This is the final part to my series on the Entrepreneurial Sprit, where I present the characteristics of the perceived struggle driving the success of today’s internet entrepreneurs. I recommend you read parts one and two if you haven’t already.

As I mentioned previously, this struggle does not belong to entrepreneurs alone.  Knowledge workers also need to continuously align with their strengths, at the same time effectively growing their knowledge and skill, if they are to make a remarkable impression on their customers.  In this final post I’ll talk about the other side of the struggle, that of finding or creating the right opportunity.

Quick Rewind

Thus far I’ve stressed the importance of knowing and building on your strengths, as well as becoming more effective in both thought and action.  I believe these are essential ingredients in forming the foundation of autonomy, mastery and purpose that is so important to the motivation of creative people.  As I conclude this series, a narrative has emerged and it reads as follows:

Achieving and growing this level of effectiveness will permit you to grow your competence in a unique and powerful way.  This results in elevated levels of motivation which further amplifies your sense of purpose, autonomy and mastery, which further increases the number of opportunities you encounter and your ability to succeed in them.

In essence I’m saying that the number of opportunities you encounter will depend on your level of effectiveness.

What is Opportunity?

Look up the definition of ‘opportunity’ and you’ll find words ranging from ‘possibility’ to ‘chance’.  In his classic book, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill suggests the following:

Opportunity has a sly habit of slipping in by the back door, and it often comes disguised in the form of misfortune or temporary defeat.  Perhaps this is why so many fail to recognize opportunity.

For entrepreneurs, an opportunity is a calling to act, and every aspect of this ‘calling’ will directly relate to the effectiveness of the person who found it.

I asked my brother, a successful designer and woodworking entrepreneur, how he finds opportunity:

“The right opportunities come from surrounding yourself with the right people, this includes prospective clients.  Imagine you are an explorer or hunter entering a forest.  Not just any forest, but the right forest. This is your ‘market’.   The machete and other tools you carry will help clear the mess and pave your path forward.  Preparation means sustaining and growing the effectiveness of your mind, body and machete. This is what you can control.  In this context, the longer you search, the greater your chance of finding the reward. And don’t forget to enjoy and refine this process throughout, it will increase the chance of future reward.”

It’s Simple Really

As a person who creates and does things, the way to find and create new opportunities is to continuously align with your strengths while growing your ability to decide and do the right thing across the spectrum of people, processes and technology/tools.  I’ll end this series with a relevant quote from Guy Kawasaki that says “Make meaning and you’ll make money”, perhaps better restated as find meaning and you’ll make money.

I hope you enjoyed this series on the Entrepreneurial Spirit.

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