Perhaps you are waiting for things to change in the new year. I’m not here to say that won’t happen, but how can you be sure opportunity will come knocking? The unfortunate answer is, you can’t be 100% certain it will.

That may sound jarring, but I think it is exciting. Why? It simply flips the power dynamic. When you are waiting for opportunity to come to you, someone or something else has the power. Take it back!

“Doing something is more likely to get you noticed than doing nothing.”

The new year is a great time for a fresh outlook. Just because what you’re seeking isn’t currently seeking you, doesn’t mean you can’t make it start looking. Think about it. Doing something is more likely to get you noticed than doing nothing.

I wouldn’t consider myself to be a great planner (but I do make lists). Why? It is harder than you know to “perfectly plan” something and execute the plan exactly as intended. Life happens. So when you create a list or a plan allow some flexibility so it stays adaptable for changing circumstances.

“But set yourself up for success by starting small, working on consistency and then starting bigger things.”

While you are making progress toward your goals (and crossing off list items), you’ll be building momentum and excitement. These two items will help you achieve even more than you thought possible. But set yourself up for success by starting small, working on consistency and then starting bigger things. This approach will help you see and measure your progress.

Lastly, you must ignore the stigma of failure. Unfortunately, failure has been given a very negative cultural connotation, but honestly it has led to some of the biggest innovations. Why? Because failure provides you room for learning and growth. As long as you’ve determined why something didn’t work out, you’ve freed yourself up to double-down on your next attempt instead of dwelling on failure.

Who knows what kind of attention you’ll receive when you are busy creating and making progress. You may go unnoticed at first, but if you remain consistent and focused, people and opportunities will likely take notice of you. The opportunity presented may not be the one you expected, but it may lead to even bigger opportunities than you could have imagined.

Instead of waiting for opportunity to knock at your door, you’ll be out knocking on doors (and maybe knocking them down) looking for it!