportunity, no matter how old you are, what stage of life you are in, where the opportunity comes from, or how big or small it is, take the steps discussed earlier and embrace the journey.
Hannah Rady
Hannah Rady is a senior from Cloverdale, Indiana, majoring in public relations and minoring in sports marketing. Hannah is an associate with Fifth Street Communications®, a student-run public relations agency at Anderson University.