There is no luck, but there is opportunity
This past week I was invited to be a speaker at an organization I have wanted to speak at for over a year.
As a speaker, it is what energizes me so when I am given an opportunity I work really hard to make sure I deliver at my best. When you are building your career around what your passion is, you really embrace every moment when you are given a room to speak in and share a message that could change someone’s path, as someone did for me. It is a gift that is very special to me and something I know I was born to do.
It was about 9 am and my session was scheduled to begin at 10:45 am. I was putting my final thoughts together in my mind and having a cup of coffee when the Program Manager called and said that one of their afternoon speakers was not able to make it.
Without hesitation, I didn’t even blink and asked her how I could help. I have been doing several different sessions at different conferences and workshops over the last two years so I had a few that I was used to doing and was ready to do them at any time on short notice.
I learned from my mentor, John Maxwell, a few years ago that preparation for success is all in your daily agenda.
Every day of your life is merely preparation for the next. What you become is the result of what you do today.
In other words… You are preparing for something.
Because I had kept putting myself out there and speaking at as many events as I can get to, it has given me the preparation to be ready for opportunities as the door knocks. It was easy for me to ask how I could help and I was confident that when the Program Manager said, “you can fill in the afternoon session” that I was able to step up and be ready to deliver.
So looking back at last week, I learned the value of doing something every day to be ready for opportunity when it comes. I not only got to speak, but the organization decided to hire me to coach their executive leadership team.
The question is, what are you preparing for?
To your growth,
Kelly Merbler