Quality Blog

Jim L. Smith has more than 45 years of industry experience in operations, engineering, research and development and quality management. You can reach Jim at faceofquality@qualitymag.com.

Little Opportunities Can Transform Us

June 9, 2010
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Sometimes the little opportunities seem to work out to have the biggest effect and can help transform us. Why is that? It might be that those seemingly little opportunities are the ones that have the most room for growth. Yet it is the biggest, most obvious opportunities that attract all of the attention. The bigger opportunities, by their very nature, become visible and bring the most attention.

Little opportunities tend to go mostly unnoticed. Yet for someone who makes the effort to consider them, a little opportunity can be an ideal platform on which to build value. Our lives are surrounded with little opportunities. They are numerous and widely available. They are like pennies on the floor that can easily be picked up, if we're willing to bend over. We could spend our whole life waiting for a big opportunity (which may never visualize) while many little opportunities come along every day.

Little opportunities usually offer us more latitude, flexibility and room to express our creativity. With little opportunities we can make the most of our own unique personality and passion. We need only to open our eyes to the abundance of the little opportunities that surface every day in our world.

Little, seemingly insignificant, opportunities can create big value and help transform us. Take advantage of them and don't sit around waiting for the big one to come knocking. You won't be disappointed and amazing things just might happen for you.

Think about it....
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Small things count up

Jonathan Breeze
June 9, 2010
I agree with Jim's perspective. The small things count up. They give us confidence to take on the larger things in work and life. This was a nice reminder. Jon

Little challenges

Jane Wickman
June 10, 2010
This made so much sense to me. I've never thought about it much but it is very logical. Appreciate the words of wisdom. Jane

All opportunities count

Kenneth Beal
June 14, 2010
When I played basketball the coach stressed that the "little things" make the difference between winning and lossing. If we follow this concept into our personal and work life it will make a difference. This piece makes that point very well. Enjoyed it...

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