Turning opportunities into big success

Shiny Benedict is a renowned doctor. Petite and brimming with confidence, she constantly comforts patients as she walks them through their chronic diseases. 

“How do you remain so positive and active?” I had to ask her after seeing 10 hours work every day. When she decided to clear medical entrance, she weighed 90 kg and was shy to face the world. But once the opportunity maps were drawn, she put constant efforts with will power to turn 50 kg and become a doctor.

Confidence and understanding of opportunity at the right time are the keys that help everyone to maintain the will power to do anything. Opportunities are everywhere, but the catch is to understand the action to be taken. 

In 1968, Haloid Xerox had sales over one billion and rated as one of the 100 biggest corporations in the US. In 1970, Xerox decided to buy a company Scientific Data Systems in a billion dollar deal. In 1975 Xerox Data Systems was shut down with $90 million loss. What went wrong? The idea was  to make Xerox a company of office automation systems. But the market perception of the photocopier company was not worked upon. 

Next three points to consider whenever you need to convert an opportunity in success.

Draw a Map

Decide what your opportunities are. Do not get carried away by others’ success. Struggle and success are always based on case to case. Decide what your final milestone is and work backwards. 

Do not over or under-estimate yourself

Most of my high-profile coaches and CEOs exude remarkable confidence. They come across as a force of nature when they enter the room. Not egoistic yet dominant, not angry yet commanding, almost each of them paint a great piece of success.

Despite that, I see a lot of breakdowns in coaching. They invariably get into self-criticism. The monologue within is berating and belittling. Anil Sharma, head, training at an MNC, gets down from the dais and thinks “I am lousy speaker”. Meera Gupta was sent to me after a winning streak of commendable work. She kept repeating about how much better she could have been actually.  The difference between self-evaluation and self-criticism is vast, but the crossover is very quick.

Think of potholes

Once an opportunity is mapped, most people are overjoyed. They think half the battle is won and now nothing can go wrong. That’s why first jolt strikes and most people start packing bags. 

To capture any opportunity first look deep within. Is it yours or are you  getting into fear of missing out?  Harvard Business School has a  shocking study which says that only 1.7% of companies, no matter which segment and or size, has lasted for more than four decades. People or organisations see the opportunities right in front of them, but fail to seize it right time and the right moment.  

Will power is your key for staying on course.

The writer is a strategic advisor and premium educator with Harvard Business Publishing