and the motto shape my life in different ways. The Scout Motto is: BE PREPARED which means you are always in a state of readiness in mind and body to do your DUTY.

Be Prepared in Mind by having disciplined yourself to be obedient to every order, and also by having thought out beforehand any accident or situation that might occur, so that you know the right thing to do at the right moment, and are willing to do it. Be Prepared in Body by making yourself strong and active and able to do the right thing at the right moment, and do it. You have to be prepared at any moment to face difficulties and even dangers of knowing what to do and how doing it.

You are not starting the preparation when the opportunity knocks because it will be too late at that time and you can’t really be in control. One of the biggest ironies of life is people often complain about their circumstances, even when they have the opportunity for change, the fear of change, the fear of stepping out of their comfort zone makes them inactive, numb and unable to capitalise on the change.  It’s not that they don’t have good intentions, or the desire for change isn’t great. It’s that change is scary and risky.  Even when we’re unhappy with our current situation, we are familiar with it and would not want to embrace change despite the sufferings and pains we experience in our current situation. Change is just so unknown and people fear what is unknown.

If you’re not prepared, opportunity won’t favour you. Prepare yourself for opportunities so that you can take advantage of them when they come. Put yourself in a position that makes it easier for opportunities to come.  What’s the use of getting a lot of opportunities if you can’t take advantage of them? There is one important characteristic of preparation that you must understand: it takes time. You can’t prepare for something big overnight. You need to start preparing now and not to wait for when the conditions or situations are perfect before you start to prepare.  Prepare yourself early and you will be ready by the time they come. Note, there is no perfection condition, so if you expect one it means you will wait forever and waste the opportunities life has presented to you. Curiosity makes you eager to know more about the world out there. If you are curious, you won’t be satisfied with what you already know. You will want to know more.

Being optimistic about life gives you the foundation to create your own opportunity. Studies have proven that more than eighty percent of people who feel they’re lucky actually work harder at creating their good luck. Learn to tap into your optimism. If you spend too much time emphasising the negative in life, there’s a good chance you won’t get too many things to be happy about. Sometimes life sucks, that does not mean you have to be a sucker. It’s not easy, but you need to find the drive as you seek your own optimism to create the desired happiness you need. Happiness is not external and does not depend on anyone or anything, it depends on you. You are in absolute control of your life’s experiences, you have the power to create whatever you want. Remember that you’re a magnet. You have the power to attract happiness when the situation is filled with pain, sadness and regrets. In the midst of that dark situation, to experience a positive difference requires that you must be different.

In order to create your own opportunities in life you need to be open to possibilities. Don’t allow fear to discourage you from creating your own opportunities in life. Get to know as many people as you possibly can and build an extensive network of contacts. Constantly be on the watch for potential opportunities, and work hard to make them happen. Be open to the possibilities even if it means embracing a different way of thinking about something, or a big life or career change. The number one thing that affects people’s lives and decisions is fear. We’re afraid of failure, afraid of rejection, afraid of change. But there is no growth or experience in fear. In keeping things the same, you only hurt yourself and shield yourself from new, enriching experiences. Don’t restrict yourself. As kids we had so many restrictions to protect us. As adults sometimes restriction acts against us. There needs to be a balance. Look for opportunities in a tough situation. Avoid a victim mentality, and opt instead for a “ready for new beginnings” attitude. Remove the things in your life that doesn’t serve you to make room for better and new things that will serve you.

Do you listen to your inner voice and follow your gut instincts? Every battle is won before it is ever fought. Engaging in battle is a waste of time. Goals can be achieved and, in fact, are achieved effectively only when you use your intuition to map the way before you start the journey, anticipating and avoiding obstacles, arriving at landmarks in the right order with proper timing. You can create your own opportunities through your intuitions. Learn to listen to that silent voice that is within you. The voice is the hero, it leads you to success, but many times you’re too busy with other things, trying to hear from others and neglecting that powerful voice in your soul.

You can’t create a business or live the life of your dreams or make lots of money if you don’t know your weaknesses, strengths and passions. If you know your limits and what you are capable of, you will know exactly what you need. Once you begin to know yourself, you will realise your weakness and you can fill these weaknesses with other people’s strength.

You don’t need luck if you can make things happen; you need a strategy. Simply stated, strategy is a realistic plan to move forward by taking advantage of the opportunities that suit your unique abilities. It’s a matter of having control. It takes time and some attention. People who enjoy consistent success know what it takes to make great opportunities happen. Change a few habits and opportunities can be created. Value curiosity and collect information. Make a habit of interacting with your environment. Notice things that happen around you. People who notice things know more than people who don’t. Develop a habit of looking at everything to see how you might improve it. Choose the opportunities that benefit other people and they will support your  opportunities because they will gain from it as well. Don’t ever limit yourself. Shoot for the moon and you might just catch some stars on the way down.