Seize the opportunity🦾

It was spring, 2008. Worldwide food shortages had erupted. Sky-rocketing prices had caused cannibalism in Russia who also where in the midst of feud with former Soviet Republic of Georgia.

Yet, USA had it’s own problems to deal with.

Halfway through presidential elections, with the odds putting Obama as the next president, Obama’s political campaign was soon imperiled in the worst way possible.

A race scandal involving inflammatory remarks by his pastor Reverend Jeremiah Wright had seriously threatened to unravel his campaign.

Having worked tirelessly on establishing a bond between black and white voters, candidate Obama faced an imminent political disaster capable of obliterating his entire campaign in a matter of hours.

Though Obama had other things in mind.

Facing a seemingly unsurmountable obstacle, Obama saw things as they were, not as he felt them.

He knew his emotions wanted to chime in, but deep down he saw an opportunity where others only saw misfortune.

He didn’t allowed himself to crumble in front of such pressure nor he allowed himself to hide and wait for it to pass.

Against all advice, he decided he would take immediate action and turn this terrible situation into a teachable moment.

The day was March 18, 2008. And at 10:00 AM he delivered what later came to be known as “A More Perfect Union” speech.

Obama addressed the countries historical racial inequality as well as the ongoing struggles.

He emphazised the need for unity, understanding and empathy accross racial lines.

He reiterated on the importance of moving beyond past grievances and working together on a better future.

This speech turned Obama’s lowest campaign moment into the catalyst of his success which later put him in the Oval Office.

If you think it’s simply enough to take advantage of the opportunities that arise in your life, you will fall short of greatness. Anyone sentient can do that. What you must do is learn how to press forward precisely when everyone around you sees disaster. - Ryan Holiday

Following his advisor’s plan, Obama turned a negative into a positive, an obstacle into an opportunity.

We, regular humans, sit here and complain, every single day, that not enough opportunities are given to us, unaware that we are.

Our emotions blind us from what’s in front of us.

Opportunities masked as tragedies waiting to be discovered.

So the question remains:

Do we suffer and complain in front of a negative event?

Or do we get past the adversity and mount an offensive?

Ordinary people shy away from negative situations. Great people do the opposite. They see misfortune as an advantage.

Throughout our lives we’ll face great trials. This will be frustrating, unfair and outside our control.

Worst of all, they’ll come in the worst timing possible.

But it’s up to us to see things differently and act accotdingly.

Anyone can seize an opportunity, but few can seize a catastrophe.