YinvsYang

The other day, I ran into a person I went to high school with.  We both looked at each other and had that five seconds of an awkward moment when you are racking your brain trying to remember where you know each other from.  To break the awkwardness, I smiled, and put out my hand.  Immediately, he shook my hand and we began the routine ‘how have you been?’ convo.

I tend to run into a lot of people because I have known them through my family and businesses.  One of the things that I always find strange is that moment of awkwardness that happens on these chance run-ins.  You know, you have just left your home in a hurry, not looking your best.  You enter the super market all frazzled just trying to grab the necessities and get on the shortest line possible.

You finally make your way through the slow moving crowd trying not to lose any items.  You look for the shortest line and WHAM!….Right there is a person about to pay with not too many items.

You rush over to secure your spot, and drop all of the items on counter.  All of a sudden the person about to pay turns around.  It is a person you sat next to in high school for four years in homeroom.  You both look away pretending not too notice.

The obvious feeling is that who wants to talk to this person?  You really were not close in school.  You barely said hi to them then.  You owe them nothing, therefore there is no point in even talking.  Who cares if you know them?  You even hope to God that the other person feels the same way.

However, it is moments like these that successful people capitalize on by taking a different approach.

They immediately smile and say hello.  They take the lead by acting first.  It shows leadership and maturity.  It conveys authority.  All of a sudden, you are in control, whether the person wanted to speak to you or not.  Either way it always leads to the routine conversation.

That routine convo always seems to include asking each other how have you been?, do you still talk to so and so?, and the most important question of all, ‘so what are you up to now?’.  This is where I have found opportunities present themselves like never before.  This is where successful people shine.  This is why they start the conversation.  For this very question.

What are you up to now gives you a chance to speak about your business with someone new.  You never know where this will lead.  Opportunities do not present themselves.  They are like hidden Easter eggs in video games, you have to find them.

Here are 5 simple ways to find more opportunities in life:

1. Speak to as many people about what you do as possible.  It is never wrong to let people know how you can help them or their family.
2. Speak to people who you do not know.  There are many times we find ourselves next to someone on the train, or bus, or whereever.  Most of the time, I don’t speak to these people either.  However, sometimes opportunities present themselves to talk.  It is at this point the decision is ours.  Do we open up an opportunity or do we not?  Successful people almost always open up the opportunity.
3. Change your point of view.  Stop looking at these random run-ins as a drag.  They are not.  They may seem awkward, but that is because you have the opportunity to take control and create more opportunities.  So, instead of a drag, look at them as a big opportunity.
4. Be proud of what you do.  If you do something day in and day out, you should be proud of it.  If not, you may need to rethink what you do.  Because if you are not proud of it, then how can you possibly be successful at it?
5. Don’t be afraid to open up.  Many people try to put on a certain ‘face’ in front of people they are not comfortable around.  They think they better act a certain way, but it actually works against them.  Try to realize this as it happens, and then try slowly to move past it.  Opening up and being sincere may sound like it makes you vulnerable, but actually it is more effective then you can ever imagine.  The only way for me to prove it to you is to have you try it out yourself.

If anyone has anything of their own to add to the growing list, simply leave a comment below.

These are but a few of the countless ways to open up new opportunities in your life.  Next time you see someone you know, try this out.  You may be surprised.

Opening a door is always better than just guessing there is nothing behind it!

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