Are Opportunities Chance or Choice?

Published on February 15, 2010

Do you believe things happen for a reason?
I do.

If it’s meant to be, destiny, or whatever you call it, opportunities are there for the choosing.

Now that may sound like a platitude, but bear with me.

I was leaving Nashville after a fantastic few days at the National Speaker Association conference and stopped by the Hudson Book Store to sign copies of my book Lead, Sell or Get Out of the Way.

Truth be told, I was tired and just wanted to get to my gate, but I had promised to reach out to every airport bookseller, so I dropped in.

While there, two women came up and asked, “Are you the author? Will you autograph our books?”

Believe me, when you’re up at midnight writing your book, you dream about these moments.

It gets better.

Turns out these two women were sales executives for a company that was already considering my services as a speaker/consultant. Turns out we were on the same plane back to Newark. By the time we said our good-byes, they promised to recommend my book and my services to their management team. Whoo hoo.

What’s the point?

If I hadn’t kept my promise to myself to visit that airport bookstore, that connection wouldn’t have happened and that contract may not have materialized.

What’s a business-related promise you’ve made to yourself?

In the next few days, you’ll have an opportunity to keep it or quit it.

My advice?

Keep it.

Opportunities and results happen by choice, not by chance.