2 answers
RC
Student
Corpus Christi, Texas
1
Question
Updated
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“How did you identify your most valuable opportunity, and what made you confident enough to pursue it”? #Spring26
“As someone interested in getting into business, how did you identify your most valuable opportunity, and what made you confident enough to pursue it?”
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2 answers
Eddy H
Consultant
56
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Eddy’s Answer
For me, the most valuable opportunity has always been joining an organization where I genuinely believe in the mission, because that sense of purpose makes the work feel meaningful and worth pursuing. I didn’t identify that all at once, but rather through a series of smaller experiences that helped me understand what mattered to me. Confidence, in my experience, is not something that appears overnight, but something that is built gradually through many small, everyday interactions and even mundane tasks.
For example, getting a part-time job played a big role in shaping my confidence. Through customer service, I was constantly interacting with people and finding ways to help them, which showed me that I could make real contributions. Being able to assist others helped me realize that I had value to offer, and that translated into stronger communication and interpersonal skills. Similarly, volunteer experiences reinforced this mindset, since I was using my skills to support people who truly needed it, which made the impact feel even more tangible and meaningful.
College also contributed a lot to building that confidence. Public speaking classes helped me become more comfortable expressing my ideas, while project-based courses taught me how to take something from start to finish. Those experiences helped me discover what I was passionate about and gave me the reassurance that I could follow through on opportunities that aligned with my interests. Altogether, these experiences made me confident enough to pursue opportunities that felt aligned with my values. Wishing you all the best as you explore your own path.
For example, getting a part-time job played a big role in shaping my confidence. Through customer service, I was constantly interacting with people and finding ways to help them, which showed me that I could make real contributions. Being able to assist others helped me realize that I had value to offer, and that translated into stronger communication and interpersonal skills. Similarly, volunteer experiences reinforced this mindset, since I was using my skills to support people who truly needed it, which made the impact feel even more tangible and meaningful.
College also contributed a lot to building that confidence. Public speaking classes helped me become more comfortable expressing my ideas, while project-based courses taught me how to take something from start to finish. Those experiences helped me discover what I was passionate about and gave me the reassurance that I could follow through on opportunities that aligned with my interests. Altogether, these experiences made me confident enough to pursue opportunities that felt aligned with my values. Wishing you all the best as you explore your own path.
Rick Kneisley
Retired Investment Broker and Investment Sales Manager
47
Answers
Georgetown, Texas
Updated
Rick’s Answer
RC ,
That’s a great question, and it’s one of the most important ones you’ll ever ask.
Between my sophomore and junior year of college, I took a job selling mobile homes for the summer. It wasn’t glamorous, and it wasn’t what I thought I’d be doing. But something important happened there. I discovered I had a real ability to sell. I did it by first understanding my prospects, what they needed, what they were unsure about, and how to help them make a decision they felt good about. There was no pressure, no pushing them for a decision—just a calm respect for them. I let them sell themselves by treating them well as I showed them our homes.
That realization that I could sell mattered more than the job itself. Most people think the opportunity is the job in front of them, but it’s not. The real opportunity is discovering what you’re naturally good at. Once I saw that selling was a strength of mine, I started looking for a bigger arena where that same skill would matter more. That’s when I found stockbroking. It was still selling, but at a much higher level, with greater responsibility and much greater upside. That’s how I identified my opportunity.
As for confidence, I didn’t have certainty. Nobody really does at that stage. What I had was evidence from my own experience. I knew I could bring in new clients. I knew I could communicate clearly. I knew I could handle rejection and keep going. That gave me enough belief to take the step forward.
If I could give you one piece of advice, it would be to pay attention to what comes naturally to you—especially the things that other people seem to struggle with. That’s usually where your real strength is hiding. Once you see it, don’t ignore it or downplay it. Find a place where that strength really matters and go for it.
Everyone is brilliant at something. The key is recognizing it and then having the courage to build your path around it.
Rick
That’s a great question, and it’s one of the most important ones you’ll ever ask.
Between my sophomore and junior year of college, I took a job selling mobile homes for the summer. It wasn’t glamorous, and it wasn’t what I thought I’d be doing. But something important happened there. I discovered I had a real ability to sell. I did it by first understanding my prospects, what they needed, what they were unsure about, and how to help them make a decision they felt good about. There was no pressure, no pushing them for a decision—just a calm respect for them. I let them sell themselves by treating them well as I showed them our homes.
That realization that I could sell mattered more than the job itself. Most people think the opportunity is the job in front of them, but it’s not. The real opportunity is discovering what you’re naturally good at. Once I saw that selling was a strength of mine, I started looking for a bigger arena where that same skill would matter more. That’s when I found stockbroking. It was still selling, but at a much higher level, with greater responsibility and much greater upside. That’s how I identified my opportunity.
As for confidence, I didn’t have certainty. Nobody really does at that stage. What I had was evidence from my own experience. I knew I could bring in new clients. I knew I could communicate clearly. I knew I could handle rejection and keep going. That gave me enough belief to take the step forward.
If I could give you one piece of advice, it would be to pay attention to what comes naturally to you—especially the things that other people seem to struggle with. That’s usually where your real strength is hiding. Once you see it, don’t ignore it or downplay it. Find a place where that strength really matters and go for it.
Everyone is brilliant at something. The key is recognizing it and then having the courage to build your path around it.
Rick