The Difference Between a “Job” and an “Opportunity

For those of you that have read my book, you know that this is a subject I am very passionate about.  In case you haven’t read the book yet, let me define each of them for you:

Job – a piece of work done for pay, a task; duty, the thing of material being worked on, employment; work

Opportunity – a combination of circumstances favorable for the purpose, a good chance as to advance oneself

In the book we do not use the “J” word, and for good reason; successful people find opportunities to build a great career and advance themselves.  They don’t look for a piece of work done for pay.  If you look at your career and see yourself collecting a paycheck without a clear path to advance yourself, learn about the industry and grow as a professional, then it is time to make a change.  You wouldn’t be reading this unless you had a desire to be successful, so make sure your career is filled with opportunities to continually learn, increase your income, take on additional responsibilities and do something you truly enjoy.

Regardless of whether the economy is in great shape or doing terribly, there are always opportunities for young, ambitious individuals who bring value to an organization.  You may need to look harder and face stiffer competition, but great careers are out there for the taking.  Figure out what you are passionate about and would like to do each day, then simply focus on finding an organization that offers this while simultaneously teaching you and providing you opportunities to grow within the company.