I was thinking about opportunities and how they arise in the bath last night and just like Archimedes in a similar situation over 2000 years ago, had a Eureka moment.

 

Opportunities are always there. It is a matter of seeing them. So how to see more opportunity. This was the question playing on my mind.

 

I deal a lot with writing secure web applications (when work is around!) and the key thing about security is to reduce the amount of what is a termed as ’surface area’. This is the amount of interfaces, or aspects of the program available for people to look at and potentially attack. By reducing the surface area, you are reducing the points vulnerable to attack.

 

The exact opposite is required when looking for opportunity. One must open up your ’surface area’ or entrepreneurial activities to ‘catch’ opportunities as they arise. This is akin to expanding one’s awareness.

 

I have reviewed my ’surface area’ in terms of points at which aspects of my life are open to making money. These are points such as running a business or trading. There are also ideas I have to make money, such as a video commerce idea and affiliate selling online. All of these concepts or actual activities are areas where I am open mentally to making money.

 

By taking all of the ideas and putting a very small amount of effort in to increase their potential in the market place, making people aware of them, I am increasing my surface area and potential for spotting opportunity.

 

I am now working out a plan to sew the seeds of some of these ideas and see if any opportunities come back.