“The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.”Benjamin Disraeli
Have you ever experienced a moment in your life where you felt unprepared or caught off guard? Most of the time those moments are filled with regrets and “should have’s” but how different would that moment be if we would have simply prepared? I remember my days in college where my professor would give pop quizzes. To the prepared students it was the opportunity of a lifetime, the chance to gain extra points. But, to the unprepared students it felt like the most inconvenient task of the day. Why did it seem so inconvenient? Was it because we didn’t expect it? or Was it due to our lack of preparation?
How often do we got through life wanting more than we are prepared for? We dream about the future being better than our current situation but what are we doing today to prepare for it? Preparation is the action or process of being made READY for use or consideration. What are we doing today to ensure that we are READY for the opportunity when it comes?
“It’s not the will to win that matter – everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.” Paul Bear Bryant
How to get prepared:
1.) Develop a growth plan
Never stop growing. “You will only go as far as your willingness to keep growing.” What are you doing to grow in this season of your life? What’s your growth plan? Where do you want to see yourself in the next year? How are you going to grow? One thing I’ve learned is that growth is not automatic. Growth is intentional. When we were young and in school we were forced to grow and our education was pushed down our throats. Now that we are older we are responsible for creating our own growth environment. If we feel stuck in life it’s due to our lack our creating continual growth in our lives. One thing I like to do everyday is listen to a podcast and read. This helps me to be intentional and grow through every season of life.
2.) Prepare today
“Don’t put off until tomorrow, what you can do today.” Sometimes later becomes never. Everyday we have the opportunity to prepare and get better. We know the changes we need to make and the habits we need to break in order to become the best version of ourselves. If we know exactly what we need to do, why not start now? Before I got married and started dating, I remember being in a season of life that felt like constant preparation. I knew exactly who I was going to marry when I first laid eyes on him. I had never met him the moment I first saw him but I knew in my heart there was something very special and different about him. We became friends for years before we even started dating but during all those year I was growing, finishing college, working and becoming the best version of myself. When the right time and moment came he asked me on a date and the rest is history.
“The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.” H. Jackson Brown Jr.
3.) Seize the moment with confidence
When the opportunity comes move forward with confidence. When you are fully prepared you have all the reason to be confident and to give your best. Whenever I would study for a test in college and I really understood the information, I was confident that I would pass the test. Preparation breeds confidence. When you have taken the time to prepare for what you want you don’t to be afraid when the moment comes.
Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” Bobby Unser
I just want to encourage you to prepare yourself for what you want to see. You never know when your opportunity will come but when it does come make sure you are ready. Develop a growth plan and build a better future for yourself. There is a world of opportunity that awaits you, but your willingness to prepare determines everything.
Thanks for reading!
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