How Do You Define Opportunities?
As I hope to give you some tools to better understand what a good mindset for money looks like, I want you to consider what an opportunity looks like. This is going to be food for thought.
An opportunity, in my view, is the chance to work toward a goal that will make your life better. That can come in various forms, of course, depending on what goals you have set for yourself.
You need goals to help you see opportunities. What you dream of doing someday should be your goal. Sure, you may have more than one dream or interest, which means you will have more than one goal.
Whatever your goals are, no matter how far-fetched or silly they may seem as of today, write them down. You can change, add, or delete them later.
By keeping your goals where you can see them daily or weekly, they will become a part of your awareness of your potential. We become what we think. So, be careful how you feed your mind.
While you sleep, your subconscious mind digests what you feed it during the day. It will start to help you recognize what should be important to you. It will utilize that information to qualify what you should read and who to seek out and listen to. So, your goals will be refined when you review them, at least annually.
The list of goals that you refine over time will be a good reference to use when a potential opportunity reveals itself.
Your Job Could Be an Opportunity
I have seen people be able to use skills they had developed and utilize experience that aided them in making good business decisions that were valued by management.
It was because they accumulated those skills and experiences looking for an opportunity to use them. And, that window opened for them.
Sometimes, that window opens while working for the same company. However, sometimes the path leads to another company or, potentially, self-employment, which is a big leap!
Will You “Jump at the Chance”?
Growth as an individual requires discipline to study and self-motivation to do the extra work to learn and develop and practice new skills. Some skills to consider are formal communication, understanding words to use or not use in your work situation, learning to be at ease talking to others, being a good listener, and the list goes on. It also requires some vision of where you want to go.
Most of us grow up a little unsure of ourselves and our potential. We only know what we know. If we face that fact we can learn to know more of what we need to know. That will raise our potential.
We can observe others, listen to others, and read about their growth experiences. That is wise. It is better to learn from the mistakes of others than just being busy learning from our own mistakes.
Allowing yourself to dream of being and doing more than what you believe you can now is the basis for making goals for yourself, for your future.
I have sought to practice that visualizing process. It is an adventure when you think of options that seem to be impossible. They are now. However, as the motivational speaker, Jim Rhone, said, “The best part of this process of setting goals is what it makes of you to achieve them.”
Since your goals will help direct you to where you want to go, who you want to be, you will be able to recognize opportunity, when it comes along. And you will “jump at the chance” to work on that opportunity!
So, What Do I Do Until Then?
Are you working for an adequate wage?
Does your education justify your pay?
Can you list your skills that can make you more valuable on that job or your next job?
What is the current job market look like? More workers than jobs or more jobs than workers?
These are some of the questions you must ask yourself as you try to decide if your current job satisfies your current needs.
This process is well worth spending an hour or two at the library or some other quiet place that will allow you to focus and to consider options. Be sure to get your thoughts on paper before you forget them. You can put them in some order at a later time.
What If This Job Fails to Meet My Needs?
Then, hunt for another one while you have this one. You can sell your skills much easier when you are employed versus when you are not. Timing is important.
The Big Question
We all want our life to be easy and straightforward. Think about this, though. If you were the employer (and you might be some day), would you pick you to work for you?
You must evaluate yourself. You are the boss of yourself. Do you like your skill levels? What makes you valuable to the job market? Are you working on your job skills, your knowledge of the industry and the company itself?
Do you qualify to be in some position of leadership? Are you willing to take on that responsibility? Then you must ask yourself, “Do I have options beyond what the future holds for myself with this company?”
Remember: we are what we think.
So, think on purpose. Take the time to consider what you must improve and work to make those improvements. You can add to your value as an employee and as a potential employer.
Jim Rohn asks, “Don’t ask what am I doing here? Rather, ask, what am I becoming here?”
A Company Uses Your Devotion
Devotion to be a good employee is a noble thing, until the company can no longer afford you.
My first job, using my business degree, was with a company that was about to go through a technology change. I was fresh out of college, eager to learn and do a good job, looking forward to future raises and promotions.
Then, I observed, when a new guy came into our office, after having completed his master’s degree, I was intrigued. I only had a bachelor’s degree. However, after only two weeks, he put in his notice that he was leaving for a better paying job. He recognized an opportunity and jumped on it!
The following year, the company decided to cut its work force. A consultant had shown them that people were added through job creations over the years that no longer made sense. And, yes, my job was one of them.
That experience taught me an important lesson. Companies exist with or without us. We are useful employees if we provide value.
Yes, if the company pays you, you need to be thankful and do what you can to make that company successful. Provide value.
However, if you assess that you are hard pressed to see where you are valued by the company, then, you had best start looking for other opportunities!