When Opportunity Knocks – Be Ready
Famous DJ, Les Brown once said, “It’s better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have
one, than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.”
Les Brown knows that this simple truth makes the difference between those who simply wait
for an opportunity to arrive—and those who see an opportunity, seize it, and are ready to
maximize it.
You may never know what high-level opportunity is going to come knocking on your door. It
may come as a phone call from someone looking to hire because someone just quit, and they
need a person to fill in. You may be hungry to do more, and no one has given you a chance.
That is what happened to Les Brown.
Les Brown, born in 1945 in Miami, Florida, was adopted by Mamie Brown and faced early
academic challenges, being labeled “educable mentally retarded” in grade school. Despite
these setbacks, he aspired to become a disc jockey. After graduating high school, Brown
worked as a city sanitation worker but remained committed to his broadcasting dream. He
frequently visited a local radio station, persistently seeking employment. Initially, the station
manager dismissed him due to his lack of experience. Undeterred, Brown continued to visit the
station daily, eventually securing an unpaid position assisting the DJs. He used this opportunity
to gain experience in the trade, practicing diligently during his free time. His break came when
a DJ became incapacitated, and Brown was asked to take over, leading to his first on-air
experience and the launch of his broadcasting career. The job was to be a very temporary
afternoon fill-in spot for a DJ, but Les was ready. He got on the air, prepared to shine. People
loved his voice, the style and charisma developed during his diligent practice. He never looked
back. For a firsthand account of this story, you can watch Les Brown share it himself:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asJa3RVRtQI
The moral to this story is: If you want to lead, don’t wait until you get the opportunity to start
getting ready to lead – prepare NOW – every day. Offer to lead a small group at a non-profit as
a volunteer. Read books about it. Ask questions about it. Practice leading yourself with focus,
determination, skill, and dedication each day.
If you want to clearly communicate your ideas, don’t wait to learn how to speak to people,
prepare now, join Toastmasters, and take the opportunity to become comfortable with the
sound of your own voice every chance you get. Offer to take the minutes at meetings or write
up the results of a project or idea. Practice does make you better if not perfect.
Being a good leader is not about perfection. Being a good leader is about preparing and being
ready to lead well when the opportunity comes knocking.
Listen for the knock and be ready to lead,
Jeff
