Skip to main content

Almost missed an opportunity

Today’s blog post is a real incident of my life.

I started teaching in 2016. In 2017, I almost let go of the opportunity that brought me to where I am. This is about realising that there are hints which you must take seriously in order to not miss an opportunity. In my case, luck favoured me. Here’s what had happened:

A year after starting classes, I got good feedback from the limited students I had. Students, as well as their parents, were happy with the classes. Unfortunately, there was no growth. Despite the feedback, I had a limited number of students. As a young man of 25, I couldn’t afford this growth rate. I was not expecting a flooded classroom but considering the feedback, at least double the strength of the existing students.

After contemplating about the same, I decided to stop teaching the students of CBSE board. I had to say ‘no’ to them and it was one of the toughest decisions I had to take back then. I was highly anxious about telling this to the existing students. Still, I somehow managed to do it. Parents felt bad upon hearing me out. They insisted that I reconsider my decision. I told them I would but in my heart, I knew I would not.

After the cancellation of the CBSE batches, I had to fill the empty time slot. I got a confirmation of two new batches and was preparing for the same. These two batches didn’t go much further due to the time adjustment issues of students. During that time, I met one of the parents of the CBSE batch. They strongly requested me to start the class again saying, “Think upon it and say yes this time.”

I realised that the other batches were not working well and instead of sitting idle, I would at least have something if I start CBSE again. As the saying goes, ‘Something is better than nothing.’

Today, I am in a very different position and it was possible only because I accepted the opportunity that came my way. In my case, I would call myself lucky. I said no to an existing opportunity and yet, it knocked on my door once again. This opportunity was a launchpad for my career. Had I said no to it again, I don’t know where I would be. The parents who kept following up with me for the classes were an important factor. If not for those parents, I would not have reconsidered my decision.

I want to tell all of you that think of an opportunity in a holistic way before you say no to it. It may be that very opportunity that may skyrocket your career. Sometimes we fail to realise that that opportunity is the very opportunity we desperately need.

So think before saying no and think if you are missing out on something great. After all, not every opportunity knocks twice.

And hey you! Thanks for being here. Means a lot. If you liked reading this, do share it with others, comment your thoughts on it and help share the optimism.

Comments

  1. Very nice Sir. I really appreciate the way you express yourself

    ReplyDelete
  2. You arent lucky,you thought of empty slots that made perturbation in mind and thought of working hard to increase the students and that's the way you are rocking today

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank You reconsidering Sir. I don't know where I would be if you hadn't.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Single road

I have always felt that single roads require more skill to tackle. Recently, I was driving on a single road and the train of thoughts started journeying as I kept munching those miles. The vehicle in the opposite lane was far away and hence, I put my foot on the accelerator to overtake the vehicle in front of me. Just then, another vehicle from behind interrupted my flow and went ahead. On that very road ahead, when I overtook another vehicle, the distance between the vehicle I was overtaking and the one coming from the opposite end was lesser than before. I still managed to do it because the ones ahead of me and in the opposite lane cooperated. At another point, I started overtaking but I was not accelerating fast enough and even though it was safe to overtake, I stopped. If you have experienced any of these things, you must have realised that single roads can’t be managed without the cooperation of others. Of course, not everyone cooperates and you get to see all kinds of drive...

Break or Breakdown?

We all deserve a break. Hang on! The question is: won’t we lag behind if we take a break? I come across many who take frequent breaks at the wrong times. What ensues is a disrupted schedule and breakneck workload. To cope with the load, guess what? Another break. Consequently massive chaos and the decision to avoid taking breaks from the next time. This doesn’t mean that breaks aren’t essential. They surely are! And this blog post is all about the importance of taking breaks. Given our age, we all have different notion of breaks. The ones who don’t really work in a productive way keep on taking breaks. On the contrary, the ones who work with passion often forget the importance of breaks. They say that they fall short of time to take a break. They fear missing the deadline. Surprisingly and contrastingly, a well-earned break will take them closer to their goal! Taking a break means truly separating yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally from that task to indulge in somet...

First century ride - 19 Feb '21

26 January 2021… it must have been my second group ride. I met Nitin Pathak sir again that day. I had met him on the 1 st January ride but for a brief period of time. While we were departing for our respective homes, he asked me to join him for a ride. “At what time do you go for the ride?” “6:30.” “Join me tomorrow. Instead of 6:30, get up a bit earlier, and let us begin at 6.” I agreed and the next morning, we went on a ride. We were four and while returning, we stopped at this roadside dhaba for a delicious breakfast of poha and tea. While we were generally discussing long rides, I said that the presence of professionals in the group would inspire the group to do more. That instant Pathak sir responded, “We can very well do all these things by ourselves. It is not at all difficult. Let us ride a 100 KM distance. What say?” The idea was thrilling. For me, it would mean my first ever 100 km ride. I suggested Pathak sir that we should go in February considering that all of u...