Opportunity Knocked

Luck Ain't Got Nothing to do With It!

Subject: Success, Opportunity, Being Prepared, Taking Chances, Risk

By Victor Antonio

About a year ago I was chill’in, doing my ‘thang’ in the speaking business.  Things were going well. Out of the blue I get this call from a head-hunter (recruiter)  named Michael about a possible job opportunity.  I told Mike I wasn’t interested and that he should look elsewhere. 

Mike said, “Give me five minutes to explain the deal and then I’ll leave you alone.”

I said, “Fair enough.”

He went on to describe that a high tech company was looking for a CEO with a technical background and a strong sales track record and that he thought I was the perfect candidate.  He told me about the company’s history and what that the expectations were that I only do it for 6 months.  

I wasn’t convinced, but I was open to at least having a conversation with the company's Board of Directors.  After some lengthy conversation I agree to give it some thought and that they would get back to me with a compensation package.

In the end (a la the Godfather Movie) they made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.  I thought, “What the hell, I can commit 6 months to building this company.” 

Fast forward >>>

One year later (not six, …surprise, surprise) I revamped this high tech company and we were just acquired (i.e., bought out) by a Fortune 1000 company with estimated revenues in 2006 of $140 million.

(Note: For you skeptics, see Press Release )

If anyone had told me years ago that a boy from the “hood” would be CEO of a high tech company and be involved in an acquisition by a large corporation, I would’ve said, “No way!”.

Reflecting on how it all happened, I’ve come to the obvious conclusion that success, like building blocks, is built on past successes and failures.   When I look back at the sum of my experiences, I feel fortunate to have learned and experience so much.  Yes, there were hard times and there were lean times; things weren’t always going my way.  I have horror stories on how I screwed up a sale or lost a deal or missed a big opportunity. 

At the time, those loses and screw-ups were painful!  I mean REALLY painful. But overtime those battle scars became badges of honor.  Experience has a way of tempering (i.e., hardening) you and thereby making you stronger and more resilient to adversity. 

And somewhere along the line, maturity kicked in.  I no longer react without thinking.  I take the time to reflect on a course of action and then do so diligently.  Instead of getting angry, I find myself withholding judgment, assessing the situation, all the while remaining emotionally neutral and detached.

“Sometimes you don’t know, how much you know, until the time comes to prove what you know!”

I didn’t realize how much I had learned over the years until I had a chance to be CEO and run this company.  I found myself having to make tough decisions and I couldn’t afford to be reckless.  I had to deal with a multitude of personnel issues and personalities, but I couldn’t afford to be quick tempered or get angry.  I was now responsible for the company’s expenditures, so I had to be careful in managing the company’s finances. 

During this one year with the company, I realized that all my past experiences had prepared me for this moment, this position.  Again, success I’ve proven is built on past successes and failures.  Those who acquire success are the one’s that can learn from both.

People accuse me of being ‘lucky’. 

“Ha!  Luck my ass!” is usually my response.    Here’s an accounting of how I was ‘lucky’:

a)      I had years of experience in the high tech business

b)      My degree is in engineering

c)      I have an MBA

d)      I’ve worked for the last 15+ years in high tech companies

e)      I have successful sales track record

f)       I’ve always maintained a good network of contacts (i.e., Mike the head hunter)

And so on…

Would any sane person call this luck?  Not me!  I call it building a solid business foundation and being prepared.  Opportunity knocked and I was prepared to answer the door.  

"Luck is preparedness intersecting with opportunity."

I didn’t mention that there was one very sticky point to this whole CEO deal; I had to travel to Virginia every week to manage the company since I was unwilling to move from Atlanta.  My friend thought I was nuts for agreeing to this.  But I had to remind him that an opportunity isn’t always “convenient” (i.e., just the way we like it). 

One friend told me this week, “I would NEVER do what you did.” 

I thought to myself, “Exactly!  Which is why I'm,...eh hem...luckier."

The problem with my friend is that he wouldn’t recognize an opportunity if it bit him in the ass because he is under the impression that an opportunity should stand out and yell, "Here I am!"  

Opportunities aren’t always convenient; if they were, they wouldn’t be opportunities. 

Please share this article with a friend or colleague.

Read my article on “The Sales Carpenter” and see how I leveraged an inconvenient opportunity into a Golden opportunity.

Copyright © 2005 by Victor Antonio   All rights reserved.  This article MAY be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, as long as the author’s name, website and email address are included as part of the article’s body.  All inquiries, including information on electronic licensing, should be directed to Victor Antonio.