SkipCohenUniversity
  • Home
  • SCU Blog
  • Our Podcasts
  • About Us

the SCU Blog

When Opportunities Come Along...

2/8/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
"If you don't act now while it's fresh in your mind, it will probably join the list of things you were always going to do but never quite got around to. Chances are you'll also miss some opportunities." Paul Clitheroe
 
"The two worst strategic mistakes to make are acting prematurely and letting an opportunity slip; to avoid this, the warrior treats each situation as if it were unique and never resorts to formulas, recipes or other people's opinions." Paulo Coelho

Paul Clitheroe is an Australian financial analyst, Paulo Coelho an author and it's obvious both have experience in recognizing opportunities when they cross their paths.

This is the time of year when opportunities knock - it's the "slow season" for some of you, but for others, like manufacturers who are exhibiting at the various conventions, it's anything but slow.  Vendors and speakers are working to get their presentations together for the various shows and everyone is looking for a new approach to the business. They're thinking about the plans they put together last fall for the new year. If they're a Japanese company, their year isn't over yet, because they work with a March 31 year end fiscal.  That means the new year hasn't really started for them yet.

Here's my point - if given an opportunity to do something that's going to benefit your growth or your business, take the time to consider all the possibilities, but don't take too long. Be true to your word if you say you're going to get back to somebody and do it when you promised. If you need time to get a second opinion, get it, but don't turn it into an act of Congress - take too long and the opportunity might be gone.

I worked for somebody once who could never make a decision. He'd ponder until time simply ran out and we missed some great opportunities. He'd rationalize, living by the idea that another idea would come along shortly, sort of like the NYC subway. Well, new ideas don't always come along on schedule and some concepts are over crowded, just like the subway at rush hour.

  • Look at each opportunity and start by asking "What's in it for me?" or for those of you who feel that sounds too self-centered, then ask, "What's in it for my business?" 
  • Remember that every opportunity brings something different to the party. Obviously additional revenue is one of the most fun benefits, but don't overlook projects that get you exposure and get your name out there. Others might include community involvement and events getting you more exposure with your target audience.
  • Look at the investment value. I love it when somebody says to me, "It's not going to cost you a thing...just a little time." Well, time is something none of us have enough of - so there's a cost to everything.
  • Next, what's the time duration of the opportunity. How long are you going to be involved?
  • Last on the list, who are the other partners involved and what's the return on investment?

I wrote yesterday day about procrastination when it comes to your "to do" list. Well, opportunities often fall victim to the same type of complacency. Make your decisions, stick with them as long as they're logical and remember that very few decisions are cast in stone.  If something just doesn't work out as planned, you've always got the ability to regroup and start again in another direction.

Thomas Edison once said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."

Illustration Credit: © kbuntu - Fotolia.com
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Your walk is just a click away
    Picture
    Picture

      Sign Up for Our Newsletter!

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter

    Our Partners

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    "Why?"

    Check out "Why?" one of the most popular features on the SCU Blog. It's a very simple concept - one image, one artist and one short sound bite. Each artist shares what makes the image one of their most favorite. We're over 130 artists featured since the project started. Click on the link above and you can scroll through all of the episodes to date.

    Categories

    All
    Alzheimer's
    Beyond Technique
    Business
    Business Breakthroughs
    Clean Up Series
    Customer Service
    EDU10
    Excire
    F64 Lunch Bunch
    Faculty
    Fast Food Friday
    Guest Post
    Humor And Sarcasm
    Hump Day
    In The News
    Lessons Learned
    Lighting
    Luminar
    Lumix
    Marketing
    Mark's Corner
    Mind Your Own Business
    Miscellaneous
    Motivational
    One Step At A Time
    Photodex
    PhotoShelter
    PhotoTexting
    Platypod
    Podcasts
    Profoto
    Sales
    Search
    Skylum
    Social Media
    Sunday Morning Reflections
    Tamron
    Tamron Recipes
    Technique
    Throwback Thursday
    Wedding Photography
    Westcott
    Why?

Categories​

Business
Marketing
Technique
Sales
Fast Food Fridays
​

Podcasts

Tamron Recipes 
Beyond Technique
Why?
Mind Your Own Business
Pro Photographer Journey

 Partners

Tamron
Photofocus

​Lumix

Marathon Press
​Platypod
©  2019 Skip Cohen University
  • Home
  • SCU Blog
  • Our Podcasts
  • About Us