Opportunity is What We Make It

Let’s explore this trait called opportunity. It may be hard to believe, but opportunity surrounds us each day. At times, it is staring us in the face. Other times, we have to exert some effort to uncover it.

The bigger issue is being aware of what lies out there and then putting forth the effort to take advantage of what’s before us. As Walter P. Chrysler said, “The reason so many people never get anywhere in life is because when opportunity knocks, they are out in the backyard looking for four-leaf clovers.” 

There is a story told about three cowboys who were riding in the beautiful Colorado Rockies one moonlit night. As they were entering the winding trail at the base of a mountain, a voice rang out from the sky telling them to dismount. Frightened, they immediately jumped down. The voice then told them to go to the riverbank, pick up some pebbles, place them in their saddlebags, and to not look at them until morning.

Following the directive, the cowboys gathered pebbles and filled their saddlebags. As they were heading back toward their horses, the voice again boomed, “This will be both the happiest and saddest day of your lives.” Stunned, the cowboys reluctantly made their way onward in a fast gallop.

As the sun began to rise and lighten the sky, the cowboys decided to stop and look inside their saddlebags. They noticed that the pebbles they had quickly gathered the night before were actually pebbles of gold! They stared at each other and began to celebrate their newfound wealth. Suddenly, reality set in. They began to speak about themselves as not being rich, and lamented what might have been had they actually picked up more pebbles.

In life, as we noted earlier, it is seemingly routine to experience the daily rigors of life and then realize that there could have been more. Too often we fail to take advantage of all the opportunities around us and therefore simply sell ourselves short of untold riches and accomplishment. We must ask ourselves the key question: “Are we really filling our saddlebags with every opportunity that comes our way or are we missing out on what might be?” The answer to that question in many ways can determine our mindset and realization of the world around us.

Let’s face it. None of us truly experiences all the opportunities before us. We leave too much on our plates. We fail to understand that because one potential did not work or it led to a so-called “dead-end” there just might be other options that could make us successful beyond our wildest dreams. Opportunity is what we make it. See it. Seize it. Get to work creating a new pathway to greater horizons!