When Opportunity Comes Calling

“Fortune favors the prepared mind” – Linus Pauling

I recently wrote an answer to the Quora question: What is the Most Effective Yet Efficient Way to Get Rich. See the original answer here. The response has blown up, and I’ve been flattered by the comments and votes it’s received (over 3K and counting!). My previous most upvoted answer on Quora was the story of how I got Dengue Fever in Thailand under the question: What’s the Stupidest Thing You’ve Done.

It’s inspired me to start writing again for my blog and given me a new sense of direction for the content.

Many people have been struck by the answer in the same way that I was when I first read the anecdote of the Italian billionaire. It can be that simple. I was talking with a friend from France about entrepreneurship here vs France and asked him what the difference was. He said that in France when you bring up the idea that you want to start a company, people tell you it’s a bad idea, that it’s too hard and that it won’t work, but here when you bring up the idea of starting a company, people tell you it’s a great idea, that you should go for it and suggest ways they can help or people you should talk to.

My former boss whom I mentioned in the Quora answer, started his own Biotech company. Know what he did before he raised $10M to start his own Biotech company? He was a pharmaceutical sales rep. Know what he did before that? He was a Baptist Minister. And before that? He was a limo driver.

What’s even better, he met the investor who gave him $10M, waiting in line to buy tickets to a concert.

I remember Bob telling me this story and being blown away. We live in a country with a $14 trillion economy. Trillion. That’s dizzying number. Want a piece of it? It’s out there for you. You don’t have to take it from anyone. It’s sitting out there waiting to be claimed. Your keys to the kingdom are waiting on an answer on Quora or with the guy you wouldn’t think twice of in the line next to you in the ticket line for a concert. There’s opportunity around you, all the time.