They say opportunities come a-dime-a-dozen. What if it were equally true that they are lost or missed a-dime-a-dozen as well? And it’s the missing opportunities part that everyone would love to overcome, right? For that to happen, we need to realize something critical — only by NOT losing an opportunity can we gain one. Entrepreneur Max Andrew Smith believes that one should grab opportunities with both hands and develop the courage to take chances to find success.
Max is a self-made man. For as long as he can remember, he wanted to be independent in all aspects of life. This desire drove his attention towards opportunities that his 14-year-old self could avail. There were a few odd jobs here and there, but Max found himself wanting to do something on his own. This is when he decided to become an entrepreneur and did so by grabbing the opportunity to resell designer shoes. Talking about his experience, Max says, “Before they became my clients, they were my friends. I knew most of the people who bought shoes from me. I knew exactly what they needed and why they were unable to get it. There was a gap waiting to be filled, and I decided to be the one to fill it. It took me a great amount of courage and faith to take the first step. Though once I took it, I knew I had to hold on.”
And he did. For the next six years, Max made tens of thousands by reselling designer shoes. This gave him the strength to go for something else, and he started investing in new businesses. From a jewelry brand to branded phone cases, Max tried to dabble with new ideas, yet only one got him the result he was aiming for. While still in college, Max started his social media agency which has since grown to six figures. This experience taught him “not to despair too much after failure. Instead, look for opportunities harder. When I decided to open my social media agency despite experiencing setbacks in the last few ventures, I had done all my research, knew my plan of action, and altogether knew that it was time to grab the opportunity with all my heart.”
Max firmly believes that there are enough opportunities for all, especially now, thanks to the digital revolution. All it will take is some courage and faith.
