Another "Dad Talk"

You know how I know he's a great kid? He lets me do a Dad Talk and doesn't complain.

While driving our oldest son back to college yesterday, I took the opportunity to drop a Dad Talk on him.

This "drop" wasn't as welcomed as the latest from one of his favorite Americana bands, but he took it like a champ...better than that, in fact, and that made me proud.

He's going to be graduating college next year, and I wanted him to know that the working world is much different than the college world. Of course, he realizes this, but the main point was that he needs to be ready for it, primarily because he's venturing into a career where first impressions are critical. 

I don't worry about his drive, work ethic, or passion, but I do often worry, as most parents do, that my kids aren't ready for those moments when opportunity softly knocks. 

Loud banging is hard to miss, but those light taps are, more often than not, the times when opportunity is there, right in front of you, but you have to pull it in.

Local business is precisely like this.

I can't count the times I've strolled into a local shop with no agenda, and the person at the counter simply greeted me and then went back to what they were doing. 

Perhaps they might ask if I was looking for something in particular (good start), but when I said I was "just looking," they left me to browse. 

This might seem like the right thing to do, but it's opportunity tapping on the door.

You don't have to pester or push, but you should connect. Tell them something about yourself, compliment their shoes, but do SOMETHING to engage so they know you care. 

Opportunity is fickle sometimes, and this is where preparation comes in. You must be ready for this moment.

This is what I told my son, and I think it landed or at least he feigned enough interest for me to believe it landed (Did I mention he's a good kid?).

Opportunity is knocking all the time. Sometimes you have no trouble hearing it - sometimes, you have to listen very carefully.

Keep your ears open and keep connecting!