Once you have decided on your definite purpose, you should have a good idea of what form of wealth creation you will be undertaking; but sometimes things happen for reasons not yet known, and opportunity presents itself in ways we wouldn’t have predicted. To an extent, it was thus with Barnes’ “break”.
“When the opportunity came, it appeared in a different form, and from a different direction than Barnes had expected. That is one of the tricks of opportunity. It has a sly habit of slipping in by the back door, and very often it comes disguised in the form of misfortune, or temporary defeat. Perhaps this is why so many fail to recognize opportunity.”
“Mr. Edison had just perfected a new office device, known at that time as the Edison Dictating Machine (which was later called the Ediphone). His salesmen were not enthusiastic over the machine. They did not believe it could be sold without excessive effort. Barnes saw his opportunity. It had crawled in quietly, hidden in a queer looking machine which no one showed an interest in except Barnes and the inventor.
“Barnes knew he could sell the Edison Dictating Machine. He suggested this to Edison, and was quickly given the chance. And he did sell the machine. In fact, he sold it so successfully that Thomas Edison gave him a contract to distribute and market it all over the U.S. Out of that business association grew the slogan, ‘Made by Edison and installed by Barnes.”
Perhaps your opportunity will appear exactly as you expect, and perhaps not. Your job in either circumstance is to be open to all opportunities, and seize those that present themselves to you as you apply the principles of success revealed within this secret.
I will see you back here Monday and Thursday every week for the continuation of the Mindset Mastery series.
Sean Rasmussen
Success Communicator
SeanRasmussen.com © 2004 – 2008
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
This is true…sometimes it takes a setback to create a turning point in our lives which takes us further to our goals. Have you thought about creating Mastery Groups that meet as Napoleon Hill suggests from this community. If they exist I would like to know more
Good post!
Recognizing opportunity, when it appears is very important.
Also, grabbing the opportunity and proving ourselves is the thing that makes the real difference.
Hi Sean,
I’m not sure if I recognize opportunity when it comes disguised as misfortune, loss or a setback. I think I’m pretty good though at finding the positives regardless of the situation. I just hope that by seeing the positives, it will help me see the opportunities.
I have perfect 20/20 hindsight. Most people do. I missed out on a number of market paradigm shifts that could have made me a lot of money. The personal computer, mobile phones, and the internet. I was an early adopter of the technology and quickly became the “go to” guy when people wanted to know about these things or needed assistance. But I didn’t see the opportunity. I now realise that I didn;t see the opportunities because at the time I wasn’t ready to see them. My because my life education to those points had not prepared me to see them as opportunities.
These days I am a lot more open to opportunity. When most ask why, I am finding myself ask why not? It has certainl,y created a few opportunities for me and I am glad I saw those and took the action necessary to embark upon them.
More recently I saw a demonstration of a video telephone, much like that seen on the now very old Jetson’s cartoon series. Am I on board with that? Yes I am. Is it perfect? Not yet – but it will be.
Hey Ray,
The video phone could be a lot closer to the Australian consumer, now that Telstra has made it’s deal with the Government with regard to the NBN. The commentators are predicting a radical change in communication in the coming decades. As always, exciting times that we live in!
Cheers,
Pete
Pete´s last blog ..peteboyr: @bullhunter Thanks, Sean. Just reviewing the webinar, and will get to your blogs after that. Big night ahead, pizza on the way!
Hi Sean,
At the moment I think I am focused on finding the ingredient I need to recognize the next opportunity that comes my way so that I may take advantage of it. Barnes saw a sales opportunity where the other salesmen did not see it and that was because he was waiting for it. This opportunity would fill his vision of working “with” Thomas Edison. It turned out to be the correct opportunity and mainly because he had already visualized selling the Dictating Machine.
Great learning, thanks, Sean.
Jill.
The ability to recognise opportunity is about maintaining an open mind, knowing what you want and mastering your craft so you know to ask the right questions.
Lina Nguyen´s last blog ..Richard Branson Business School: A day visit
You really do have to be on your toes to recognise an opportunity – sometimes it can be quite subtle. Being aware and saying ‘yes’ everytime when one come your way.
Who knows how many times opportunities came my way and I didn’t even recognise them! But what I want to know is – if I say ‘yes’ to ‘opportunities’ that don’t necessarily fulfil my purpose like office work that pays the bills & therefore puts off living my dreams, what does that mean in this context? I get that I may have something to learn from the opportunity but it leaves the bigger picture question wide open…
Samantha Banfield´s last blog ..Sean Rasmussen and his crazy talk!
