It’s Really Opportunity. It Only Looks Like Hard Work

Here’s a quick quiz to see how opportunity minded you are.  Answer yes, somewhat, or no to each.  Do you:

• Actively “lobby” to take on challenges that are new for your position?
• Attend more seminars, conferences and workshops than most people in your area?
• Read and research to keep on top of trends in valuation?
• Consistently have a lot of curiosity about others’ view, opinions, and issues?
• Not only continually increase your technical skills, but also make sure your communications and presentations are always top-notch?

If you answered somewhat or not to more than half the questions, you may be blind to potential opportunities right where you are.

You can actually train yourself to see new opportunities by:

• Thinking creatively (“We could do this better if we got training in …”)
• Seeing the other side of the question or problem (“It’s not the boss; it’s the rules …”)
• Looking for better (“This could be a lot more interesting if I also handled …”)
• Thinking big (“This little nuisance project could be the start of …”)
• Thinking beyond (“I’ll check to see if other engagements might …”)

Once you begin to spot opportunities, you’re more likely top be able to seize them if you get lots of information about the opportunity by talking to others in the organization who may have a breadth of knowledge wider than yours.  Be sure to watch out for naysayers and risk-averse friends, however.  They may be opportunity inert, not alert.  Also, avoid paralysis by analysis.  Sometimes, overanalyzing the opportunity is just a delay tactic in disguise.

Making a career move is difficult enough.  If you tell yourself – or your new boss – that you did it for a better opportunity, make sure you really have investigated the opportunities where you are.