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Tom Morris

Great Ideas. With Power. And Fun.
Retreats
Keynote Talks and Advising
About Tom
Popular Talk Topics
Client Testimonials
Books
Novels
Blog
Contact
ScrapBook
Short Videos
The 7 Cs of Success
The Four Foundations
Plato's Lemonade Stand
The Gift of Uncertainty
The Power of Partnership
The opportunistic cat himself, Mr. Odes. Check out the heart on his nose.

The opportunistic cat himself, Mr. Odes. Check out the heart on his nose.

An Opportunistic Cat

I know one opportunistic cat. His name is Odie. Whenever he sees a new open box or drawer, or a platter left out in the kitchen, he'll find a way to get into it or onto it. Sometimes, it's amazing what he can do. We'll see where he's perched himself, and look around for the means he must have used and find ourselves saying "How did he do that?" But, do it, he does.

Odie is an ongoing lesson to me about the opportunistic mentality. He already has certain CATegories in mind (sorry) - a box, drawer, bucket, laundry basket, or basket of any kind, or a large bowl or anything that can contain him for a momentary repose. And whenever one of these things appears, his focus on getting to it and into it, or onto it, is so intense and unwavering that he inevitably finds a way. He always finds a way, even where there doesn't seem to be one.

I was reorganizing three sock drawers the other day, and as soon as I had cleaned one out and turned around, I discovered to my great surprise that he had managed to find a way that I could not at all retrace, into the open drawer. That's the power of a clear goal and a focused concentration on what it may take to attain the goal. That's the opportunistic mindset at work.

What's your goal now? How opportunistic are you being about it. The opportunistic mindset is often a CATalist to success. Yeah, I couldn't resist it, either.

 

Newer:Goodbye to a Great Old DogOlder:Talent and Character
PostedOctober 26, 2014
AuthorTom Morris
CategoriesAdvice, Attitude, Life, Performance, Wisdom
Tagsopportunity, mindset, cats, opportunism, focus, concentration, action, philosophy, wisdom, life, TomVMorris, Tom Morris

Some things that may be of interest. Click the images below for more!

First up: Tom’s new Silver Anniversary Edition of his hugely popular book on The 7 Cs of Success!

The New Breakthrough Guide to Stoicism for our time.

Tom's new book, out now!
Finally! Volume 7 of the new series of philosophical fiction!

Finally! Volume 7 of the new series of philosophical fiction!

Plato comes alive in a new way!

Plato comes alive in a new way!

On stage in front of a room full of leaders and high achievers from across the globe.

On stage in front of a room full of leaders and high achievers from across the globe.

My Favorite Recent Photo: A young lady named Jubilee gets off to a head start in life by diving into some philosophy!

My Favorite Recent Photo: A young lady named Jubilee gets off to a head start in life by diving into some philosophy!

Great new Elizabeth Gilbert book on creative living and the creative experience.

Great new Elizabeth Gilbert book on creative living and the creative experience.

Two minutes on a perspective that can change a business or a life.

So many people have asked to see one of my old Winnie the Pooh TV commercials and I just found one! Here it is:

Long ago and far away, on a Hollywood sound stage, I appeared in two network ads for the wise Pooh, to promote his adventures on Disney Home Videos. For two years, I was The National Spokesman for that most philosophical bear. This is one of the ads. I had a bad case of the flu but I hope you can't tell. A-Choo!

One of my newest talk topics is "Plato's Lemonade Stand: Stirring Change into Something Great." Based on the old adage, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade," this talk is about how to do exactly that. Inquire for my availability through the c…

One of my newest talk topics is "Plato's Lemonade Stand: Stirring Change into Something Great." Based on the old adage, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade," this talk is about how to do exactly that. Inquire for my availability through the contact page above! Let's stir something up!

Above is a short video on finding fulfillment in anything you do, that was taped a few years ago. I hope you enjoy it!