Opportunity is an interesting thing.  For some people, opportunity is never there for them.  For others, it’s as if opportunity is always there with open arms.  What accounts for the disparity?

I believe several factors influence the availability of opportunity.  The most key is having the ability to recognize opportunity when it hits you over the head (not as easy as it sounds).  The second is to be looking for it (and being able to change directions when opportunity slaps you on the butt).  Finally, recognizing that opportunity arrives disguised as something else.  Opportunity is a shifty thing, but it’s always there.  I’m aware of several instances in life where opportunity knocked — it knocked on the door, and when I answered, I said, “No, thank you.”  After several years of this, I realized I needed to learn to say, “Tell me more,” or, “Why would this be a good thing,” or “Let me consider that opportunity,” because I think I turned down several decent opportunities at the right point in my life because I didn’t say those things.

I’ve managed to make the most of several opportunities in my life, but I came to recognize so many more that I slammed the door on, because I didn’t recognize them as opportunities.

What do you do to help make sure you recognize opportunity when it presents itself?