“Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them.” – William Arthur Ward, American motivational writer.
But are all opportunities worth pursuing? Apparently, not!
One needs to be selective about opportunities and weigh the pros and cons of each.
Knowing which opportunities to accept and which ones to turn down can be a challenge. However, making these decisions right can be the difference between a successful and fulfilling life and a not-so-successful one.
Outsmart the pleasure principle.
It’s easier to say yes than saying no. A negative requires time and effort to explain. Sometimes people tend to say yes to seek pleasure and avoid pain.
When making a decision, ask yourself how you’d feel if this opportunity were not far out in the future.
Would you be equally excited? If your answer to the prospect is being presented is no, then steer clear of it.
Estimate the time required (generously).
Many times people underestimate the time investment required to fulfill an opportunity. Consider all the work that will be involved before getting to the exciting parts of the opportunity. Can you fit the total time commitment into your schedule? If your answer is yes, go for it!
Adopt some hard rules.
Making decisions requires energy and time. To ease out the decision-making process, adopt hard and fast rules.
When developing your own rules, consider your strengths and the type of activities that resonate with you.
Last but not least, say yes to opportunities that you will truly benefit from.
