Sometimes people choose to pass on many of the opportunities that life sends their way because they’re afraid—they’re not sure where the opportunity might take them. This is unfortunate, because saying “yes” to opportunities is part of what it means to live life fully. Furthermore, not knowing where an opportunity is going to take you is one of the things that makes life exciting. Former president Dwight D. Eisenhower wanted to quit West Point (pass on an opportunity). When he phoned his mother to tell her, she said, “Why don’t you stick it out a little longer (take advantage of the opportunity), you never know where it might take you.” So, he decided to stick it out and look where it took him! The absolute worst that can happen to you if you decide to pursue an opportunity is that you’ll conclude, “This isn’t for me.” But now you know for sure, and you’ve experienced the excitement of finding out. On the other hand, you could wind up hitting “pay dirt” like former President Eisenhower, but you’ll never know unless you open the door.

One Sentence Wisdom

• “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” — Thomas A. Edison
• “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” — Winston Churchill

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