Meetings Blog Feb 14, 2020
The word opportunity can be found in numerous contexts and is something we often strive to have in various situations that life throws up. Some people just appear to be in the right place at the right time, while others seem to be better at spotting them when they arise. And then, as American comedian Milton Berle said, “if opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door,” which suggests we are all, to some extent, in control of creating new opportunities. Possibly Winston Churchill said it best, though, when he supposed that, “a pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
Whatever your view on how opportunities arrive or how they are grasped, there is no doubt that they are part of our lives. What options are available to me here to be better? How can I position myself to be able to take advantage of a possible future change? Who should I speak to in order to get further ahead or learn more? These are just three of many potential questions you may ask.
In event planning you want to be on the lookout for any opportunities that may come your way, especially with the constant goal of maximizing your meeting’s success. Maybe the speaker you thought you’d lost to another booking has now become available. Possibly there is a new caterer in the region that can provide you with exactly the type of local produce you were hoping for. If you don’t stay on the ball and constantly keep an eye on what is happening around you these ‘opportunities’ can pass you by.
The other form starts when something goes wrong in the planning phase. OK, so the perfect venue you had your heart set on is not available on the date you need. So pick the key elements you loved about it and find ways to create the same effect by coordinating with other professional venue providers. What about when your sunny day plans are ruined by some dark clouds rolling in? No worries, it’s time to hand out those branded umbrellas, boots and ponchos for a different kind of fun. The key is that rather than focusing energy on the problem, find the opportunity that comes from it. Often these can prove to be even more successful.
Sometimes a great opportunity will fall into your lap; at other times you’ll find your own. Just try not to let them pass you by…
