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By Toby Moore

For Capital Region Independent Media

How do some people find and seize great opportunities?

Throughout history, individuals have achieved monumental success by recognizing and acting on unique opportunities. How did they do it?

Many believe such achievements are merely the result of birth, environment and luck. However, this explanation is too simplistic and overlooks the essence of seizing opportunities.

Heredity and environment are indeed advantageous—and, in many cases, extremely advantageous—but they are rarely determinative.

What about Mozart, you say? His father was a musician and trained him from birth. Mozart is known for being one of the most talented musicians ever. Yet, many musicians with similar advantages never came close to his success. Countless others have had similar upbringings but couldn’t seize opportunities and transform their talent into lasting legacies.

How about a modern example? Elon Musk was born with many advantages. His family was well-off, providing him with a solid educational foundation and the means to explore his interests in technology and science from a young age. Musk’s success cannot be attributed to his background alone. Many others with similar privileges have yet to achieve such a monumental impact. Musk’s ability to seize opportunities sets him apart among many other positive traits.

Hard work, risk-taking, and perseverance are often cited as the cornerstones of success, and they are. Yet, many individuals who embody these traits never find and seize great opportunities. While being a hard worker is commendable, it alone doesn’t guarantee finding opportunities.

OK, so what about being in the right place at the right time? There is something to it, but it doesn’t explain someone like Marie Curie. By all measures, she was in the wrong place and at the wrong time. Curie faced immense challenges and skepticism while pursuing a career in science when women were largely excluded from the field. Yet, her determination and groundbreaking work in radioactivity earned her two Nobel Prizes and changed the world.

So, what constitutes a great opportunity anyway? According to the book “Seeing David in the Stone” by James and Joseph Swartz, an opportunity is great if its value far exceeds the time, effort and resources required to seize it. So, how do you find a great opportunity and seize upon it?

First, you have to know where to look for a great opportunity, and while that may sound daunting, it’s simpler than you think. It involves several key steps: understanding your passions, identifying your unique skills, focusing on high-reward areas, committing to continuous learning and adaptation, and building a solid personal brand.

Think of Albert Einstein. He worked in a patent office for years as his day job, but every night, he returned to his apartment in Zurich to study the mysteries of physics. It’s what he was passionate about, and there he found his great opportunity to revolutionize the way we think about physics.

It seems Einstein also identified his unique skills. He had an extraordinary ability to think abstractly and visualize complex physical phenomena, which was crucial in his development of the theory of relativity.

Einstein also focused on high-reward opportunities. Rather than spreading his efforts across multiple less-impactful projects, he concentrated on the profound mysteries of physics that had the potential to transform our understanding of the universe. By dedicating his time and energy to these high-impact areas, Einstein maximized the significance and reach of his contributions.

Einstein’s commitment to continuous learning and adaptation was evident throughout his life. He constantly read the latest scientific papers, engaged in discussions with other leading physicists, and stayed curious about new developments. This commitment to learning kept him at the forefront of scientific thought.

Lastly, Einstein built a personal brand that highlighted his unique strengths and positioned him as a leading expert in theoretical physics. His groundbreaking papers, public lectures, and correspondence with other scientists made him a thought leader. This reputation opened doors for further research opportunities and ensured that his ideas were taken seriously and widely disseminated.

Like Einstein, you, too, can seize great opportunities by understanding what drives you, honing your unique abilities, targeting impactful pursuits, staying curious and adaptable, and building a reputation that reflects your strengths.

Embrace these steps to pave the way for your own extraordinary success.

Toby Moore is a columnist, the star of Emmy-nominated “A Separate Peace,” and the CEO of Cubestream Inc.