When Opportunity Knocks

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The Batu Pahat boy in this photo is going to be a WINNER in life.

Why do I feel so? The story goes like this...

Last week I spoke at an English seminar in Batu Pahat, which was aimed at helping SPM students to excel in the English paper.

When the seminar was over, many students gathered around me (ahem...as usual...) asking for my autograph (ahem...you know young people...), as well as taking photos.

After the crowd had dispersed, I noticed a one ringgit note on the floor, apparently dropped by one of the students.

I picked the RM1 note up, waved it at the students and yelled, "Hey, who dropped this RM1?"

The students looked at me and then they looked at the note...nobody said anything or did anything. Suddenly, there was absolute silence! You could have heard a pin drop!

Upon seeing this reaction from the students, I then said to them, "Okay now, so the money doesn't belong to anybody...but I want to give it away. Who wants it? Raise your hand!"

The students looked at me and then they looked around one another...they broke into laughter but - there was no action!

NOBODY WANTED THE RM1 NOTE!!!

I felt nothing but a sense of devastation...I asked myself: "Why are these young people just laughing and not seizing a fantastic opportunity that is given to them?"

Finally, one spectacled boy moved up to me and asked hesitantly, "Can I have the money?"

I smiled at him, handed him the RM1 note and he blushed. A photograph was snapped to commemorate the occasion. :)

I then declared to all who were present, "This boy is going to do very well in the future!"

The crowd roared and cheered for the proud owner of the RM1 note.

If you are reading this, you might think I am creating a mountain out of a mole hill. What's the big deal about one ringgit?

I must say that I'm not making a fuss over this.

Why? That's because success is a result of all the small actions and decisions done right.

There are a few possible reasons as to why the students did not take up the offer:

1. They thought RM1 was too insignificant an amount to be taken seriously.

2. They were too embarrassed to act because they did not want to be perceived by their peers as being greedy.

3. They were lazy and therefore reluctant to move their butts.

Whatever their reasons might be, I could not help myself but felt a sense of disappointment.

Why did they not take advantage of an opportunity when it was offered by a genuine source (i.e. me!)? If the source of an opportunity was unknown then they did the right thing...but the integrity of the source was without question!

Far too often we behave the same in life. As a result - opportunities came, opportunities went. Because of our inability to assess the genuineness of an opportunity and/or our lack of confidence and courage, we allow great opportunities to pass us by over and over and over again.

There are not too many windows of opportunity in one's lifetime. Some people will only have one or two; while others may have a few more.

What we must learn, therefore, is to detect, evaluate and act on opportunities that are real.

In life, however, what constitutes a great opportunity is fuzzy and gray. We must also understand that where there are opportunities, there are threats. Once a decision is made to hop onto an opportunity, the result will be either positive or negative. And whatever happens, we must accept and take full responsibility for the outcome. If the outcome is positive, we have made new inroads; if not, we need to find the courage to start all over again.

Developing a keen sense and an analytical mind is a big plus for people aspired to achieve greater successes in life.

And now to the Batu Pahat boy: Remember this RM1 lesson for the rest of your life. Bring this RM1 note and pay me a visit someday, perhaps years from now, when you have achieved your desired success.

All the best!