Seize Opportunities and Be Quick About It

This post is about how to seize opportunities. Seizing opportunities can often be about acting quickly. Sometimes, it’s not just about seizing an opportunity, it’s about being quick about it!

I originally wrote this post back when I was trying to become a freelance writer. Unfortunately, I learned the hard way by missing out on opportunities. Later on, when I was looking for a job, I was once again reminded of the importance of seizing opportunities.

When I would miss an opportunity, I was reminded of the importance of timing and how it can impact our lives.

Disclosure – This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Any compensation I receive does not affect the price you pay.

Here are my thoughts on how to seize opportunities and be quick about it.

Don’t overthink it

Sometimes we can get so caught up in our own heads that we overthink things. We stress out, overthink every what-if and worst-case scenario.

Then we are so freaked out, we do nothing.

We basically talk ourselves out of taking action and miss out on great opportunities.

Related post – How to Stop Overthinking

Don’t hesitate or procrastinate

When you see an opportunity that you know is right for you, go for it. Don’t hesitate. Don’t procrastinate. I can’t state how important this is. It isn’t just about taking up opportunities, but how fast you act on them.

When I first started writing and was unsure of myself, I would see a good opportunity and procrastinate over it. I would finally send in my application, but it would be too late.

The company already had enough writers to fill its quota. Other writers didn’t procrastinate, and they got the writing jobs.

I understand that you can’t seize every opportunity. We don’t have time to apply for everything or jump at everything. Not to mention, everything is not worth jumping at.

Some opportunities aren’t as good as they look. The key, and therein the hard part, is applying for the right opportunities for you.

Books that can help you take action and be more productive –

Eat That Frog!: 21 Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy
Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones by James Clear
The 5 Second Rule: Transform Your Life, Work, and Confidence With Everyday Courage by Mel Robbins

Jump at the things you really want

Some opportunities come up that we know we really want. It might be working for our dream company or our ideal role. These are the opportunities that we really need to jump on quickly.

Unfortunately, some of the things we want the most can also scare us the most, which causes us to act more slowly. Or worse, not act at all.

Run with your good idea

Back when I was freelancing, I can’t tell you how many times I have picked up a magazine or newspaper and read an article by another writer that I myself had been planning.

This happened a lot with travel articles. While I was deciding on whether it was a good story idea, where I should pitch it, and what my hook should be, someone beat me to the punch.

I saw this happen with one of my friends as well. She was always coming up with great business ideas, but she failed to take action on them. She always found a reason (or ten) not to seize opportunities.

If you have a good idea, run with it. Because if you don’t – someone else will.

Don’t hang onto work to send later

This is another mistake I made when I was freelancing. I was working on a pack of articles to send to a website that I was writing for. I have no idea why I didn’t send them as soon as each article was ready.

I should have.

On the day I was ready to push the send button, I got an email saying the website was being sold and not to send any more work. That bad decision cost me money. Send work out the minute it is ready.

The same can be said for applying for jobs. Don’t wait. Apply as quickly as possible. I have seen many jobs withdrawn because they have received their cutoff number of applicants. If you didn’t put your submission in early, you missed out.

Be prepared for change

Another reason you need to seize an opportunity quickly – you never know how long that opportunity will be available.

Companies and markets change all the time. This happened a lot when I was writing. Websites might pay for articles one month and decide next month they are no longer paying their writers. Sites get sold and change format all of the time.

Things change, and it helps to be prepared for that change. Don’t think that opportunity will be around forever.

Think how many times you could have seized an opportunity in your career (or personal life, for that matter), but you held back, and someone else grabbed the opportunity.

Make your own opportunities

Sometimes we have to make our own opportunities. We can’t sit back and wait for opportunities to fall into our laps. We have to be proactive and go after what we want.

You have to seek out opportunities. You need to make things happen.

Related post – 14 Powerful Take Action Quotes

Be brave

Let’s face it, sometimes the only thing we need to seize an opportunity in our lives is to be brave. We need to rise above our self-doubt and our fears and go for it.

Do you want to travel the world and explore all the wonderful things it has to offer? A big dose of bravery and courage will help with that.

Want to ask that person you regularly speak to at your local store out for a coffee? Bravery. You gather your courage, and you ask.

Related post – 25 Ways To Be More Courageous in Life