Akolawole Shoremi
“Opportunity knocks, but it has never been known to turn the knob and walk in.” ― Anonymous
Dear Readers,
Opportunity is nowhere. Opportunity is now here. However you choose to see is a function of your mind.
Few days ago, I came across a profile status of a mentor, Rotimi Olawale, and therein the picture was a bookseller advertising a manuscript with the caption, “OBASANJO WRITES PRESIDENT BUHARI: FORGET 2019”. While millions of Nigerians kept reflecting on the content of the letter being political or not, a Nigerian somewhere has found an opportunity to make available the letter, transformed into a sellable document, for financial gains. And that is the Nigerian spirit; to always make way where there seems to be none.
I do not know where you find your own fuel of inspiration, especially in this period of fuel scarcity, but I sure know we all see the world through different windows. And these varying windows often become the determinants to our unequal chances to succeeding.
In previous columns, I discussed the importance of staying alive to opportunities and how opportunities are like moving buses as there will always be more to look forward to. However, how do some people pick opportunities in the midst of none while others will still not find one in the presence of many? This puzzle is best solved with the view that almost all are the eyes that look but only few are there that sees. The bookseller may end up not selling enough copies as most Nigerians interested in whatever the ex-President could have expressed will end up accessing the information online. Yet, from the entrepreneurial evaluation of the significance of every letter from the ex-President, a fair number of politically inclined Nigerians would not mind having a documented copy for reference. The sales may not be much but it will put food on the table of the bookseller for a day, or probably for a couple of days.
This year is one I have long waited for. As an entrepreneur, I long made several calculations for a line of events to be held this year. One of those promising years for entrepreneurs is a political year. A political year offers a whole lot of business opportunities. It is a year where entertainers, consultants, publishers, events organisers, and a host of other business persons feeds on jamborees. You sure may not have thought in this direction but it does not rule out its reality.
A certain school of thought believes that success is a product of opportunity meeting preparation. Among the students who share this wonderful philosophy are Abraham Lincoln and Oprah Winfrey. Another school of thought believes that success is a by-product of selfless service either one is prepared for it or not. Above all, it has been more evident that the more opportunities one is able to find or create the higher one’s chances of hitting at success.
As the New Year runs out, it is recommended we learn to unlearn to enable us focus on the needful. Opportunities are not meant to be waited for. The world is becoming so full of opportunists that while the optimists and the pessimists continue argues over a cup of water being half-filled or not, the opportunists simply keeps drinking the water to relieve themselves. An example is the bookseller who monetizes the letter while his fellow Nigerians keeps arguing it as political or not.
Nigeria has become a bus stop with so many opportunists roaming as passengers. Therefore, waiting patiently for a bus to accommodate you may never come to reality. We must learn to begin create opportunities in all we do. With a well thought resolution (see last week article on Business of Resolution), we must be able to create enough opportunities for our goals to come alive. Remember that the more chances we take, the better our winnings.
In the words of Napoleon Hill, “your big opportunity may be right where you are.” Take a breath now. Examine your bus stop closely. Look beyond the usual. Create and create. And when there seems to be no opportunity coming, go find one. And of course, you must learn to keep to the Boy’s scout motto: be prepared!
We Can. We Will. We Must
Akolawole is a Social Media and Customer Service Executive, a Columnist with Stockswatch newspaper, a Techie, Media geek, and an active Advocate on Entrepreneurship and Nation building. He can be reached via akolshoremi@gmail.com and/or +2348085366022 (SMS only).