Seize Every Opportunity

There are many areas in my own personal and professional development that are a work in progress, including learning to become a better thinker, learning how to become a stronger leader, learning to use my voice, leaving the struggles of my past in the past… and at present, I am trying to embrace each opportunity that is offered to me. 

In the past, I would say I have taken up roughly 60% of the offers or opportunities offered to me, which means there are 40% of opportunities that I will never know what ‘could have been’. While some of them may not have changed my life trajectory, some may have provided me information or taught me something earlier in my life, rather than later when the stakes were higher, and some may have even had a profound impact on my life that I, unfortunately, will never know. 

One example of a missed opportunity that comes to mind came during my time in high school (and leaves me with a smidgen of regret), occurred while attending a Navigators of Canada fundraiser. I was about 16 years old at the time, and already had my sights set on becoming a physician. That evening at the dinner, I was placed at a table with a gentleman who must have been in his seventies, and likely retired. As everyone at our table began introducing themselves, I found out the gentleman was a doctor, and shortly after that, he invited me to a major hospital to observe a surgeon he knew. After that night, I hummed and hawed over the offer and whether or not I should call him up… long story short, I waited almost a year to call him. And when I did, he (likely didn’t remember me) never returned my call. The opportunity had come and gone. 

Unfortunately, I have experienced this more than once in my life. This has left me pondering about the 'what could have been’ moments, and here is what I’ve concluded - if you say ‘no’ to an opportunity, or don’t immediately follow up (as a result of procrastination), or worse case, forget to follow-up due to a busy schedule or poor planning, you will never know what the end result could have been, and you may even suffer regret. However, if you say ‘yes’ to every opportunity, you will know the outcome every time... but with no regrets. Regret is a nasty beast, that can be avoided... so simply, say ‘YES’!

Here are some steps to take to MAXIMIZE every opportunity:

1. Say ‘yes’! When someone offers you a connection, a referral, a phone number, an observership, a job, a meeting, personal feedback or constructive criticism - whatever it is, say ‘YES’! Despite what you think you know about the opportunity, the fact is, you don’t know with 100% certainty what could come of it. 

2. Act immediately. As I mentioned earlier regarding my missed opportunity with the surgeon - while I did act on the offer, I waited way too long, to the point that the opportunity had passed.

3. Ask questions. Sometimes we don’t know if we don’t ask. My mother is the best example of someone who asks questions and makes the most of every conversation. Questions can sometimes lead to unexpected opportunities!

Final thought - today, don’t dwell on past regrets or missed opportunities; change your future odds to know with absolute certainty that you have pursued each new possibility as far as you can. Even if you feel an opportunity was unfrutitful, it will still have served a purpose - you've shown initiative, possibly sharpened some rusty skills, and likely left someone else feeling fulfilled by their positive offering being received.

All the best as you learn to say ‘yes’!

Dr. Kristyn Bell