Page 18 - September 2017 Voices

Seizing the Opportunity

by Andrew Chappell, CC, ALB

The following article originally appeared in the September, 2017 issue of
Capital News, published by Capital Toastmasters. Reprinted with permission.

Human beings have the tendency to miss a for a big promotion and
lot of opportunities. For some, it may be that when you step into the big
too many opportunities present themselves, boss’s office, you see the
and they feel overwhelmed. For others, it face that you have been
might just be a case of the lazies. The good passing in the hallway. The boss stands up
news is that we can take advantage of more and says with a smile “Good morning, how are
of these opportunities, simply by being aware you?” Surely you can see how taking advantage
and watchful. of the opportunity of just a kind word can be
To be clear, I am not referring to those of benefit to you.
huge golden opportunities that come along Here is a challenge that each of us can do.
maybe once in a lifetime, if at all. I am referring Take a little bit of time to create an opportunity.
to things that are much smaller. It may be Do something like make a friend out of a new
something as simple as helping someone, when
you see them struggling; saying a kind word; member of the club. Help someone out, or
or a word of encouragement. write a letter to a friend or relative that you
Making a habit of offering people a smile, haven’t had contact with for a while. These are
saying good morning, or how are you, are just a few examples of everyday opportunities.
simple opportunities that we often fail to take Find or create one that works for you. You
advantage of. These simple things can have may discover that taking advantage of a small
effects on your life that you may not even see. opportunity might just lead to one of those
For instance, lets say that you are working for huge, life changers. If not, just feel good about
a company for a while, and every day you pass the fact that you took the time and seized an
one of your fellow co-workers. You might not opportunity.
even know his name, but each time you pass Andrew Chappell joined Toastmasters in
them you say, with a smile “Good morning, 2014. He is serving as VP Education for Capital
how are you?” Six months later you come up Toastmasters.

The man who practises unselfishness, who is genuinely

interested in the welfare of others, who feels it a

privilege to have the power to do a fellow creature

a kindness - even though polished manners and a

gracious presence may be absent - will be an elevating

influence wherever he goes.

Orisen Swett Marsden
Founder, Success Magazine

18 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 3 SEPTEMBER, 2017