Have you ever noticed how much thought you put into packing for a trip?  Maybe it’s just me, but I check, double check and triple check and still manage to miss something while getting prepared for travelling.

Phone chargers, socks, reading material, vitamins … the list goes on.  I was getting ready for a trip the other day when it struck me that we put all kinds of effort into preparing to travel, but by comparison, put very little into our daily lives.

I know many of you are highly organized and plan things out, but can you really tell me that you put as much effort into today as you do into the hours prior to leaving for the airport?

We are terrified that we will get to our destination without our favorite pair of socks.  News flash people – being prepared for life is probably much more important than your favorite pair of sunglasses.

Here is the point I am trying to make, what are you doing today to prepare for tomorrow?  We let opportunities pass us by everyday.  Business opportunities, opportunities to build relationships and the chance to improve ourselves in general.

Here are six ways to be prepared for the opportunities that are passing you by:

ATTITUDE

A poor attitude clouds our judgement.  When our judgement is compromised, we make poor decisions.  Maintaining a positive attitude helps us to think more clearly and thus, make better decisions.

AWARENESS

Things are happening all around us at light speed.  When we are bogged down with “the overwhelm” we have a tendency to get stuck inside our head and see relatively nothing going on around us.  Lack of awareness is what allows ninety percent of our opportunities to pass us by.

BALANCE

You have heard it a thousand times … “The key to life is balance.”  I think there is more to it than that.  I believe the problem is we are taking on too much.  The less we have to balance, the easier it is to make minor adjustments along the way.

INTENTIONALITY

How intentional are you about what you are doing?  I think much of the time we are simply faking it until we make it.  That plan will only work so long.  Being intentional about what we set out to do will help us be prepared for the task at hand.

LISTENING

I love this one.  Are you a good listener?  Are you really hearing what is being said, or half way through the conversation, are you already thinking about your response?  If you want to be prepared, listen to what the other person is actually saying.

REFLECTION

Do you take time to reflect?  Do you have a list to help you get prepared or are you going by memory?  Most people can hold seven things in their short term memory.  When number eight comes around, something has to go.  Take the time to reflect and organize IN WRITING.

I realize that this is pretty basic stuff but there is a driving force behind this post.  We all have opportunities that pass us by every day.  Most are fairly insignificant but some are not.  Some may have the potential to change a life.  That life may be yours or it may be someone you know.  Either way, that opportunity is important.

Make sure you are packing your bag for life.  After all, it’s the longest and most important trip you will ever take!

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Barry Smith   www.buildingwhatmatters.com   2/15/13            photo by author