09.23.08
Carpe Diem: Take advantage of opportunities
Fortune favors the bold. - Virgil
I’ve been pondering the fleeting nature of opportunities. Here today and gone tommorow. Somethings just won’t be the same if you wait. Take donuts, for instance. Fresh from the bakery, they’ll make you salivate. Wait a week and you’ve got a dozen new doorstops.
Lately, I’ve mused over some specific opportunities relating to two of my favorite subjects: women and money.
At a social event, a stunningly beautiful woman walks into the room. Time is of the essense - you may never see her again or given an hour or so, she’ll have 5-11 drooling dudes orbiting around her, creating an almost impenetrable sheild of suck-ups. Plus, instead of being the first guy to introduce yourself and ask her name, you’ll be the 54th of a possible 213 men she’ll see tonight.
Now I’m not trying to promote rash, dangerous and impulsive behavior here. I’m just illustrating the following:
The difference between pimpalicious and wussbag might only be a few minutes. So don’t be a wussbag - get some courage and go say hi!
With certain matters finacial, also note:
Obviously, only a certain subset of opportunites are subject to this effect. The key is to recognize what kind of idea it is and how far it’s moved on it’s life-cycle.
Hot stock picks are a good example. Some company grows explosively and clever traders make a ton a cash. By the time Money magazine and the like spout off on how great the stocks is, it’s probably only a mediocre buy. It’s too late. Green apples ripen, red apples rot.
After you know an opportunity is legit, take a risk and try it! When I heard of CashCrate, I was skeptical and held off for a while. When I finially did get into it, I noticed some shortcuts and exploits and made some decent money, but waiting cost me some easy money. Tricks, hacks and exploits are typically short lived, so it’s best to jump on board asap. As long as it’s ethical, I think you should take advantage of things and milk them for all their worth!
I remember making $35 bucks for 15 minitues of work as an impromptu baggage carrier at a hotel. A bus of asian folks pulled up to the hotel I was at and most wanted their luggage ported. Amidst the choas, I quickly walked up to the tour group directer when he stepped off the bus and said, “I can take some of their baggage.” He nodded and I hauled luggage. At the end of the deal, the tour group leader even tipped me.
Which brings me to my point.
Don’t be a wussbag.
All of us have flashes of insight and intuition, just don’t let your inner demons talk you out of it. You already know it’s a good idea to talk to the girl in your yoga class, put away money in your IRA, or call your great aunt Flow. Time is precious, when you get an impression - and if following it through won’t kill you - just do it. You probably have several ideas that are still viable, even though their old. If you’re not a risk taker, get your feet wet with those. Get around to the “I really should” list and move on to “seizing the moment” style opportunites.
When you’ve got a stomache for it, I think you’ll like it.
NOTE:
Post semi-inspired by the book, Blue Ocean Strategy.