SWIM OUT TO YOUR SHIP
Article by
KAYSOON KHOO
Some people complain that opportunity never comes their way; or, when it does, it comes too late. The timing is always wrong. They look at people who make it, people who succeed, and put it down to luck. Or they ascribe it to the intervention of some divine source who practices favouritism.
Having drawn that conclusion, what do they do? They sit tight on their behinds and commiserate with their fate. And while they're frittering away precious moments in this useless manner, their ship comes in and goes back out to sea again without their even being aware of it. Which is to say, opportunities come and go for them and they remain blissfully ignorant.
Opportunity is nothing more than a favourable circumstance for you to achieve something. It's not always recognisable. Sometimes it plants itself right before you and you're not even aware of its presence. You have to learn how to recognise it so that you detect it as soon as it appears on your horizon. And you have to grab it without delay or hesitation. Opportunity is extremely volatile. It's like a bird that perches itself on a branch for a very brief moment. Even as you watch, it flies away, sometimes never to return.
An opportunity that allows you to attain or achieve something worthwhile is like a ship that sails into port, carrying merchandise specially for you. Sometimes that vessel calls frequently, and if you take the trouble to unload its cargo, your life is enriched.
But sometimes that ship does not come in. Opportunity seems to stay aloof from you, a stranger who does not wish to make your acquaintance. When this seems to be the case, there is only one thing you can do about the situation. You have to go out and look for what you want. You have to swim out to your ship.
Opportunties are everywhere. They take many forms because life is infinite variety. If you cannot find the type you're looking for, it could be due to any number of reasons. Perhaps you're looking in the wrong places or approaching the wrong people. Perhaps you're not going about it the right way. Whatever the reason, keep on looking.
Sometimes something quite different from what you anticipate comes your way. Consider the alternative that presents itself. Perhaps it might work better for you than what you've been searching for.
At other times you have to create that opportunity which will not come to you. Consider your situation, take stock of what you have, and put on your thinking cap. Ask around if you have to. You'll come out with a formula that works for you.
Opportunity has a strange habit of coming halfway to meet you when you go in quest of it. The harder you search for it, the closer it draws towards you. It's like a fair maiden who likes to be courted. If you display guts and determination, she's impressed. Opportunity and that fair maiden have one thing in common. Faint hearts never win them.
So stop waiting for your ship to come in. You might have to wait forever! Swim out to meet it -- against the tide, if you have to!
