create your own opportunity

There is a lot of information out there. What particular information one focuses on at any given point creates the necessary opportunities. Although many people see the opportunities, the willingness to risk and take action separates the lucky ones from the ordinary.

It all begins with one's intuition. I had the idea to go snowboarding this upcoming Saturday after talking to one friend who lives in Seattle and another who jetted to Vancouver to board.

That's the start of the process: one must create the opportunity by following one's intuition.

Next, honing our intuition, so that it acts as a critical tool to begin to select the relevant information. Given my desire to snowboard, I check weather, think about the list of action items (tune snowboard - maybe, research Tahoe resorts for lesson rates - will take a lesson to get a jump start on the season, send e-mails to a few friends who might be interested).

Meanwhile, competing events are going on. So they need to be incorporated into the original plan or be dismissed. This is where creativity is very important. Often, people think two events are mutually exclusive, when in fact they can be combined to create a better outcome.

My family might get together for dinner Saturday night, and if I go to Tahoe, that just means that I either get a ride so get dropped off at dinner or drive myself in order to meet them on my own. When things don't go according to plan, know that they are meant to be in order to help direct you to the end result. Too often, people get stuck trying to figure out how to circumvent the unexpected when it should just be embraced to create a better result.

How did you think I manage to learn one new sport a year although quite uncoordinated? I often let my friends lead the way and inspire me to find short cuts to all the trick of the trade!

Like any habit, to create and seize opportunities is not a linear movement but a dynamic process in which you must teach your brain to function at all levels but stills stay disciplined.

Back to the idea to board. The periodic checking of the weather suggests that it might rain/snow Fri or Sat. The snow may not be great, but I definitely need company if I want to split a SUV rental or find someone who has one. The trick is focusing in on the information by having some basic premise. I always want to be safe when I go to Tahoe, and that safety margin changes depending on the weather.

Then, another idea struck while I was considering at Tahoe. My Seattle friend teaches snowboarding there on Saturdays starting last weekend, so I spent 5 minutes investigating last-minute plane tickets to Seattle to see if it's worth just going there.

Yes, that's crazy! Still, how did you think I managed to cram 11 roundtrip flights in 2007 (2 international), all of them personal trip on my own time and dime? It takes a bit of craziness to get more out of life. I happen to know a lot of people who were going places because of good deals, and I traveled during off season (translate being in very cold places) to get even better deals.

I cannot stress the importance of opportunity costs; all these trips happened because other things didn't. I hardly buy anything at retail (sale, online or used instead), and I am typing this on a 7-year-old laptop. I have zero wall hangings and minimal furniture, and I cook more than I eat out. I drive cars that are at least 5 years old, and the most important things in my life are my relationships.

Well, Seattle didn't work out, but it's the start of another idea. Time to check in with my friend on which is the best weekend to visit. See how this works? Also, I need to send some confirming e-mails out and decide by Fri morning what I will do.

The most important part of this exercise isn't about going to Tahoe, but how easy it is for me to go to Tahoe or not to go. By enjoying the process and doing it so frequently in every area of my life, I can live in the moment and not get stressed out or slowed down by the journey. BOTH the journey and the destination are thoroughly satisfying.

Yes, I know you want to find out what happens to the Tahoe trip. That's not the point of this post though. Instead of wondering whether I will be on the slopes, why not take this opportunity to follow through on an idea and go for it?

I'll see you on the slopes then, if not this Sat, then definitely March. Planned Park City 2008 with 5 friends and booked the flight and ski house two weeks ago!!