Be Prepared!
A few years ago, I travelled to Lagos for business and as I was going to be there for some days, I decided to get my hair cut to freshen up for the next set of meetings. As I was about to sit down on the barber’s chair, an unsaved number called my phone. “Hi, my name is … and I’m calling from …. with regards to your application and some things you wrote in it.” This was a prestigious program that I applied for and had been waiting for feedback for some time. For me, there was no way that I was going to have that interview at a barber’s shop especially as I didn’t have my laptop to get some details. I tried to reschedule for later that day but the person on the other end told me that wasn’t going to be possible. From the way he was speaking, I sensed that that was going to be the last day of interviews and that this was going to be my only shot at this interview. I immediately told my barber to switch off the clipper and take off the covering cloth. Thankfully I was there in the morning so it was just me and the barber and he hadn’t even put on the TV or music system so the place was quiet.
The interviewer began asking me questions about things I had written in my application including revenue, expenditure, targets, project impact, etc. As a result of my direct involvement in my business and my level of preparedness (even though I didn’t know when I was going to have the interview), I was able to remember almost everything that I had put in my application especially the numbers. This phone conversation lasted for almost 30 minutes and it ended with the person asking me to send some extra details to him. At the end of the phone call, the barber had this look on his face like “what just happened?” I was even too stunned to explain what had just happened. The summary of what happened was that I had just done the biggest business pitch of my life as at that time at a barber’s shop in my joggers and without my laptop! I can tell you this story because my application was successful and I was selected.
They say that luck is when opportunity meets preparation. This means that while you may not be able to control the timing of the opportunity, you can certainly control your level of preparedness. Each year brings a lot of opportunities. The question is “How prepared are you to take these opportunities?”. As an entrepreneur, how well do you know your business? How clear is your vision for the year? What have you put in place to ensure that this year will be better than the last? They say “POOR” means Passing Over Opportunities Repeatedly. Could it be that your lack of progress is not as a result of lack of opportunities but as a result of your lack of preparedness?
Preparation is not something that is done overnight. It takes a lot of time and commitment. The bigger the opportunity, the greater the level of preparation needed. An athlete doesn’t start preparing for the Olympics on the day of the games. They start preparing months or even years in advance. Your commitment to being prepared is what will set you apart from your peers and competitors.
For some of you who have missed opportunities due to not being prepared, don’t worry about it. Opportunities will always come. Just learn the lessons and be always prepared! You can have the future you want by preparing for it now!
Photo Credit: ShadowBrook
