As I sit at the kitchen table looking east at the hills across the little valley, I think about how much I love the sunrises in the winter. Living in California, the winters are mild and the way our house is angled, we can see the sunrise in winter much better than in the summer.

Sometimes, I can sit and watch the sky change from the black of night to deep purple to maroon, to pinks and reds and finally to the bright sky of day. Today, however, was quite different. Today is overcast and what I saw, while spectacular, was gone in a matter of a couple of minutes. The rising sun just caught the edge of the clouds as it was coming up. It went from dark to blue and purple and mauve and plumb and deep fuchsia. It was stunningly beautiful. I went downstairs and told my wife about it. By the time she took a moment to enjoy it as well and I was back in the kitchen, it was gone, replaced by the varying blue-gray of the sun behind the clouds.

I got to thinking, “WOW, if I had looked out the window 2 minutes earlier, I would have been too early. If I had looked out five minutes later I would have been too late.”

That is the way it is with opportunity. It shows up for a little while and then it is gone again. We never know when it will show up, how long it will stay, or when will it return, if ever. I began to wonder, “How many times have I missed out?” How many times have you?

How many times have you had the thought “Gee, if I made a ‘this’ then ‘that’ would be a lot easier.” You forget about it just to see the very idea you had show up on an infomercial 6 months, a year, two years later. I have, more than once.

I remember when Apple was in the tank selling at $7 a share. I thought, “I should take $500 and buy Apple.” I didn’t do it. Then Steve Jobs came back to run things and now I could kick myself.

We have all missed out. If you think back, you will probably remember a time or two when you did. That’s OK. Opportunity DOES come back. We just need to be ready for it when it does.

There is no need to miss the moment again. We need to be watching for it so we recognize it. Some people call this “Being in the moment.” I call it “paying attention.”   We need to stay positive so we can embrace it. Negativity will kill your attitude and aspirations quicker than anything.

We still need to do our “due diligence.” We still need to evaluate the potential opportunity. Check it out because there are a bunch of scammers out there. But, avoid overthinking it. Then, take action. It is still essential to strike while the iron is hot.

And to think these thought were triggered by a sunrise that was short but gorgeous. I’m glad I didn’t miss it!