Opportunity knocks

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Stephen Williams
  • 13th Fighter Squadron commander
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  According to the 1988 Webster's New World dictionary sitting in my office, opportunity is a combination of circumstances favorable to advance one's self. 

The beauty of the Air Force is the number of opportunities it affords you. In my nineteen years in the Air Force, these opportunities were frequently subtle and many times I didn't recognize them for what they really were - a chance to prove myself. Upon further reflection what originally appeared to be a time consuming task from my supervisor was actually opportunity knocking. "Capt. Williams, the commander needs a briefing on our current training status tomorrow!" Sound familiar? These requests often get viewed as some type of new Air Force harassment program designed to make your life more difficult, but they are actually just an opportunity to excel. It's the classic analogy: is the glass half empty or half full - it depends on the perspective you view. The Air Force will always provide you these opportunities, whether it is your next promotion, a qualification upgrade, a job move or project lead. The challenge to every Airman is recognizing when these opportunities occur and preparing to answer the door when opportunity knocks.

Ever wonder when you'll get your chance or why someone else has always been given opportunities you thought should've gone your way? Sulking over a lack of opportunity is wasted time and doesn't help prepare you for when your chance will come. The best approach is to spend time preparing for that unexpected knock on the door. I've recently put myself in short notice scramble mode because I wasn't as prepared as I should've been for these "chances to excel" the Air Force provided me. Having all your squares filled and questions identified with possible solutions will lay the foundation for success when you get the knock. Louis Pasteur's quote "Chance favors the prepared mind" could not be more appropriate. By being prepared you set yourself up to deserve these opportunities rather then just desiring them. Remember, success is not based on getting opportunities; success is an outcome resulting from your ability to handle these opportunities when they arise. Time spent preparing will help set you up to succeed. So the next time you get assigned a challenging task, take a moment to appreciate the opportunity - then answer the door.