Opportunity Knocked So I Answered

We all get appointments to make a difference in people’s lives.  Do you boldly take advantage of these opportunities when they are presented?

While I was on vacation this week I was a mere few car lengths away from being involved in a horrific auto accident.  Instead of being a victim, I was first on the scene.  As I was running toward one of the cars, through the airbag smoke I could see a young women sitting in the driver’s seat.  My heart raced as I approached the vehicle, “Oh God, what if she’s dead? What if she’s bleeding? Will I remember my CERT training? (I’m an instructor with Community Emergency Response Teams).  Ok, don’t move her… see if she’s in shock… do the triage…”

“Are you hurt?”  I shouted as I approached the college co-ed who looked dazed and confused, yet she was conscious – thankfully!  Just then we both heard screams from a nearby van – bloody murder screams, then cries of “MY BABIES!”  The other vehicle was full of kids.  Any mother’s nightmare. We both had a pit in our stomachs.  Within moments emergency personnel surrounded us, sirens, firetrucks, ambulances… everyone came together as a team.  I managed to keep it together, and keep the young lady from freaking out until her grandmother arrived and could take over as her support system.

So why am I telling you this?  On the long drive back down state, my mind kept wondering back to that accident scene.  I thought of how truly blessed and protected we were to not be involved but also how fortunate I was to be available to assist.  Opportunity knocked for me to use my training and I accepted the appointment.

Then my mind went to my direct sales business.  So often I hear consultants, both new and veteran, who are so stymied by fear, they fail to take the appointments that are presented.  The door is opened for them to share their product offerings or business opportunity, but for a variety of reasons, they don’t walk through the door.

Just as the voice in my head questioned a plethora of “what if” scenarios as I bolted toward the smashed and smoking car, I’m sure similar questions abound in consultant’s heads as well.  “What if she asks me something I don’t know?  What if I say the wrong thing?  What if I offend her?  What if she thinks I’m being pushy? What if she says no?”

Rather, my question to you is: What if she needs you? What if she says Yes?  Yes to your products? Yes to more information? Yes to the opportunity?

My personal belief is that there are no coincidences.  I was at that accident scene at that particular time for a very specific reason.  Consider this – can you concede that the possibility exists that you are placed in front of certain people at a certain time for a specific reason?

What if the woman at the grocery store recently learned that her husband is losing his job and her part time job isn’t going to be able to sustain her family?  Could your opportunity be the life boat she needs right now?  Or what about the waitress whose cosmetic supplier just moved away?  Could you be that person who is able to ensure her lips remain Marvelously Mauve?  You will never know if you fail to accept the appointments that are presented to you.

Opportunity is knocking – answer the door!