We carry our thoughts, ideas, and beliefs with us 24/7. These thoughts, ideas, and beliefs help us interact with the world around us. That world includes the environment around us, our family, friends, colleagues, boss, peers, leaders, and customers. Our interaction with them has an impact on our lives as well as theirs. And these interactions shape our destiny. These interactions shape our relationships, our careers, our compensation, our trajectory, and our future. We should choose to do the right thing in these moments.
Sometimes these situations may be straightforward and easy, but sometimes, not so much. And doing the right thing all the time can be quite challenging. Sometimes there are moments and interactions that build up over a period of time. Or sometimes there are those very critical moments – the most pivotal moments.
We can make all these moments – whether they’re small or large moments – and interactions matter by choosing to do the right thing. Most of the time we know what the right thing is, but we just don’t choose to do it.
What is the Opportunity Zone?
Here is a technique that will not only make those moments matter but also will help you gain some muscle to do the right thing every time. There is a gap between an event (or a stimulus from the environment) and your response. That gap is your opportunity zone. Within this gap lies the secret – the opportunity for you to do the right thing. So, when you’re in the opportunity zone, you pause – to gather your thoughts, to think about the risks and opportunities, and to think about the gift that you can give others.
Provide your response only after that. As you practice being in the opportunity zone, your responses will create more value for others as well as for yourself.
Now, you will be able to answer all those difficult questions. Be present in the moment to make sure that you can take advantage of the opportunity zones. This will create a better you, a better leader. You will have a higher emotional quotient and a great intellectual capability to make sure that every moment, whether it’s small or critical, matter to you.