Preparation - The Docking Station of Opportunity
Many people watch opportunities pass them by throughout their lives. Opportunities to grow wealth, to get better jobs, to flourish and so on. Do you know why opportunities pass people by? Preparation. The lack of it to be more exact. It was Abraham Lincoln who said, "give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." That is the spirit of one who prepares. More time should be spent preparing for the opportunity.
Most people spend their lifetime imagining the opportunity coming their way, however they spend little or no time preparing for the opportunity. Here is a principle: Opportunity needs a docking station. That docking station is preparation.
If you are going through life without any plans for the future, then chances are you are not preparing. If you have a dream and you are not taking any actions towards that dream, you are not preparing. Preparation is the process that keeps athletes on the ball courts long after everyone else has left. Preparation is what wakes successful leaders two or more hours before the average person, to work on their goals.
What are some actions that an average person can take that can be considered preparation? Take education for example. If you have a high school diploma, then you should be working on an undergraduate degree. If you have an undergraduate degree, then you should be working on a graduate degree. Perhaps formal schooling would not benefit you. Perhaps your goal is to be a singer or a speaker. Then spend time learning how to sing or speak. Do not rely on your natural talents only. Thank God for those talents, but spend time sharpening yourself. Listen to experts in the fields you want to get into. Read books. Turn your car into a learning institution. Listen to books on CD's. All of these are examples of preparation. It is any action you are taking towards you being ready for when that time comes.
So you work full time. If you work for a company that has a tuition reimbursement plan, take advantage of it. Whatever the amount of the tuition is, it is 'more' money that the company is willing to give you to better you! I always count my annual salary, plus my bonuses and my tuition reimbursement to get a more accurate picture of what the company paid me. Tuition reimbursement is a good incentive for you to increase your marketability.
Hopefully you are working in an area that you enjoy and would like to remain in that field. If that is the case, take courses in that field. Your job is already providing you with the experience. So just add your "paper qualifications" to it. In fact, this is typically the stipulation for tuition reimbursements; It has to be job related.
When you are done with the degree or certification, you have made yourself more marketable. You have spent extra hours of your days going to school or taking courses. Now when opportunities for promotion within or outside the company comes, you will be able to confidently step up.
Mark A. Singh
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