I’ve been given several big breaks in life, and I am forever grateful. Sadly, too often, many people miss the helping hands or squander the opportunity because they simply aren’t looking from the right perspective or are too busy wallowing in their own self-pity.
I’ve often been criticized in my business practices for looking for stray or wounded dogs. When I was in the corporate world, they said I would rather hire someone down on their luck, who I thought needed to catch a break, rather than hire the most qualified with the best degree and strongest resume. Some of my closest friends say that this trait has always been a big detriment to me. But I think that can be debated…
I see things a bit differently. I don’t always care about making the most money or being 100% correct on paper. I believe there’s a lot more value associated with the intangibles in life. I like giving people an opportunity. I like giving homeless people a bit of money when I see them asking on the street corner. My friends all tell me I’m an idiot and these people are simply scamming me. But I don’t see it that way. How are they scamming me… when I’m the one who feels good about giving?
I could go on and on, but the bottom line is this… I am constantly checking what I call “the scoreboard of my life,” which for me is a lot of the intangibles i.e., my relationship with my wife (who is my best friend), am I being present for my kids (who I make sure I talk to at least once a day and not just about business), am I helping others reach and achieve their goals, etc. In other words, my scoreboard has nothing to do with money or success in business; instead, it has everything to do with becoming a better version of myself.
If it weren’t for others seeing something in me and giving me the slightest opportunity or words of encouragement, our family would not be where we are today. I had some major stumbles early in life, but I was quick to rebound and take full advantage of any small opportunity a helping friend offered. Unfortunately, some people spend their entire lives fussing and complaining about what they don’t have or didn’t get. I prefer to remind myself every day how blessed and lucky I am to have had people around me who were willing to give me a chance and willing to coach me up.
Take some time over the next few days following the Thanksgiving holiday to reflect on all the opportunities that have come your way. Did you use them to better yourself or did you get in your own way? Did you waste too much time focused on the money or did you jump right in and take full advantage in hopes of becoming a better you?
I promise, most of us have been given hundreds and hundreds of “opportunities” to become a better individual, but we simply don’t see them identified as opportunities, and most often it’s because we aren’t looking from the right perspective. Remember, our ultimate goal is to create the best version of ourselves that we can create, it’s not about money, as money is most often the byproduct of a better self. The better we become ourselves, the more help we can offer to others, and that’s a great place to be!
I promise, if you look at each new day as an opportunity to become a better version of yourself, a better individual, you will start to see opportunities everywhere.
