Opportunity Stacking

Opportunity Stacking

Some small part of me thought that when I entered this semi retirement that my life would slow down. I figured that the huge allotment of time sequestered by the W2 would all of the sudden create vast oceans of space for me to fill. Of course, that’s not exactly how it happened. I find myself, in some ways, busier than ever. Part of the reason is that I have grown to fill the extra space. Heck, the idea of starting a podcast hadn’t even entered my mind before cutting back. But that’s not the whole story. In the past I have recognized the phenomenon of opportunity stacking. Namely, great opportunities come in two and threes. Before, I usually picked the best one and moved on.

Who has time to juggle a busy career and take on a bunch of new things at once? The old me certainly didn’t. The post half retirement me, however, has the energy to manage much more than previous.

This can sometimes create a hectic schedule.

Speaker’s Bureau

I have been excited this year to join a speaker’s bureau. This was an opportunity that I always relished, but never felt that I could fit into my busy schedule. I now have completed a few engagements and definitely want to continue pursuing this new found activity.

So when I got invited to give a talk about medicine and story telling in a university setting, I couldn’t have been happier. Over a few weeks details were ironed out, contracts were signed, and everything was set in place.

Remember what I said about opportunity stacking? Not a few days later, I got a request to give another talk in front of 700-800 people at a prestigious event. Great. Right? Except that the event is across the country and the night before the other gig, and they asked for me specifically.

I didn’t want to give up either event. So I got on the phone with the head of the bureau, and we ironed out a solution. I would fly into one coast the night before. Attend a few sessions and give my talk that night. Wake up first thing the next morning. Fly across the country to the next event and arrive at noon. Rest a few hours and give my second talk a few hours later.

Sounds exhausting, right? Except that in my new work schedule, I can afford the energy and the time away to do such things. May sound horrible to you, but it’s pretty exciting for me. Opportunity stacking no longer has to limit me. I can manage a lot more at once.

How We FI

I love this personal finance and financial independence community that I have been lucky enough to be a part of. There is always some great get together or meetup to attend. In fact, often multiple are going on all at once.

Take this September. I am excited to go to CampFI Midwest which dovetails right into FinCon 2019. I, in fact, won’t even have a chance to go home in between. And then it is a hop, skip, and a jump till CampFI Southwest.

I am hoping to give talks at both those CampFIs, and fingers crossed, run a panel at FinCon. This is yet another example of opportunity stacking. These great chances all come at once, and I don’t want to say no to any of them.

Luckily, I don’t have to.

Final Thoughts

Opportunity stacking describes the phenomenon where multiple good opportunities present themselves at once. I am thankful for this boon of great invitations.

In the past, I would usually accept one and politely refuse the others. Who has time when they are busy grinding away at the 9 to 5? Now, freed from the bonds of a traditional work schedule, I can jump in head first.

Might sound a little tiring to most.

To me, it’s invigorating.