The old adage that opportunity knocks only once, is simply not true. We just need to keep our eyes and ears open and not limit ourselves to what we want to see or do. Keeping an open mind would open up many avenues, channels and doors.

We are all stuck in paradigms that limit us. We are bankers, lawyers, HR consultants and so on. Those are our domains and that’s what we do. We are also risk averse so doing business is not our thing, after all, where would I collect the funding from and could I take a risk with that amount? We are not in a particular arena so what can we do even if an opportunity arises in that arena? We are unaware of how things work when it comes to X, or Y. Where would I even start? Etc. etc.

Endless justifications for us to back out of possibilities. Of opportunities that keep knocking down our doors, to no avail. Over the years the things I have been involved with have been diverse, to say the least. But, more importantly, things that had nothing to do with my specializations. I am an ex-banker so being careful and cautious is also something of a burden I carry. Yet, I made them work. Not just a few times or for short periods of time. Long term, growth-oriented successes.

If one was to keep their eyes and ears ajar, and, their minds open to possibilities, there are endless opportunities “knocking”. Everytime you look at a newspaper, talk to someone, browse on your laptops, use ChatGPT, come across a problem….. Opportunities are knocking. We are compartmentalizing and limiting ourselves and not allowing these opportunities to sink in. 

The leap of faith, the will to disbelieve, the mind shift, is gargantuan. Admittedly so. But the rewards on the other end are what you may never realize. Not just financial. But the freedom to think outside the box. The ability to see the bigger picture. Learn new things. The ability to see things in a new light. A profound experience awaits.   

Do not wait for an epiphany or you’ll find yourself at the precipice of “too late”. Because although opportunity does knock, constantly, the time to take up the challenge effectively reduces options one can take on, equally fast. Age reduces risk appetite, lowers the ability to take harder decisions which may have longer gestation periods and slashes channels one would hop onto as their younger self. 

The long and short of it is: Take the first step. Dip the toe. Test the waters. Keep an open mind. Take the risk, while you still can. Never look back and regret what you didn’t do. Enjoy the ride.

linkedin.com/in/uzair-hassan-6451024

uzair.hassan@3hsolutions.biz