How Many Opportunities Have You Missed?

In my years of networking I have seen and continue to see many business owners and professionals miss opportunities simply because they are too focused on generating clients for their business. Still many businesses come to networking events with the objective to recruit clients. My challenge to you today is to expand your horizons and come to networking events in search of opportunities - you may be surprised at the results.

Opportunities can come in a variety of forms; an alliance, joint venture or host beneficiary, a speaking opening, job advancement, contracting opportunities expanding into new markets, or even the opportunity to collaborate with other like minded professionals to offer a full range of services to your clients or perhaps a new one combined with another business.

Simply by opening your mind and looking at adding value to others as well as your own business, you can often fast track your business and career success.

Like any investment it’s important not to be so emotionally attached to your business that you aren’t on the lookout for other opportunities. Being entrepreneurial in your thinking means you can see beyond the present and look into the future.

Steven Covey in his book the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People says we need to start with the end in mind. If you know why you are in business and what your eventual outcome is, you will tend to view business in a different manner which sets you up for opportunities you may have never imagined in the first place when you started your business. Being flexible and adaptable is a great advantage in a market that continues to change.