***Managing Opportunities

The Model and The Opportunity

We learned about marketing. We learned about sales. We even understood a little about personal branding.

We post on Facebook, advertise events, tell the world about our virtues and yet, big opportunities do not seem to present themselves.

We go to a job interview, where there is an opportunity… And nothing happens.

We meet someone "important" and another big opportunity seems to be in front of us… And still, nothing happens.

So what is the skill we need for developing our business and career?

The answer is the skill of managing opportunities; a skill which demands clever training and cannot be acquired during a four-hour workshop.

This skill can only be acquired through learning from a master in this field.

Here is the story of a person who is well skilled at managing opportunities and contacts. This person is me, but it can definitely be your story.

A good friend of mine met a guest from abroad and told him: "I'd like to introduce you to Opher, he is an expert in this."

We met at a local restaurant, developed a warm personal connection and understood each other's needs.

This guy contacted his partner and next thing I knew, I received an invitation to Los Angeles for coffee… So I travelled to LA.

I met the guy, who is one of the marketing geniuses of our time.

We developed a warm personal connection and understood each other's needs.

In the following six years, I helped him manage his professional and personal opportunities… I was his mentor.

He introduced me to some of his friends. One particular friend became a close friend of mine and we understood each other's needs.

Three years later, this guy asked me to meet two of his friends at the Hilton hotel in Tel Aviv for coffee, so I went. We developed a warm personal connection and understood each other's needs.

Hold on, don't quit on me now. You must read this story through to get to the surprise and the insight.

Three months ago, these two friends introduced me to a business man who needs advice on Skype. We developed a warm personal connection and understood each other's needs. I said to him: "Let's meet". He replied: "I live on the island near Spain." I said: "Are you free this weekend? I'll come by and we can grab something to eat." "This Saturday is not really convenient…", he said, "How about meeting in London next week?" And since I love spontaneity, I said: "See you there."

So there I was, in London, with my girlfriend, Maya. We went to a party, where many important people mingled. Maya said to me: "Opher, you are the king of networking. Why aren't you making rounds and handing out your business cards?"

My reply was simple: "Maya dear, I told you this is not my method. When I know who the right person is in this room, you will see me managing the opportunity."

And so it was.

I heard a person behind me say something which made it clear to me beyond any doubt: this was the right person!

I came up to him and within 30 seconds, we made arrangements to meet for breakfast the next morning. We met… We developed a warm personal connection and understood each other's needs.

A week later, I returned to London to advise his company. I met ten crucial business people in the London business scene, developed warm personal connections with each one and understood their needs, just as they understood mine.

Two weeks before my London visits, a friend in Germany introduced me to another friend of his. We met in Israel, developed a warm personal connection and understood each other's needs.

A week ago, after meeting in London as well, I visited this friend of a friend in Germany. He organized for me the opportunity to give two lectures to the right people: 200 business people and 70 musicians. I met more people, we developed warm personal connections and understood each other's needs.

Many opportunities opened before me: 26 new potential projects in five different European countries, as well as in Canada.

Now the most crucial thing is to manage these opportunities correctly… And that's exactly what I have been doing during the last three days.

By the way, because of the large number of new projects abroad, I will not be teaching any courses in our CareerSchool during the coming year. A final and wonderful class will graduate next week.

Those who wish to learn how to manage opportunities will have to do it through personal work with me. But I can only work with a limited number of new clients, so please write to me only if you are very serious about it and I will explain to you how the process works. My address is:

opher@brayergroup.com

I also invite you to check my new website. Take a look and share your comments, ideas and insights with me.

www.swing-management.com