Whilst there have been many challenges for so many people recently and a lot of negative news hitting the headlines, we’ve been incredibly fortunate in our business to have had lots of positive changes, which will pave the way for some serious opportunities for all of us.Last month our annual Amplify event took place at Cheltenham Racecourse, after being put on hold during the pandemic. Joined by hundreds of our friends and colleagues from the business, each of them at different stages of their journey, it was a momentous day, which helped everyone to reconnect and remind ourselves of why we do what we do.With a number of key announcements being made and plenty of opportunities in the pipeline, I wanted to share my tips on making the most of an opportunity when it arises.Yes, it might involve us stepping out of out comfort zones. Yes, we may have to change our style of working or put in a few more hours to see the results. However, if we let these things hold us back when we see a good opportunity, we’ll simply get left behind.Here are my top tips for maximising your opportunities.

1. Recognise them

First things first, we have to be able to identify a good opportunity when it’s presented to us.  In our line of work which involves speaking to different people all the time, opportunities tend to arise but if we don’t know how to identify one that suits us, we’ll end up being busy fools who say yes to everything. The key things to ask yourself are:

• Does it solve a problem?
• Does it fit with your values?

The opportunities presented to us at Amplify fit both of these questions, not just slightly but significantly. For me, that’s a clear sign that I should be looking at how to invest my time working on these opportunities to ensure I make the most of them.

2. Establish a plan

Now that I’ve identified an opportunity, I need to set out a plan starting with what I want to achieve. By defining what I want the outcome to be first I can then create a step by step process to help me reach that goal. The more detailed my plan is from the outset, the more likely I’ll be to reach my end goal because I’ll have a clear focus.

3. Lean into Resistance

The point of resistance is the point of greatest opportunity. What do I mean by this? Well, if we’re truly invested in something, it means it matters to us and if there’s a lot riding on a decision or an action it’s likely that we’ll feel anxiety or fear at the point of making it. however, it’s these decisions that are usually the making of us, so if we can lean into resistance and lean into these uncomfortable feelings, we’ll reap the rewards of the outcome.

4. Utilise your support network

We’re so fortunate in our business to have a huge network of motivational, positive and hugely knowledgeable people around us. This means we’re never alone! Use your connections to help you whether it’s to overcome challenges, for advice when stepping out of your comfort zone or motivation at those times when it’s lacking. Engaging with your network for support and ensuring you’re also there to offer it when others are in need will strengthen your personal connections and help you at the times you need it most.

5. Learn from the process

Engaging with new opportunities can open new doors but it can also come with new challenges. You won’t always get everything right first time but that’s okay. In fact, it’s our mistakes that help us to grow, learn and do better next time. When things don’t go to plan, the key is to take time to reflect on why and to identify what you could do differently if you were to try again. The ability to reflect and learn from a process is a trait that will benefit you for the rest of your life both personally and in your career.So, as we find ourselves in a position of privilege with some real opportunities in front of us, we must ask ourselves… if not now, when? If not us, then who?Now is our time, to genuinely help others save money, to grow our own businesses and to share our opportunities with people who are also open to them.