Be Available

I recently made a two-hour drive to speak in another city. Along the way, I decided to play a little game and count the Dollar General stores we passed. In that relatively short drive, we passed ten of them (and two DG Markets)! Sometimes, they were literally the only thing in the area besides the woods. That familiar yellow sign was just poking out among the trees.

Dollar General is effective because their primary focus is to be available where there are few (or any) other options. We recently had one open near us, and I can't tell you how happy it makes me to drive exactly three minutes from my house to one, rather than the much longer drive I have to make for a bigger store.

The key to success in life sometimes is simply being available. An opportunity arises at work, and you step outside your comfort zone into an unknown area, only to find yourself challenged in new ways and incredibly happy. The possibility of a friendship happens when you meet someone casually, and it develops into a beneficial relationship for your business, thanks to the people they know. The chance to be kind to someone who can never repay you arises, and you are blessed with the satisfaction that comes from generosity.

Woody Allen famously said, "Eighty percent of success is just showing up." So, are you looking for those opportunities around you? Are you ready to volunteer for that extra task at work that could possibly open doors for you later with the experience you gain? Are you trying to network with people you meet to create new contacts for potential work? I'll bet there are a lot of those doors that open up throughout the year in your life if you are ready to walk through them.

Unfortunately, our natural inclination is to say no to new stuff. We feel like we already have enough to do and don't need something else on our plate, so we ignore opportunities that could benefit us tremendously. We find comfort in the familiarity of our routines. The problem is that if we never change anything in life, we are just living the same days over and over again. Nothing changes if nothing changes!

Next time an opportunity arises to do something different from the day-to-day routines you're used to, think about it a minute before just automatically saying no. You never know how far ahead one decision could take you if you're willing to step outside your comfort zone and be available!