Yesterday I had an opportunity to connect more deeply with somebody I respect and admire. And I messed it up.
People think that they need more opportunities. But opportunities happen all the time. And we can’t control when they occur.
What we can control is how well we prepare for opportunities. I “knew” what to do in that situation, but I wasn’t able to execute in that moment because I hadn’t practiced my skills of presence and connection enough.
It’s easy to think that knowing the idea is enough, but consistent deliberate practice is what translates ideas into habits and muscle memory so we don’t have to think about what to do when an opportunity arises.
The good news is that I felt terrible all day as a result. I intend to use that feeling as motivation to invest in my practices of awareness and presence so that I will be more prepared for the next opportunity, instead of getting distracted in the key moment.
What about you? What are you practicing each day? Are you practicing getting distracted by incoming notifications or scrolling social media, as I was? Or are you practicing going deeper into your craft so you’re prepared for the next opportunity?