How do you find the Right Opportunity?

Sometimes simple stories have the best lessons in them....

Let me try, using a short story, to explain the biggest mistake most people do when evaluating a new opportunity, whether it is a job opportunity, a new business idea or an investment opportunity.

A young boy was enamoured about a BMW car, ever since he first saw it. He asked his millionaire father to gift him with the car. Dad promised him that he will buy the car for his 18th birthday. "Hmmm, that's a two year wait" thought the boy, but having no other option decided to wait.

Days turned into months and as his 18th birthday neared, he was starting to have sleepless nights in anticipation of his gift.

On his 18th birthday, all the other arrangements and gifts seemed to fly in a blurred manner. He was waiting for his GIFT. He looked around for the car, but it was not to be seen anywhere. Anyways, he knew that his father will keep up the promise.

As the birthday party was coming to a close, his dad called for everyone's attention. The young lad knew that his moment has come and could hardly hold his excitement.

His father brought out a small packet, beautifully gift wrapped and handed it over to his son. The young boy was a little confused as to what this could be....and he hadn't seen any sign of a car nearby either....and slowly opened the packet.

As the wrapper came out, to his huge disappointment, he saw a Bhagavad Gita inside. He thought he heard one of his friends giggle. He could sense all the eyes mockingly look at him. He has been bragging to all his friends that he is getting a BMW for his 18th birthday. How could his father let him down so badly? How will he face his friends tomorrow? He could not raise his eyes to look at the people around him. He could sense blood rushing to his head in anger.

The next few minutes the house seemed like a war zone. He had never shouted at his dad. But now, words were flowing from his mouth like a raging fire. No one could calm him down. In a fit of rage, he packed his bag and walked out of home, pledging that he will come back home only as an ultra rich man. He wanted to teach a lesson to his father about keeping up promises.

It was not an easy journey for the young boy. He worked at odd jobs, before getting settled into a regular life. There were days where he wondered if his decision was an immature one. He refused to acknowledge any messages from his father. His ego was too big for him to go back to his father for help. Years rolled by.

One day, the young man got the news that his father had passed away. He could not believe that he has been away from his dad for more than two decades. He wanted to bid farewell to the old man. He went thro the funeral formalities with a heavy heart.

After the funeral, he sat back remembering all the wonderful times he had shared with his dad. He walked through the empty house that was filled with a lot of laughter earlier. The office desk looked as though his father was still using it. He thought, he will keep it back in order.As he started dusting the table and putting back things, his eyes fell on a book.

He immediately recognised it. It was the Bhagavad Gita that his father had gifted him for his 18th birthday. With trembling hands, he picked it up. "Maybe, i should've been more patient", he thought to himself. He slowly started flipping through the pages.

As he turned the pages, he noticed something different. There was a cover that was hidden inside the Bhagavat Gita. His heart was beating faster now. He slowly opened the cover to see a birthday card, and a business card of the local BMW dealership.

And in the card was a message signed by his dad:

Now, "what has this story got to do with identifying a new opportunity?", you may ask. Actually a lot.

Lot of times we are looking for a business opportunity with a few "images" in mind. It may be in the form of a location, size, looks, product lines, technology involved, brand name, industry, etc, etc. As we spend more time thinking about the opportunity, these images become more and more deeply imprinted in our mind. And when a real opportunity comes, and it does not match the "image" we hold in our mind, we immediately brush it aside.

Patience and Open-mindedness are among the most required traits for one to be become successful. The good news is that, both of these traits can be developed. The million-dollar question is, are you ready to develop them?

Because, the golden rule about opportunities is this: Opportunity never knocks twice!

If you are ever at the junction of not knowing how to evaluate an opportunity, maybe Richard Branson's advice is a good one to start with!