What do you do when you feel like you missed an opportunity?

Most of us have had this experience but not everyone reacts the same way. Some people feel there’s nothing they can do; the moment has passed and that’s that. But some people keep on going and see if they can create another opportunity. This is a profoundly different way not just of thinking but of living – and anyone can learn it.

So when you feel like you missed the boat here are five things you can start doing that will help you create new opportunities be it for yourself or others.

#1 Never give up.

Just because it didn’t happen the way you would have liked why would you stop going for it? If it matters enough keep going – but get creative. Maybe there are different ways of moving things forward.

Most people who are successful don’t just suddenly become so. Do the work and keep going. As the bestselling novelist Kate Morton said, “Some say I’m an overnight success. Well, that was a very long night that lasted about 10 years.”

Or in Churchill’s words “Never, never, never give up”.

#2 Be ready to make in course correction

Not giving up is about persistence. Persistence is good as long as you’re open to making changes as and when necessary. You may have planned one route to your destination but maybe a different way will prove better. Don’t be stubborn. Develop the behavioural flexibility to pivot or turn on a dime. Learning to adapt quickly to changing circumstances means you can make the most of the present moment.

You’re doing something and it’s not working. OK that’s feedback to do something different.  So

DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT!

Keep changing what you do until you get what you want.

#3 Don’t take NO for an answer

What do you do if someone says something’s not possible.  For me it’s like a red rag to a bull; it spurs me on to find a way.

That said I do think it’s important to listen to what people have to say. But at the end of the day it’s got to be your decision about what you do next.

We all have different maps of the world. They filter what we see, hear and feel. So what one person thinks is possible, can be very different from what you think is possible.  As Rob Ross said “We have no limits to our world. We’re only limited by our imagination”.

#4 You have a team inside you – use it!

If you listen to how people describe their experience they will often make distinctions about different aspects of themselves. As somebody said to me recently, “ There’s a part of me that is just bored with my current job, but on the other hand I really like the money”. In fact there are lots of different parts to each of us.

That means you could have a team working for you and with you. So how do you feel about the different parts of you? Do you honour and engage with them? Do you know how to do this?

There’s a whole skill set worth learning here if you want to maximise your potential. The first step is to begin paying attention to these different aspects of yourself. Don’t pre-judge. Listen and learn. The wisdom is within.

#5 Commit to yourself

Get clear about what’s most important to you at this time and commit to honouring this in the decisions you make and the actions you take.

Not sure what really matters right now?  Then commit to finding out. You don’t have to do this on your own. You could find a coach or take an appropriate training.

Trust me, you’re worth it.