Over the past month, a robin has been raising her babies in a nest on the porch light outside my townhouse. I’ve enjoyed checking on them from time to time and watching how quickly the babies have grown. What has stood out to me most, however, is how attentive the mother robin is. She seems completely focused on caring for the nest she has built and the babies she is nurturing.
Watching her has reminded me of something I’ve been learning about opportunities.
Opportunities Are Everywhere
Lately I’ve been thinking about opportunities and how they show up in my life.
For a long time, I viewed opportunities in a fairly simple way. If something sounded exciting, helpful, or potentially beneficial, I assumed I should seriously consider saying yes.
Recently, I’ve begun to question that assumption.
I’ve noticed that opportunities are actually much more plentiful than I once believed. What seems to be in shorter supply is my time, energy, attention, and financial resources.
A Tempting Opportunity
There is a business mentor whose work I have followed for several years. I’ve admired what she has built and have often thought that someday I would love to participate in one of her larger programs.
Recently she offered a one-day event that seemed interesting. The investment was $500.
At first, I was intrigued. I found myself imagining what I might learn and how valuable the experience could be.
Looking Beneath the Surface
As I sat with the decision, I began asking myself a few questions.
Am I actually the intended client for this program?
The honest answer was no.
The program was designed for business owners who were further along in their journey than I currently am.
Then I asked myself another question:
What am I hoping to get from this experience?
That question revealed something important.
Part of what was attracting me wasn’t necessarily the content itself. It was the excitement of participating in something created by someone I respected. It was also the feeling that I might be missing out if I didn’t take advantage of the opportunity.
A Good Opportunity vs. The Right Opportunity
At nearly the same time, I had already invested in another program that will support me throughout the next year.
I also realized that if I chose not to spend the $500 on the one-day event, those funds could move me closer to purchasing a new computer for my business, something I have wanted for several years.
Suddenly the question wasn’t whether the opportunity was good.
The question was whether it was the right opportunity for me right now.
Those are not always the same thing.
Three Questions I Now Ask Myself
I’ve started asking myself three questions whenever a new opportunity appears:
- Am I interested in this opportunity? If so, why? What do I believe I will gain from it?
- What are some other ways I could achieve that same desired result?
- Which option feels most aligned for me right now?
Sometimes an opportunity is a yes.
Sometimes it’s a no.
And sometimes it’s a “not right now.”
I’ve learned that “not right now” is not the same thing as “never.”
What the Robin Is Teaching Me
As I watch the robin outside my townhouse care for her babies, I’m reminded that growth often requires focus.
She isn’t trying to build three nests at once.
She isn’t chasing every possibility.
She’s nurturing what she has already chosen.
There is wisdom in that.
Sometimes growth doesn’t come from adding something new. Sometimes it comes from caring for what is already taking root in our lives.
A Final Thought
The next time an opportunity presents itself, I invite you to pause and get curious.
You may discover that the most aligned choice isn’t the most exciting one.
It may simply be the one that best supports what you’re already building.
Not every opportunity is your opportunity.
And that’s okay.
