Sitting in my office well into the evening on what some might have called ‘a school night’, I contemplated the next installment of my column. A school night, for some, is simply the days from Monday to Friday that represent the reality that we have to get up, usually at the crack of dawn, and be productive – or prepare ourselves to learn something new, much as we did in our school days.
The opposite of a ‘school night’ might be ‘the weekend.’ The weekend presents ample time for people to indulge in various opportunities, from sleeping in to staying up late, from lounging in one’s pajamas to dressing up for a night on the town. Weekends offer many opportunities to do things you want or have to do.
But does this opportunity come at a cost? Much like other situations and scenarios in life, when the opportunity cost of a particular activity is the value or benefit given up by engaging in an alternative activity. For example, when I spend time and energy researching and writing articles for this column, I cannot spend that time at the gym or expend my energy on something else.
Moreover, let’s explore the opportunity this column provides me with. The chance to write about anything, ponder situations and scenarios, and challenge me to dig deeper. I often conduct research to support my thoughts or test my critical thinking skills as I grapple with topics to explore in greater detail, trying to resonate with readers or provide them with insight and information they may not know or have thought of.
Examples of opportunities include helping others on a project, working in a group environment rather than slugging it out on your own, being exposed to new ideas or products, overcoming fears, or simply being at the right place at the right time.
Aside from opportunity costs, there can be other disconnects between the realities of opportunity. Take misfortune, disadvantage, improbability, or ‘little chance.’ But how does one take adversity and turn it into an opportunity? Jerry Banfield, YouTuber and Entrepreneur says that the best thing about having things not go your way… [is] there is a great opportunity to learn without any pressure or to figure out new ways of doing things. If everything goes perfectly [all the time], where is the opportunity to do or try new things?
There are endless examples of how a disadvantage, improbability, or little chance can help fuel a drive for success and opportunity. For example, Albert Einstein didn’t speak until he was four. But he persevered and eventually developed the theory of relativity, a view of gravity. Or Benjamin Franklin, who dropped out of school at age ten, taught himself by reading and eventually invented the lightning rod and bifocals. Or novelist Stephen King, whose first novel was rejected 30 times, sold over 350 million copies of his books, many of which have been made into major motion pictures.
The point is that opportunity is essential to people and organizations as it allows them to grow and develop, to try, to be or become better, and to serve as the basis for any action that results in a memorable outcome.
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Jacqueline Biollo is the CEO and Chief Strategic Optimist of NOTSOLO Consulting. She has embraced opportunities repeatedly to build relationships, open doors, collaborate, learn something new, and form lasting memories. She understands the importance of weighing the pros and cons of opportunity costs. She has undoubtedly had to pick herself up and dust herself off when the opportunity has not played out in her favour. But, as an optimist, she’s willing to bet on her chance for success at any opportunity she gets… and hopes you will do the same.
Photo by Melicious Photos
