By Dr Charles Margerison
How can I find opportunities that will improve my life and work?
That is a question amazing people often asked themselves. Michelangelo, the great artist, Dr Marie Curie, the world famous scientist, and Coco Chanel, the innovative business leader, all succeeded by converting their opportunities into achievements.
They did so by asking key questions and solving the problems and challenges that arose as a result. In particular, they were curious. That is what people who search for opportunities have in common. They are not just content with their current job and situation. Those who seek opportunity are prepared to take some risks and invest time and energy into new ideas.
William Lever, the originator of the international Unilever Company did that when he established his first soap works at Port Sunlight in Cheshire, England. Michael Marks did likewise when he walked over one thousand miles from Belarus to the UK and, despite having no money of his own to start a business, established the famous Marks and Spencer Company. Helen Keller, afflicted with grave disabilities of blindness and deafness, from an early age, became a leader who travelled the world to educate people on politics and women’s rights.
All of these people, and other great achievers, searched for and found opportunities, even though the odds were against them. They did so by looking for the positives in situations where many others saw negatives. In particular, they all had the ’can do’ and ‘will do’ attitude.
Above all, they developed the ability to communicate and solve problems. I have studied the way over 500 amazing people achieved success, and my book titled ‘Amazing Careers’, provides examples. All of them understood and used five major skills, which I have developed as the Margerison Communication and Problem Solving (CPS) Resource©.
Opportunity Management is a key aspect of personal and business development. It can be enhanced and advanced by using the 5 major skills of Communication and Problem Solving. The Amazing People Learning resources provide the applications and are by audios and videos.
For more information visit www.amazingpeoplelearning.com
Dr Louis Pasteur, the world famous scientist, who is recognized for his research on rabies and bacteria, said that: “Fortune favours the prepared mind.” This is particularly so with regard to opportunities. If they are not identified and seized, then others will seize the initiative. To succeed, it is important to perceive an opportunity and then to have the language and problem solving skills to make it work.
Dr Charles Margerison, founder of Amazing People Worldwide and Amazing People Schools, is a Psychologist. As well as working in educational organisations for many years, he has consulted widely for major corporates in the fields of organizational and educational psychology. He was previously Professor of Management at Cranfield University, UK, and the University of Queensland, Australia. He founded Amazing People Worldwide in 2006 and is supported by a dedicated global team. Dr Margerison is a member of the Royal Institution, Royal Society of Literature, Historical Association, and Association of Business Psychology. He previously co-founded Emerald Publishing Ltd, and Team Management Systems, a team-building tool, which is now used in 190 countries worldwide.