Carly Ries
"One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation." -- Arthur Ashe
They say that success is born when preparation meets opportunity.
Let that sink in.
Success is born when preparation meets opportunity.
Now, you can’t always predict when opportunities will come your way, but you can prepare yourself as much as possible for when those opportunities present themselves.
I’ll give you an example of a time I was not prepared, and I bet many of you can relate. My background is in marketing but I also love traveling, so much so, that my family and I have spent a few years traveling full time in an RV exploring the country and making memories. We always thought it would be cool to document it, take amazing pictures, and write travel blogs in hopes we could guest post for travel publications, have our pictures featured on travel platforms, and so on, but I always looked at it as “I’ll do that one day” and prioritized other things.
Well, an opportunity became available for somebody to document their travels for an entire year that would be featured in a publication I was obsessed with. In return, they’d pay for our camp spots on the road. Umm, double win! It was perfect! The only requirement? To show a portfolio of photography and blog posts from the past year.
You know what? I didn’t have that. The dream opportunity presented itself, and I had nothing to show for it. Needless to say, I was unable to seize that opportunity, and it was all my fault. I simply wasn’t prepared.
Lesson learned.
Being prepared allows successful solopreneurs to be ready for any opportunity, no matter what curveballs come their way. To be one of them, follow the tips below.
Like what you see? This post gives you a preview of our guide, Unleash Your Inner Awesome: Motivational Quotes With Actionable Steps to Help You Reach Your Goals and Achieve Great Things. Be sure to check it out here.
Actionable Steps
Develop Your Skills
Whether it’s practicing your soccer juggling skills, writing 1000 blog posts to perfect your writing, or becoming a genius with Excel spreadsheets, start developing your skills now that line up with your dream opportunity.
Get Certifications
If certifications will give you more credibility for what you’re trying to pursue, start studying! Many platforms offer certifications for free, or at a really low cost, so start researching what would be valuable to have and start going after them.
Stay Informed
Familiarize yourself with news, influencers, events, etc. in the area you want to get into. Understand trends and see how you might be able to use them to your advantage.
Find Time to Prepare
No matter how busy you are, if you want this dream bad enough, you’ll find time to make it a priority. Tony Robbins talks about NET time which means No Extra Time. The idea is that there are times when you can do something productive without costing you. Listen to educational content while driving in the car or cleaning. Bring a book to a doctor’s appointment instead of reading the magazines. You get the idea.
Get Experience
Volunteer in the area you’re interested in. Build your skillset so you can take on freelance work at a lower rate as you start out. Start getting your foot in the door and ask a lot of questions along the way,
Network
Whether it’s in person or virtually, start building relationships within the space you want to get into. This will make it easier when you decide to take the leap to pursue your dream.
Evaluate Your Personal Brand
Like it or not, we all have a personal brand these days. Take a look at your social media accounts and ensure they represent the area you want to get into. If a personal website is relevant for what you want to do, get that domain secured and start building it!
Stay Curious
No matter how much information you’ve consumed, stay curious and keep learning. Don’t stop educating yourself. It will make you that much more prepared when an opportunity presents itself.
Keep Your Eyes and Ears Open
Be alert for the opportunities that come your way, but also try to create some of your own. Make things happen!
Food for thought: What have you done today to help you prepare for your dream?