Ahh, Sam – perhaps you have answered your own question. Just because something comes your way, doesn’t mean you have to take it. You have just helped me, you know. When we have a definite idea, a definite goal, in mind we are better able to utilise those opportunities that are able to get us to, or even beyond where we thought we were going. Gosh you are good. Thank you.
Jo Carey-Bradshaw´s last blog ..Empowering Mindset – Mindfulness
Opportunities abound but not all opportunities are equal. How do you tell the higher value opportunities? Education is one way, especially education in uncommon ways of making a profit such as Carly the real estate developer seems to know. Maggie’s decision destroyer is another. See my eftsa.com web site for more information.
Wal Heinrich´s last blog ..Decision Making Using Maggie’s Decision Destroyer
That story is an important reminder to stay open to what life brings you and go with the opportunities presented. If you always wait for the “perfect” moment (perfect as you imagine it) you will miss most of life’s opportunities.
Renee´s last blog ..Definition Of Motivation
Hi Renee,
I love this. You’re right, we do have to stay open to what life hands us. I think we should grasp everything that life throws at us. We’ll work out soon enough if it’s good for us or not.
It’s kind of like that Jim Carrey movie where he says yes to everything that comes his way. Look at it this way, at least we wouldn’t miss an opportunity.
Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Sean Rasmussen – Aussie Internet Marketer Making a Difference
Hi Renee,
That makes a lot of sense to not be looking for the perfect moment. I heard once that opportunities come around as often as, everyday. If this is true then I need to review my perspective on recognizing an opportunity for what it is.
I’m sure I will improve my recognition as I become more aware of my strengths in the area of I.M
In the meantime I’ll just enjoy myself in blind ignorance. Lol
Jill Brown´s last blog ..Common Law Marriage – What is Common Law Marriage?
Hey Sean,
Opportunities do indeed present themselves every day, if not every minutes, somewhere around the world. The world is awash with opportunities. And any opportunity that presents itself to you is going to be a good thing, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the right opportunity. I would surmise that to recognize the RIGHT opportunity, as opposed to ANY opportunity, would be determined upon what your driving goal is, and the clarity with which you hold it within your being.
So looking for opportunities would be mostly pointless, unless you have clarity first.
Just a thought!
Cheers,
Pete
Great stuff Sean, surely opportunities come unexpectedly and too ofter we realise it too late. I’m glad you pointed this out so we can recognise them when they come.
Cheers
Rose
Rose Kawe´s last blog ..Getting Started With No Outlay
Yes, opportunities are like real estate deals right? I think our fear that we’re going to miss out, or going to make the wrong decision has a huge impact on our decision making. Also, I’m sure most people have lived with the ‘what ifs’. If it’s a ‘what if’, then it wasn’t meant to be. It’s just important that whatever you decide to do, you’re excited about it!
Hilary´s last blog ..Indoor Air Quality
Sometimes it seems like Opportunities abound. Other times it seems to take so long for an opportunity to appear you begin to wonder if you didn’t miss something somewhere. The main thing is to be clear and definite in your goals. That way you don’t take an opportunity that leads up a dead end, as the opportunity you were waiting for slips by while you’re busy chasing the wrong squirrel.
So many times opportunity presents itself but because of your conditioning you do not see it, not realising what it was, till its too late.
You must gain confidence in yourself and take the opportunity that is presented to you, if you don’t try you will never know.
Maybe the next time will be the time it all works out for you, go and try.
Rita pepper´s last blog ..Learn Affiliate Marketing- For A Few Dollars more
Hi Rita,
I think you’re right. I think once we have a successful mindset and know what we want to achieve, we’ll be able to see more opportunities.
I think it’s because we need our subconscious mind to come up with a plan of how to achieve our dreams. If we’re paying attention, they’ll show up but we have to have the confidence to act on them.
Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Finding Your Passion
Hi Sean
Edison and Barnes saw an opportunity that most didn’t see at the time. They knew what Edison Dictating Machine was capable of doing and had a vision of it’s development whereas most had no idea of the potential. Edison and Barnes took the opportunity of their discovery and went forward with faith.
Do we see possibilities in ourselves that others don’t see? That’s because we are not developing them. Once we get a definite purpose for wealth creation and take action, opportunities for development will come. One of my mentors said “opportunities are slippery little suckers, you have to grab them when they appear!”
The thing about Edison was that he was not only a great inventor, but open minded and could think laterally – he saw the potential of Barnes and let him run with it.
For him, it wasn’t about risk or negative thinking, but about opportunity
Our job is to remain conscious of all and any opportunity that reveals itself to us.
Oppurtunity will be missed unless we train ourselves to live in the now as Eckhart Tolle puts it..
Should we be in the past or future with our thoughts it will pass us bye…