5 Keys of The
Opportunity Minded
Among the obvious characteristics
of a successful entrepreneur such as ambition, good work ethic, and strong
leadership skills, an important quality that is often overlooked is being
opportunity minded. My definition of
being opportunity minded is always being on the lookout for opportunity.
Whether things are currently going well or could use improvement, by looking at
situations as possible opportunities, you’re constantly learning and arming
yourself with the needed information to stay on the cutting edge of what is
happening. Speaking from personal
experience, It also may help you identify that the opportunity you are
currently working on is really the ultimate opportunity for you as this has
done for me over the last 13 years.
Opportunity minded people are also my favorite people to connect with
and work together on projects as well.
Here are 5
ways to create the mindset of an opportunity minded individual or identify
those people who are opportunity minded
Leverage:
Work smarter not harder. If you find yourself putting in endless hours but you
feel at times you are spinning your wheels, it’s a good idea to re-evaluate how
you’re spending your time and also with whom you are spending it with. Some
great ways to maximize your efficiency is to eliminate distractions,
prioritizing result producing activities, stay organized, and be
proactive. If you are working with
others, I recommend matching their efforts.
This prevents you from wasting time on activities that will not create
leverage for you. I call it “using the
law of increasing returns”
Consider
“no” as “not yet.” No matter how you slice it, you are going to hear that
dreaded word, “no,” over and over again in any business. The key is to not let
it discourage you or change your success mindset in the slightest. Instead of interpreting
it as “no,” think of it as, “not yet.” This will keep you from closing the door
on a potential opportunity prematurely. Although at times “no” really does mean
“no,” keeping your mind open to the possibility that a “yes” may happen
eventually will ensure you don’t miss out on a follow up opportunity.
Avoid the
“short term” mindset of success. Where do you see your business in the
future? Creating a long term plan for
your business gives you direction and allows you to continue moving forward and
build a solid brand. As competition increases, technology evolves, and customer
require change, It is critical to stay on top of current business and industry
trends so that you aren’t left eating the dust of your competition. If the opportunity you are working on has a
short sighted plan, it may be time to reconsider a longer term opportunity that
holds a great track record.
Network,
Network, Network. Networking should be a constant in your business that never
ends. I always look to expand my network not only at formal events like
industry conventions, but also within the communities I currently do business
and people you already know. I highly recommend stepping out of your comfort
zone and exploring new social groups. Join a book club or volunteer with a
local Non-Profit organization. You may just find that you are having fun and
meeting some great people at the same time
Establish
and maintain a great reputation and personal brand. Strive for excellence in
all areas of your life. This is certain
to personally brand you as a person to be connected with. Once you have done
so, make it clear to everyone you do business with that maintaining your
reputation is your number 1 priority. Unfortunately, all it takes is one
incident to cast doubt on your abilities and tarnish your good name. Practice
integrity and consideration for others in all you do and DO NOT COMPROMISE. Do
not overpromise anything as this practice is a sure fire way of tarnishing your
personal brand and reputation. Operating
with integrity and honesty will speak for itself and open doors to new and
exciting opportunities and you will also attract the right people into your
business and life.
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