Adding Value: Position Yourself for Opportunities by Henry Ukazu

Dear Destiny Friends,

According to Samuel Johnson, knowledge is of two kinds, it’s either you know the answer, or you know where to find it. This quote is so significant because it strategically informs progressive minds how they can get whatever they need or desire.

As human beings, we are meant to depend on fellow human beings for support. Just like every single human part of the body needs the other part to function well, we need to tap into our relationships, which is the highest currency of all time. The value of human relationships cannot be overemphasized. Human beings are the ladders we need to succeed. Human beings can be safely regarded as gatekeepers. Nobody can succeed on their own, and that is why it is important to know how to strategically position yourself to get whatever you need in life.

Just like in football or any track and field sports, you must position yourself very well before you can win any game, and this involves strategy. In politics you must position yourself to win elections; in academics, you must present yourself as a serious student to your professors and the management of the school; in professional settings, you must position yourself with the right experience, extra work and most importantly the right network which can put you in their good books for recommendation.

According to the philosophy of six degrees of separation, we are six people away from our destiny helpers. These six degrees of separation state that any person on the planet can be connected to any other person on the planet through a chain of acquaintances that has no more than five intermediaries. So, if you want to get anything in life, you must know the right people to meet, and that’s why I stated earlier that human beings are the best connections you need to succeed in life.  Human beings are truly indispensable. The ability to manage human beings is a skill. The cleaner you relegate today can become your go-to-go person, who can connect you to your destiny helper tomorrow.

Furthermore, the same cleaner or even the security officer, cab driver or a retired old man/woman might know or have access to the President, CEO or Captain of Industry you have been dreaming to meet, even if they don’t know or have access, they might know someone who might know.  So, it’s imperative you treat people nicely because you don’t know what’s likely to happen tomorrow. Even the book of life states that the stones which the builders rejected have become the corner stone.

To position yourself for this illustrious opportunity, there are several strategies one must not only adopt, but one must be intentionally and deliberately conscious in positioning oneself for these opportunities. To position yourself, you must ask yourself what do I want and who has what I want? If nobody can provide it for you, the next big question to ask yourself is, what can I do to attract what I want?

In corporate settings, here is how to position yourself if you need an opportunity in a company. Research what the company represents, and like. Tailor your resume and cover letter to what the company’s need is. What specific problem are they trying to solve with this job? Are they trying to make money? Save money? Save time? Keep existing customers? Acquire new customers?

• What are your core abilities? What special abilities do you possess that separate you from other candidates for this position?
• What are your values? What is your belief system (behaviour and ethics) that is inherent to you? Does this set you apart?
• What is your connection to the company’s needs? Do you possess something special that solves your target employer’s problem?

In this area of social media, life has become relatively easier because we live in a social economy. There are many influencers who have used social media to succeed in their craft. A typical example is Khaby Lame, who has the largest followers on TikTok with over 160,000,000 followers. This young man can use his followers to position himself for any opportunity he desires. The same is applicable for anyone who has an active followership on social media. I have personally used my social media pages to attract desired opportunities. You may be wondering how I did it? If I met a potential client or mentor, I will focus my message to the benefit the person will get by associating with me

Positioning yourself is not difficult; all it needs is strategy. By strategy, I mean the approach and timing. The first rule in positioning yourself is being authentic. Nobody likes to associate with a person who is not authentic. So, it’s imperatively important you put your best foot out.

The next stage is to equip yourself with the right training, certifications, and experience. This will help you to prepare the stage when your destiny helper arrives because your value will be better appreciated due to the solutions you provide.  Another great way to position yourself is by talking about your work. Remember, if you don’t talk about yourself, nobody will talk about you.

In conclusion, strategically positioning yourself in the minds of people is an uncommon skill that needs to be studied both inside and outside the classroom because they come in handy when the right opportunity presents itself.

Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator.  He’s a Transformative Human Capacity and Mindset coach. He is also a public speaker, youth advocate and creative writer Design Your Destiny and Unleash Your Destiny.  He can be reached via info@gloemi.com