Missed Opportunities

One of my favorite audio books is "How to Connect in Business in 90 Seconds" by Nicholas Boothman. I have listened to it again and again.

Boothman speaks of missing opportunities by simply not acknowledging other people. We come in contact with friends, aquanitenances, co-workers, and strangers regularly. If we choose to keep our heads down and not make eye contact, we are missing opportunities.

My simply making some effort to connect, you may just be missing that special opportunity to make things happen. Perhaps in a casual conversation struck in in place of the otherwise silent encounter, you may discover that you have a solution to one of their problems. Likewise, they may say one simple thing that unlocks a key idea for you socially, business-wise, or otherwise. Everyone who you encounter has the potential to make a contribution to you or receive one from you.

I can't really understand why a clerk in a store, waitress, or co-worker would choose to look away and not make any attempt to connect when the opportunity exists. Is it shyness, lack of confidence, disinterest, anger? Any and all of these block us from making that connection.

Everyone make an effort. The results will be favorable.