Opportunities. Some people see them everywhere. They try to grab each and run with them. There are times when it’s smart to grab an opportunity. But not always…
Transcript
Opportunities. Some people see them everywhere. They try to grab each and run with them.
Others set their sights with a major vision and pursue it with laser like focus.
I’m Rashid Kotwal.
When working with business leaders who habitually chase opportunities, our counsel is always less is more.
There are times when it’s smart to grab an opportunity. But only after doing your due diligence. How could this opportunity fit into your bigger vision and strategy?
Chasing opportunities risks diluting your resources so you never really finish anything well, meaning you never hit pay-dirt.
Reminds me of the classic story Acres of Diamonds where a wealthy farmer Ali Hafed who lived near the Indus river heard about diamonds from an old priest. How much they were worth and how a diamond the size of his thumb could purchase the country and put his children on thrones through the influence of their great wealth.
Ali Hafed went to bed that night a poor man. He hadn’t lost anything, but he was discontented.
So Ali sold his farm and went off in search of diamonds. Years later, in rags and abject poverty, he walked into the sea never to be seen again.
The man who’d bought Ali’s farm one day saw a black stone with a glint of light in a nearby stream. Intrigued, he put into onto his mantelpiece where the old priest saw it a few days later.
Rushing up to it the priest shouted, here is a diamond. Has Ali Hafed returned? No he hasn’t.
The farmer and priest rushed out and found more diamonds in the stream making the new owner a very rich man.
The moral of the story is in business more often than not the diamonds are right beneath your feet. You just have to look for them rather than chasing after other bright shiny objects which turn out to be baubles.
Till next time, this is Rashid Kotwal.
