Numerous opportunities are around us at any given moment. We’re drawn to a particular seminar or we want to start teaching; we’re offered a new job or we consider going back to school.
One or two of these opportunities will take us closer to our goal, but others will not be beneficial. Our subconscious can disguise our opportunities ~ making them seem fortunate when they’re not or making them seem unfortunate when they’re the perfect one for you.
Remember my story about driving the fuel truck? That opportunity years ago was around me for two years while I worked on the loading dock, but rather than seeing it as an opportunity, I used to say, “Why would anyone want to drive a bomb on wheels?”
And, yet, it was the right opportunity for me because, through it, I doubled my income while conquering the fear of fire that had been programmed in me at a very young age.
Seeing the true nature of your opportunities is crucial. That’s why, last time, I gave you an exercise to help you do just that. Today, I’m going to show you how to choose the right opportunity, the one that will take you to your goal.
You’ll need your answers to the last exercise, so here it is again:
Exercise:
Unmask Your Opportunities
Step 1. Write down your “need,” the amount to the penny of your monthly bills. If you are meeting your need every month, write down what you want, your financial goal.
Step 2. Make a list of every opportunity that comes to mind that could help you meet your need or want. No matter how far-fetched or unappealing or scary the idea may seem, write it down.
Step 3. Every opportunity has at least one challenge associated with it ~ something that makes you think the opportunity would be difficult or impossible to pull off. The most common challenges are not enough money or time, issues with a loved one or prior commitments. Look at your list and write down the challenges that arise as you think about each opportunity.
Step 4. Each challenge you wrote down is another opportunity in disguise. It’s an opportunity for you to overcome that challenge and grow. Look at your list of challenges and imagine the opportunities they are presenting for you.
The Right Opportunity Is Key
The right opportunity + action = success. Every time, without fail. Since you may still have a few viable options on your list, to help you narrow the field to the best one, run each of your opportunities through the following four questions and only these four questions.
Question 1. Is this opportunity something I want to be, do or have?
If your answer is “yes” move on to Question 2.
If you answered no, move on to your next opportunity. However, to make sure that you’re seeing the true nature of your opportunity, look at your list of disguised opportunities in the challenges that you associated with this opportunity in Step 4 above. Is one or more of those disguised opportunities something you want do, be or have? If you answered no to the opportunity, but yes to the disguised opportunity, move on to Question 2.
For instance, if I answered this question with, “Hell no, I don’t want to drive a bomb on wheels,” I would then ask myself if I wanted to conquer my fear of fire while doubling my income. Of course, my answer would be yes, so I would move on to Question 2.
Question 2. Will the opportunity take me closer to my goal?
Be really honest. If your need is $5K a month and your opportunity is a full-time job for $20/hr., it will not help you meet your goal. Instead, it will further ensnare you where you are. If your answer is “yes” move on to Question 3.
Question 3. Is the opportunity in harmony with the laws of the universe, the primary law of more life?
“More life” means more freedom, abundance, prosperity, etc. Would the opportunity bring you more life? If your answer is “yes” move on to Question 4.
Question 4. Would this opportunity violate the rights of others?
Would it take away someone else’s choice? For example, if an opportunity would have you be secretive or deceptive with your spouse, you’re violating his or her right of choice because you’re making decisions that will affect your spouse, but not including him or her in the decision. You’re looking for the answer “no” to Question 4.
If you get three yeses and a no, the opportunity will move you in the right direction and you can feel confident about taking it.
After running each of your opportunities through the four questions, you may end up with one clear winner or you may find that a couple of them will actually work together to help you reach your goal.
In any case, your next step is to seize the opportunity and see it all the way through to its conclusion. I’ll talk to you about that next time.
David Neagle, The Million Dollar Income Acceleration Mentor and author of The Millions Within, teaches entrepreneurs and commission-based sales professionals how to quantum leap their current incomes past the 7-figure income level, often in less than 12 months. As a world-class speaker, sales trainer, and success-mindset mentor to some of the globe’s top CEOs, David also privately mentors big decision-makers in their pursuit of quantum success and peace of mind.
