A few weeks ago I posted a poll posing the question:
“What is the #1 Factor in You Deciding to Seize an Opportunity?”
There were only 3 choices – money, passion, impact – and the results, at a high level, show that we tend to lean on emotional factors versus logic.
This week is a 5 part series on what we mean by analyzing money, passion and impact to seize an opportunity, how each factor needs to be thought through, and then how all 3 pieces fit together to help make a final decision to say “yes”, or “no”.
The goal of this series is to provide you a quick, high level framework to help you determine if a new opportunity is right for you, right now.
If you are an overachiever or someone who typically over commits themself due to everything sounding “so great to be part of you can’t miss it” but lacks saying no to things that come your way or the longer term follow through to the commitment, this week is for you!
Part 1 – Opportunity Knocks, Now What?
You’ve just been presented with a wonderful opportunity to make a ton of money, or live your passion every day, or, become that rock star you’ve been dreaming of becoming so you can be in the same lime light as Bill Gates, Oprah, or even, Tony Robbins. Or maybe the opportunity that delivers all three to you – rock stars usually get money too, yes?
The first thing to do is to refer to your current opportunity triangle. You don’t have one, you say? Well, let’s get started then.
1. Draw a triangle.
2. In the middle put the one word that describes what you enjoy doing every day or would do every day of your life if it achieved for you the money, impact and avenue for passion you do or wish to live. Sample words may be “mentor”, “build”, “sing”, “write” etc.
3. Each point of the triangle represents money, passion and impact, respectively. At each point now put a different word for what you would be willing to do for
- Obtaining money, but not delivering on passion or impact
- Focusing on a passion, but not obtaining money nor delivering impact
- Delivering impact, but not obtaining money nor following a passion
4. Now determine which factor on the “opportunity triangle” do you weight the most today.
Everyone’s triangle is unique to themselves. You should find, however that your highest weighted point or what you want to do will change over time. Mine that represents today is below.
Over the next three days we’ll further work through what each point is and how to use that point to analyze a yay or nay decision on your current opportunity to evaluate.
Up tomorrow – Gettin dirty with money money money money, money