Why they elude us, how we can capture them

When it comes to opportunities, I strongly believe that one must first expect to find them and then proceed to go and seek them. Expecting to find opportunities primes your mind to work out where and how to look for them.

Growing up, I was constantly reminded by everything around me that nothing was guaranteed. I grew up in a neighbourhood where most people went to bed not knowing where their next meal was going to come from. My environment was far from inspiring- young girls were dropping out of school due to teenage pregnancy; young boys fell into the trap of alcohol and drug abuse and as a result, the neighbourhood was riddled with crime and cries.  

Fast forward to 2021, I am a PhD student at one of the top universities in the UK, on a scholarship by the government of Botswana called the “Top Achiever’s Scholarship”. When I fly back home from the UK every year, I get a sobering reminder, of how one opportunity, can change your life in ways you never could have imagined. I am not where I want to be, but I am also not where I did not want to be; thanks to the opportunities that I was able to seek and take.

 “Opportunities lie unexplored because people do not know where to find them, how to find them or do not believe that they are worthy of them.”

Opportunities are not like a knight in shining armour who comes out of nowhere to save the “damsel in distress.” You are either looking for opportunities that others have created, or you are creating opportunities for yourself and/or others. When I finished high school, I had a qualifying grade to apply for a scholarship at a private school. Upon getting the grades, nothing happened, no one came to tell me of my “automatic enrolment” into the school. I concluded in my head that the scheme was probably not in place that year. Lo and behold, I was wrong- the scheme was still up and running. All I should have done was send an application. At the time, I did not know this, no one in my family knew this and the people who knew did not tell me. My point is, the opportunity was there, I just was not seeking it properly. Sometimes all you must do is ask because quite frankly; your existence does not magically summon relevant opportunities your way.

In today’s world of scams and spams, opportunity lies hidden, questioned, and is sometimes strangled by corruption.  Opportunities lie unexplored because people may not know where to find them, how to find them, or do not believe that they are worthy of them. One of our objectives is to create a platform where young people can have their minds opened to the vast opportunities available for them, to encourage them to expect opportunities, and empower them to seek them. There is a popular proverb that says, “opportunity seldom knocks twice”. Though I do agree that sometimes there are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, I do believe that opportunities are a lot more patient than that. 

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According to Statistica, only 22% of Africa has internet connectivity. In areas where there is internet connectivity, most people cannot afford the cost of connecting their homes, let alone their mobile phones. This means that they are still not connected to the immense amount of information that the internet presents. While kids in other countries, use platforms like YouTube to learn different skills, browse the internet for information, and have real-time access to what is going on in the world, there are still kids whose idea of the world, life, and opportunity does not exist beyond the confines of their household, friend group, and home village. In the global village that we are in today, where everyone is expected to compete like we are on an even playing field, kids in some African countries are at a big disadvantage. Knowledge sharing and access are very big limiting factors to people knowing and seeking opportunities. Our aim is to one day reach these remote areas and find ways to expose kids in these places to the big wide world and the worldwide web.

People often say that human beings are their own greatest enemies. In an excellent blog post on this site written by Ruth Maganga, she speaks of internalized conditioning as a limiting factor to people reaching their highest potential. Most of us can attain extraordinary feats and have a much bigger impact than we can dare imagine. We just do not believe that we can. Oftentimes we are quick to recommend other people for things that we are perfectly suitable for. A lot of these self-limiting practices that we engage in are a result of the internal conditioning that fosters imposter syndrome, inferiority complexes, and subsequently lets us fall into stereotypical traps which may result in thinking that people like “us” cannot do one thing or another.

To find opportunities, we must believe we are worthy of the freedoms they bring, but first, we must free ourselves from the traps we find ourselves entangled in. People always talk of trying to find opportunities in problems. A lot of that has to do with perspective; if you are able to look at your problems with a problem-solving lens, you might be able to find a hidden opportunity. The same way pain causes us to react; the way you would quickly pull your hand away if something burns you, is the same way our problems should cause us to react. It is also the same way seeing the disparities that exist today should cause us to react. In a recent post on this blog, Ruth Maganga speaks of self-evaluation and how it is key to personal development and individual progress. She breaks down how SWOT analysis could be used to take stock of where you are as an individual and to plan how to go forward. Creating opportunities out of problems or weaknesses is a key skill to learn and self-evaluation is at the center of that process.

Consider this action plan; Put on your imaginary “problem-solving lens” today and write down the opportunities that are hidden behind whatever is an obstacle for you. Use the same lens to see and list what you can do or where you can get help or find assistance.