Preparation Meets Opportunity

"What we call luck, what we call chance, is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."
-Will Smith

Last week, I went to Salt Lake City for a business conference. I opened this business, which sells products to improve peoples' health and help them lose weight, in June. I have been preparing for a few years to open a business which I believe in with all my heart. When the opportunity came through a friend of mine, who is involved in the business, I did my research, tried the products, met the team, and then decided to make a decision.

Luck, at least what most people consider luck, doesn't exist. It never has. Very rarely do serendipitous things happen. What you don't see when you run into successful people is the blood, sweat, tears, and heartaches that they've endured to get where they are in life.

My good friend, John Livia, gave me a tidbit of wisdom a while back. "Don't be so obsessed with the trophy, but become obsessed with the journey." For me, this changed the way I looked at things. Instead of focusing on the big business with employees, buildings, customers, etc and all the trappings of success, I became focused on meeting new people, doing research, and finding my way in the world. I think it's just as important to find what you DON'T want to do as it is to find out what you DO want to do.

So the next time you see someone who is successful, realize they made tons of sacrifices and worked hard to get where they are. If you want to be there, get obsessed with the journey rather than the trophy that you see!

Cheers