PROSPECTING OPPORTUNITIES IN CHALLENGES

He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap – Ecclesiastes 11: 4

“At times, we complain because of too many challenges when instead we should celebrate, for the unique opportunities they bring.

Two farmers were given a piece of land and every planted seed returned poisonous fruits. One farmer considered this a misfortune; while the other enthusiastically grew the poisonous fruits, made pesticide, sold it to other farmers to eliminate their mice plague, and made a fortune.

Within every challenge lies an opportunity. It’s up to us to find it. Let’s look for the unique opportunity in our current challenges.

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work” (Thomas A. Edison).

“Two shoe salesmen were sent overseas to scout for new markets. Their first stop was a country where everyone was barefoot. The first salesman sent back a telegram to the home office saying, “Leaving tomorrow. No one wears shoes.” The second salesman’s telegram was very different. He said, “Great potential market. No competition” (Lair Ribero – Success Is Not Accident, St. Martin’s Press).

Every situation, properly perceived, becomes an opportunity…

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty” (Winston Churchill).