Do you sometimes wish things were different for you? That you made more money or had more power over your career? That you felt better about what you are doing or that your work had more meaning?

Do you ever wish that someone would come along and show you what to do? That someone knowledgeable and confident would show you how to win the case, structure the deal, please the client, handle the challenge or bring in the business?

Well, guess what? The opportunity for things to be different, for them to be better, for you to have many of the answers you are looking for, is here. And it is now. In today’s interconnected world, many of the answers you seek or the help you want or need are only a few keystrokes away. But no one is going to force you to take advantage of those opportunities. You must do it yourself.

The Excuses You are Making and the Opportunity You are Losing

There is no limit to the reasons you might give yourself or others about why you aren’t leveraging the opportunities available to you. I’ve heard multiple excuses from my clients (and those are only the ones they were willing to admit to). Heck, I’ve even used some of them myself.

Many of your excuses likely fall into one of these 4 categories:

  • I’m too busy and don’t have time. (Are you really too busy? You have the same 24 hours and 7 days as everyone else.)
  • It costs too much and is a waste of my money. (Does it really cost too much? Ask yourself whether it’s really a cost or, instead, whether it’s a worthwhile investment in your future.)
  • I know it already – I don’t need some consultant or outsider telling me what to do. (If you knew it already, wouldn’t you be doing it?)
  • I’m not ready yet. (When WILL you be ready? Go ahead – pick a date.)

Is it really the end of the world if your legal writing doesn’t improve? If you don’t make partner or get the in-house job you’d really like? If your rainmaking is anemic and your practice is struggling?

Perhaps not. But by neglecting to take advantage of the opportunities all around you to increase the odds of getting what you want, what you are doing is standing in your own way. Do you really want to be your own greatest obstacle? Wouldn’t you rather know that you’ve done everything you can reasonably do to be successful?

Opportunity is Constantly Knocking, Even When You’re Not “Ready”

Things aren’t likely to miraculously improve without some focused effort on your part. If you are truly committed to your success, it’s time to stop living in denial, take a good hard look at your situation and seize the opportunities that are all around you. It’s time to be proactive about your future.

But there’s always tomorrow, you might say. Sure, tomorrow is an option. But are you really going to take advantage of the opportunity tomorrow, or is that platitude just a way of giving yourself permission to stay stuck? What’s wrong with NOW?

British actor Hugh Laurie has said “[i]t’s a terrible thing, I think, in life to wait until you’re ready. I have this feeling now that actually no one is ever ready to do anything. There is almost no such thing as ready. There is only now. And you may as well do it now. Generally speaking, now is as good a time as any.”

So, what’s the opportunity that is right there in front of you or the one you need to do a little searching to find? Commit the plan to paper, take the leap, register for the course, call that networking contact, engage the coach or consultant, make the announcement, ask the question. For heaven’s sake, just do it. Because no one else is going to do it for you.

What are you waiting for?

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