Prepare Yourself For Opportunity

"Moments in time can have a huge lifetime effect upon you and the world around you. Prepare yourself for that moment" - Dean Sweetman

Our lives are full of these 'moments in time' in which the paths of different lives will cross. Some where in time another person has been set in motion to eventually intersect with your life. These crossings occur at different times in your life and you'll never fully know when they might occur. So you need to prepare yourself for these moments.

An old saying is that opportunity is about being in the right place at the right time. Yet you must prepare yourself to be ready for that right place and right time. It is the only way you can take advantage of that opportunity, of that crossing, when it occurs.

There are four things to do in preparation for these opportunities in life. My friend Dean has spoken of these and he states;

1. Serve where you plant yourself. Where you are in life, learn to serve others and those around you. I've spoken of this before and will again. In this you will find that your needs will be met and a serving attitude with a positive attitude will bring about good changes for you.

2. Start now. My last article brings up this point. Too many times we find excuses for not starting out. In fact we tend to spend more time and energy looking for excuses then it takes to simply begin the task.

3. While serving, develop skills. As you go about your life, do not remain stagnant in your abilities. Learn more about what it is you do, learn new skills, perfect that which you do. As we all understand, there are many others out there reading more, learning more, waiting for their chance to do your job. Developing your skills will help you to better serve.

4. When opportunity comes, take it. When an opportunity comes your way, do you ponder and question if it is the right thing to do? Opportunity is what you ask for in your daily life. It is what you have dreamed of, maybe prayed for. If so, then TAKE IT!!

Winston Churchill said, "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity". You need to prepare for when opportunity comes along. If not, it will pass you by and present itself to others.

The above picture can be obtained from most any motivational posters company online. It has a saying attached to it that says, "If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door". The quote comes from Milton Berle. Create opportunity by preparing yourself and opportunity will find you.

Tips To Problem Solving

What follows is information I gleaned from a book written by Phil Pringle. I thought I would share it with you this day. The items are basic guidelines in problem solving.

• Gather all of the information that you can.
• Gather all of the people involved and discuss.
• Communicate with everyone involved. The greater the problem, the greater the need for communication. Things are better solved in the light.
• Create faith that the problem can be solved. Fostering a 'can-do' attitude helps.
• Keep a cool head and disciplined tongue. Do not let emotions rule the day. Remember to have a "warm heart and a cool head." Do not get these two things turned around. Anger solves nothing.
• Listen and hear all sides of a problem before reaching any conclusions. Do not be in a rush to solve anything. Hasty decisions are generally bad ones.
• Stay humble, arrogance creates more problems.
• Gain counsel and advice from experts.

Taking heed to this advice will help you in life. You will find yourself changing in a positive way. "Transform the atmosphere of your environment" - Dean Sweetman

Inspiration To Make Change

The first step in any fresh start begins with attitude. Look for the inspiration you need to make change. Look for it in places you least expect. Look for it in places out of the ordinary. And look for it daily.

The Inspiration of Saint Matthew painting by Caravaggio (link to Amazon) is said to represent St. Matthew writing his gospel under the inspiration of an angel. We all take inspiration from different sources...find yours.

Use What Is Suited To You

When reading various articles and watching life around me, it occurs to me that many are looking for that one solution, that one answer to make our lives better. To get that one diet that works or even that one key to success. We read lots of 'self help' books, watch shows teaching us the next great thing, listen to people speak on the 'right' method and all along wonder why much of it doesn't work for us.

The first thing I have to say is that I am not being derogatory to anyone offering help in one form or another. To do that would be diminishing what I'm trying to accomplish in helping people. What I am saying is that all of these different methods, tips, steps or motivation break throughs are options for your life. What one person may deem odd could potentially work for you. What failed for you will do wonders for the next seeker.

These suggestions only open your eyes to different possibilities in life. But that life is yours and yours alone. Each of us is different in how we were raised, our environment as well as the multitude of other differences. I had read somewhere that, "each of us are here to do a different life."

An Italian poet born in roughly 50 BC - Sextus Propertius, wrote " let each man pass his days in that wherein his skill is greatest."

We are all individuals made slightly different and you will find that only you are best fitted to try things suited for you. You have certain gifts, talents and of course idiosyncrasies both good and bad. So do your research, try something...if it doesn't work, try something else. Find that which fits or works for you. Do not allow yourself to be discouraged by failure - use bits and pieces from many different sources.

You will put these together and build methods that suit you, that work for you and that make you successful in what you want to accomplish. Believe in yourself and develop a strategy that will make your life a great one.