Are You an Opportunity Addict?

First of all, we can define the term addiction as a "dependence on a substance or practice which is beyond voluntary control".

For some people this fact might not be evident, in our coaching practice we have had clients struggling with this particular addiction. The question will be: how do you become an opportunity addict? People, in general, start by simply pursuing THE business that will finally give them their financial freedom, and so they start jumping from one opportunity to another without even noticing. Soon they become addicted of pursuing a dream that will turn into a nightmare for them and, in some cases, their families.

You will be wondering now what is wrong with looking for new opportunities and going after a dream?. Please do not misunderstand me here: pursuing dreams and goals (and attaining them), are behaviors that coaches want you all to go for, but let's be clear that not all dreams are realistic or positive for you.

What is some else's dream could mean trouble for you, and fun to others, is just a matter of reaching our goals knowing we own the right tools, and have the knowledge on the proper way to use them in our benefit.

Will you dig a whole with a hammer? This is just what many people do without even knowing it, our work as coaches is to change that hammer for the best shovel available. Many of us, as a child, dreamed on going to the moon one day, but did all of us dreaming about that achieved it?

The addiction I am talking about is the one when people go after a deal into which they will not only invest time, but money and energy over and over without results.

Of course, many of these 'deals' could be profitable if you put the enough time and effort , not to say some money, to see them work; but the people I am talking about are those who jump from one deal to another thinking 'this one' is the right one....until a new opportunity arises. So, at the end of the day the 'opportunity addict' gets distracted by a new amazing deal and never goes all the way trough with any of them.

In example: I have seen people dilapidate large amounts of money in telephone businesses, then jump into nutrition and health (while waiting for the telecommunications one to work somehow), invest in a new 'fantastic' product that will help the whole planet save in energy and get purer air, buy the newest and safest security devices to protect them from mobiles unhealthy microwaves (that of course everyone will be happy to have), etc...but, do all these deals really work and will give them financial freedom? or is it just wishful thinking? Having lots of business does not mean they are all productive or will ever be.

Now, how could you recognize if you, a life partner or a friend is an 'opportunity addict'?

Well, here are some hints that might serve you as a guide: In less than a year time they have changed business orientation more than 4 times (not talking about their regular job) They are afraid to say « no » and perhaps risk losing the 'deal of a lifetime', so they say « yes » and try to handle as much as possible without even noticing. They have an enormous amount of projects going on at the same time They are so busy between one project and the other that have a feeling of overwhelming and small, or not all, time for family and friends...or even themselves.

Perhaps you have already recognized someone here, know someone who reunites some or all of these characteristics and are know wondering what to do. Forward this article to them, help them visualize how much they have invested in all those small join ventures (not only in money) and compare it with the amount the have gained (in money).

Are they happy with what they are doing? Is it providing them the fulfillment they where looking for? Are they getting any closer to their goal? Is their business growing as expected? Are they now looking into a new opportunity? This as well as many other questions will help them realize that they might be going a bit too far and becoming opportunity addicts. Find help for them before this goes way too far, coaching could be their gate out!!

Yuri Ferrer [http://www.YuriCoach.com]