When Opportunity Knocks
“Opportunities are like flies. We kill most of them.” —Roy E. Peterson
We all have heard the phrase, “Opportunity knocks at our door.”
Yet sometimes stubborn, it must knock us to the floor.
Perhaps we’re in pajamas and will not let it in.
Because we’re not prepared, we lose a chance to win.
The sudden chance may need to grab us by the throat,
Because we’re busy trying to keep our boat afloat.
We have to go along, accepting the importunity.
Success requires seizing every opportunity.
LTC Roy E. Peterson, US Army Military Intelligence and Russian Foreign Area Officer (Retired) has published more than 7,300 poems in 102 of his 125 books. He has been an Army Attaché in Moscow, Commander of INF Portal Monitoring in Votkinsk, first US Foreign Commercial Officer in Vladivostok, Russia and Regional Manager in the Russian Far East for IBM. He holds a BA, Hardin-Simmons University (Political Science); MA, University of Arizona (Political Science); MA, University of Southern California (Int. Relations) and MBA University of Phoenix. He taught at the University of Arizona, Western New Mexico University, University of Maryland, Travel University and the University of Phoenix.
Yes, this is so true, and well said. Complacency and distraction can cause us to lose out on the best opportunities. Conversely, it’s possible to jump on what seems to be a good opportunity, only to find out later that it was a tempting distraction. I like your poem.
Thank you, Yael, for your perceptive comments and liking the poem.
Let me take this opportunity to say “good work, Roy!”
Russel, I learned from you that sometimes the most succinct poems can pack a punch. I appreciate your comment. Thank you.
Excellent advice Roy. The great – and my favourite (I’ve met him twice) – American (though I think he was born in Canada but lives in California now) management consultant, Brian Tracy once observed that virtually everybody gets 5 or 6 “opportunities” a year, but most people never notice them! Such is life – this poem is timely for us all. Very well expressed indeed.
Thank you, James. Even at advanced age one can still have opportunities that go unnoticed. I believe you are maximizing yours.
I think we sometimes get too wrapped up in what might have been, but yes, we can all point to opportunities that we wish we had seized.
I love the pajamas metaphor for unpreparedness.
Thanks for the read.
Thank you for your comments, Paul, especially noting the pajamas.
Roy, your epigraph is a winner. I’ll remember it–but hope to seize opportunities that appear somewhat more attractive. You did use a simile saying they are “like flies,” which need not imply opportunities are dirty nuisances. And I like Yael’s comment that some apparent opportunities are really distractions. We cannot be stubborn or neglectful, but need to use good judgment. Thanks for an energetic reminder!
Margaret, those are great perceptions. You are so right about “like flies.” I was thinking in the abundance category. You are also right on about some opportunities being misleading or distractive.
true, true, true truth
Thank you, Alec.
Roy, I liked your epigraph and poem. The final line is great. I wonder how many opportunities I’ve let die on the vine or like you said, maybe swatted them like flies. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the kind comments, Paul. I lost count of my opportunities and probably failed to recognize some of them.
Yeah, some Roman knew what he was saying when he uttered, “Carpe Diem.“
Perfect comment, C.B.