I realized lately that I find myself using this expression often, either with myself or with clients. I thought a bit about what it means and where it comes from. I looked it up just to be sure…
This expression comes from the world of the blacksmith. In order to change the shape of that cold, hard, immovable piece of iron, the blacksmith first needs to heat it up in the furnace.
Once it becomes red-hot, it’s ready to be pulled out of the fire and hammered into shape on the anvil.
However, if he pulls that piece of hot iron out of the furnace and waits too long, it cools off. And once it cools off, it’s impossible to change. The blacksmith can’t change the shape of cold iron!
I’m not a blacksmith, but I’m guessing it’s also very difficult, if not impossible, to change the shape of warm iron. Only RED-HOT will do.
Strike while the iron’s hot–this expression refers to OPPORTUNITY. For all of us–regardless of our age, our station in life, our goals, or our pursuits–opportunities SHOW UP that have the potential to enrich our lives, bring us pleasure, move us forward, facilitate our growth, or be a doorway into even greater opportunities.
How do YOU respond to opportunity? DON’T WAIT for that hot piece of iron to cool off!
Regrettably, there are times when we all wait too long and that red-hot piece of iron does cools off.
All of us have squandered opportunity. It’s part of the human condition and part of the learning process.
So, while it’s not all that unusual for there to be “no one home” when opportunity comes a-knockin’, it’s crucial for all of us to become masterful at seizing opportunity!
Are there any opportunities that you’ve squandered lately? Are there things that you didn’t take advantage of and jump on top of? A job opening? A financial investment? A trip? Asking that person out on a date when the time was right? Saying YES to an important invitation?
Here’s a brief exercise: bring to mind an opportunity that you completely missed out on. It can be something that happened recently or long ago. It can be something big or small.
- was this an opportunity that you recognized at the time, or only after it had passed you by?
- What good thing did you miss out on?
- What kind of positive difference could that good thing have made in your life?
What will you do with these “gifts” called opportunity? Here are some ideas I’m challenging you with today. Carefully consider:
- Opportunities are generally UNEXPECTED. Therefore, be ready! Keep your eyes open and your head on a swivel. When that opportunity shows up, JUMP!
- Go one step further–be proactive and GO LOOKING for opportunity!
- Go one step further still—CREATE YOUR OWN opportunities!
- Opportunities are TIME-LIMITED. That window of opportunity definitely WILL SNAP SHUT at some point. Some windows aren’t open very long at all, and may never open again.
Be watchful. Be ready.
I want you to see that red-hot piece of iron laying on the anvil of your life when it appears.
And when you see the glow and feel the heat of that red-hot opportunity, bring the hammer down hard and STRIKE!
Let’s hear some NOISE going on in your life, heavy hammer banging against hot iron and hard anvil, seizing opportunities.
Get hammering!
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Thanks Antione! Glad you like my blog. I’ve been doing it for a little over a year as I recall. Great to have you here, and come back often!
It’s definitely true that it’s easier to shape iron when it’s red-hot. If we wait too long and one piece cools, luckily we can still choose to heat up other iron pieces. This is basically what Andrew meant in metaphor form.
Nice post Sean. Keep up the good work!
Hey Sean–I really like your idea, if one piece cools we have the option to heat up other pieces. Some people wallow in the fact that their iron has cooled (or their opportunity has passed), and aren’t looking for new irons. And some people leave the blacksmith shop altogether!
Hey Sean.
I loved your point about being ready for opportunities, but then taking that a step further by looking for opportunity, and even creating opportunity… well said.
I think that the more that you get out there and take action (even if you’re not really sure what you are doing), the more opportunities will present themselves to you.
Thanks for the post.
Ha! I love it Andrew–action increases opportunities! And taking action without having it all figured out–a great addition Andrew.