Don't lose the opportunity

 The definition of an opportunity is an favorable situation for a positive outcome. However, some outcomes could be negative, that is why others see it as a "moment if chance".

When the Governor of Kaduna State , Malam Nasir El-Rufai wrote his book " The Accidental Public Servant" was he referring his present outcome as  an adjective or a noun? Either way, most sets of outcomes are due to opportunities, which young people must not ignore.

A moment of luck, an opening that must not be ignored. What happens if you ignore such chances?

I met a lady in a seminar on 'Developing leadership skills'. It is an annual event but that was her first presence. So I asked why she didn't attend last years' seminar?

"I don't like going out" was her response.

Opportunity doesn't know your address, go out as often as you can to create connections and jobs. Conferences and seminars that are related to self-development and linked to enhancing your careers are worth 'going out' for.

 

How to attract and identify opportunities

1. Get a mentor: Simply, a mentor is an experienced adviser who helps a person solve a problem, rather than give direction.

In broader terms, a mentor helps with exploring career paths, setting goals and objectives, identifying resources,  developing contacts and or opportunities in a particular field. 

2. Let the world know what you can do: You may be a good politician only if you offer yourself to contest election, no one would know your worth. Similarly, if you are a good writer, artist or fashion designer, you must produce your work for people to notice you.

3. Reaching out: Opportunities are everywhere, but you can not see them until you reach out to the right place or people. It could be on social media, seminars and conferences, religious or political gathering. You have to hang out with people who have similar ambitions with you.

During a mentorship program, someone commented that ladies who desire marriage must stop looking at the clubs, but at the courts where divorces happen every day. Although it was a joke, but it carried a powerful message.

4. Keep track of it: Writing down what you want to achieve will motivate you and set you on a course that will inevitably open more doors and give you a sense of direction.

5. Collaboration and networking: President Buhari had tried to become president several times and failed. Until he started networking with other political parties and politicians. This interest resulted in a collaboration called merger, and the result was the formation of All Progressive Congress (APC) and successful outing at the polls in 2015 and 2019 presidential elections.

I wanted a mobile app for my business and most vendors were giving me outrageous costs. So I created a twitter account and started following mobile developers and IT hubs. It took forever to get what I was looking for, at end I got an IT firm that advertised for a free training on mobile app development.

From there I started from zero tech skill to a good app developer and more. The use of social media in networking is awesome; use it wisely.

6. Be reliable and dependable: My Igbo friend, Emeka, went to Kano for the first time for 3 a month work. The tricycle rider immediately noticed that his passenger was a first time visitor. 

Before he drop off Emeka at his hotel, he got his mobile number and promised to come and take him to his destination the next morning. And for 3 months, the tricycle rider picked and dropped off Emeka at his appointments and made substantial amount of money; opportunity?

But Emeka like the rider very much because of his reliability and dependability. He got the rider a car and registered him on Uber; opportunity?

There was a mutually beneficial Opportunities in both relationship.

Opportunities are vast and many, some times they come in disguises. You have to be opportunistic to see Opportunities. Free your mind and embrace challenges as they occur.

Will be waiting for you on the comment section to hear how you have identified your own opportunity.