CONSIDER THIS PHRASE: "Opportunity only knocks once."
OK.
Now, let me tell you why that's a big, fat LIE.
See, opportunity knocks all the time. All day. All afternoon. All night.
THE PROBLEM IS: Most people don't know how to SPOT opportunity.
So, here are five practices to help you do just that:
1. Look and listen. Adopt a more proactive, mindful and curious posture as you venture out into the world. Become a giant question mark. Actively seek out anomalies in the world. Recognize when things go wrong. Listen to what the world is trying to tell you.
Operate on multiple planes of consciousness. Grow your ability to detach and view an idea or a situation objectively. See more by striving less. Soften your eyes. Find interest in almost anything. Break your patterns daily and critically evaluate everything your encounter. Study ordinary things intently. Be not satisfied with what others take for granted. (Got all that?)
2. ASK YOURSELF: Is this an opportunity or an opportunity to be used? Sometimes it's a hard distinction to make. Still, you must educate yourself on your boundaries. Because if you don't set them, other people will set them FOR you. And then they will violate them. And that will set the precedent that it's OK for others to do the same.
3. ASK YOURSELF: Who's my perfect customer? (Or, if you're single, "Who's my perfect partner?") Start by making a bullet point list of 5-7 characteristics of this individual. Next, write it out on a little card. Laminate it. Carry it in your wallet. Then, read it to yourself every single morning. See, when you focus your mind on exactly what you're looking for, you will attract it that very thing. Or, at the least, you'll recognize that opportunity when it crosses your path.
4. Separate Serious and Non-Serious Buyers. Fold a sheet of paper in half. On the top of the left column, write the heading, "Serious Buyers." On the top of the right column, write the heading, "Non-Serious Buyers." Then, consider all the characteristics, telltale signs, words, phrases, questions and actions of each type of individual. This will do two things:
1) Speed up your sales cycle by making qualification a LOT easier, and 2) Focus your efforts on the right people, as opposed to wasting your time playing to the wrong crowd.
5. Develop and perfect your filter. It's (really) easy to spot opportunities when your filter is on high alert. This filter is defined as, "the unique lens through which you evaluate and categorize the world." So, remember to ask yourself these questions as you observe the world:
a. What does this have to do with me?
b. How does this have to do with my expertise?
c. How could I use this as an example in my work?
d. How does this fit into my picture of the universe?
With these five practices, spotting opportunities will become a LOT easier.
And you'll discover that it really DOES knock all the time!
LET ME ASK YA THIS...
Are you spotting enough opportunities?
LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
For the list called, "49 Ways to become an Idea Powerhouse," send an email to me, and I'll send you the list for free!
OK.
Now, let me tell you why that's a big, fat LIE.
See, opportunity knocks all the time. All day. All afternoon. All night.
THE PROBLEM IS: Most people don't know how to SPOT opportunity.
So, here are five practices to help you do just that:
1. Look and listen. Adopt a more proactive, mindful and curious posture as you venture out into the world. Become a giant question mark. Actively seek out anomalies in the world. Recognize when things go wrong. Listen to what the world is trying to tell you.
Operate on multiple planes of consciousness. Grow your ability to detach and view an idea or a situation objectively. See more by striving less. Soften your eyes. Find interest in almost anything. Break your patterns daily and critically evaluate everything your encounter. Study ordinary things intently. Be not satisfied with what others take for granted. (Got all that?)
2. ASK YOURSELF: Is this an opportunity or an opportunity to be used? Sometimes it's a hard distinction to make. Still, you must educate yourself on your boundaries. Because if you don't set them, other people will set them FOR you. And then they will violate them. And that will set the precedent that it's OK for others to do the same.
3. ASK YOURSELF: Who's my perfect customer? (Or, if you're single, "Who's my perfect partner?") Start by making a bullet point list of 5-7 characteristics of this individual. Next, write it out on a little card. Laminate it. Carry it in your wallet. Then, read it to yourself every single morning. See, when you focus your mind on exactly what you're looking for, you will attract it that very thing. Or, at the least, you'll recognize that opportunity when it crosses your path.
4. Separate Serious and Non-Serious Buyers. Fold a sheet of paper in half. On the top of the left column, write the heading, "Serious Buyers." On the top of the right column, write the heading, "Non-Serious Buyers." Then, consider all the characteristics, telltale signs, words, phrases, questions and actions of each type of individual. This will do two things:
1) Speed up your sales cycle by making qualification a LOT easier, and 2) Focus your efforts on the right people, as opposed to wasting your time playing to the wrong crowd.
5. Develop and perfect your filter. It's (really) easy to spot opportunities when your filter is on high alert. This filter is defined as, "the unique lens through which you evaluate and categorize the world." So, remember to ask yourself these questions as you observe the world:
a. What does this have to do with me?
b. How does this have to do with my expertise?
c. How could I use this as an example in my work?
d. How does this fit into my picture of the universe?
With these five practices, spotting opportunities will become a LOT easier.
And you'll discover that it really DOES knock all the time!
LET ME ASK YA THIS...
Are you spotting enough opportunities?
LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
For the list called, "49 Ways to become an Idea Powerhouse," send an email to me, and I'll send you the list for free!
© 2007 All Rights Reserved.
Scott Ginsberg, aka "The Nametag Guy," is an author, speaker, award-winning blogger and entrepreneur. As the creator of NametagTV.com, he teaches people how to GET noticed, GET remembered and GET business. To rent Scott's brain, call 314/256-1800 or email scott@hellomynameisscott.com.
Scott Ginsberg, aka "The Nametag Guy," is an author, speaker, award-winning blogger and entrepreneur. As the creator of NametagTV.com, he teaches people how to GET noticed, GET remembered and GET business. To rent Scott's brain, call 314/256-1800 or email scott@hellomynameisscott.com.
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