This past Sunday my family took me to the Dallas Mavericks basketball game for my birthday celebration. As an original Mavericks ball boy, I’m an avid fan. That night the Mavericks were playing one of their heated rivalries, the San Antonio Spurs.
It was an amazing game—the Mavs won by one point in overtime. During the course of the game, Dallas led by as many as 18 points. So Gregg Popovich, the San Antonio coach, pulled his starters and inserted his bench players. What happened next? San Antonio came storming back, tied the game, took the lead and almost won the game in overtime.
What struck me during the second half (besides a bit of heartburn from the nachos) was that San Antonio’s bench players used the most of their opportunity to play. They not only saw an opportunity, they seized it. Are you seizing the opportunities you have professionally and personally? Here are some examples of opportunities you can seize:
- Professional—You can read as much as possible about your field or profession. You can learn a new skill. You can take an online course to improve your education. You can volunteer to help on a project. You can teach your co-workers something you know. Becoming proactive on the job demonstrates that you are seizing opportunities.
- Personal—You can spend more time with your kids. You can go on a date with your spouse. You can help around the house. You can do an outside activity with the family. You can save money and go on a special vacation. You can actively listen and engage in conversations. Becoming proactive at home demonstrates you are seizing opportunities.
Opportunities don’t just “happen.” In many cases, you have to seize them yourself.
Think Huge!
Comments