Many people think the “opportunities” that come along in their career are the big hits:

• How does a great new job offer at a trendy company sound?
• What about a promotion at work?
• Wouldn’t a big raise or a high-profile assignment make your day?
• How about running point on a new project instead of just being support?
• Or an opportunity to work abroad?

Here’s Your Big Opportunity

If I said that one of these opportunities would be awarded in 2 weeks, what would you do differently during those 14 days?
You would probably jump into action and start going the extra mile at work, or you would polish your resume and practice interviews, or you would try learning some skills you’ve needed.

What if, instead, you find out the person to receive the opportunity has already been chosen? Now what do you do? Would you look back at the past few weeks and months and see the things you should have done?

Now is the Time

Many people wait until they know about the opportunity before they start aiming for it and working towards it. When it passes them by, they just say, “Maybe next time.” and they fall back into their previous routine. Here’s the thing: you KNOW that another opportunity is coming. You aren’t sure when but you know it is coming. So if you know it is coming why not start jumping into action now?

Stock Market Rises 3% in One Day

Landing a great career opportunity takes lots of preparation long before you can capitalize on a big opportunity. Here’s an analogy. When the stock market jumps up 3% in one week, you aren’t able to go back in time to capture that investment opportunity. You needed to prepare; you needed to already have your money invested. You should have invested every month for the past few years – then your money would have been in the market for the big jump.

Invest in Developing Your Career Each Day

In the same way, you need to invest in your career a little bit every day so that when a big opportunity comes along you are already prepared. In the world of career coaching, we call this “career development”. Career Development clients identify the opportunities they want to happen. Then they go about determining how to get that opportunity. Is it learning a new set of skills? Is it moving to a different company? Is it revising your resume and changing your brand?

You can’t do those things effectively in 2 weeks but you can do a lot in 6 months, 1 year and even more in 2 years. Your career may last for decades so don’t just react to opportunities. Instead, set your goals, make the necessary changes and keep your eyes peeled for the right opportunity. When you see it, the work will be done and the opportunity will be yours!