Hello!

Last week I had the good fortune of travelling to Delhi to be a part of YOSICON, the first independent Ophthalmic conference organised by Ophthalmologists under the age of 40 years - The Young Ophthalmological Society of India (YOSI). This conference is a win for the fraternity of Ophthalmology in general, because of the respect and camaraderie that, we as younger Ophthalmologists share with our seniors to be able to thrive independently while having them as an umbrella to look over us.

I joined YOSI three years ago, was elected to their Executive Board two years ago, and won the YOSI Appreciation Award for outstanding contribution to YOSI during this tenure, at YOSICON this year.

This award got me thinking about the opportunities that are presented to us and how we can make the most of them.

Even more so, is there any recipe for finding these opportunities?

Here are three ingredients for building opportunities:

Curiosity

Curiosity is the insatiable desire to know, to explore, and to seek understanding. It is the force that drives us to ask questions, to probe into the unknown, and to venture beyond our comfort zones. When I joined YOSI, not much about the organisation was available online. Word of mouth was the only way to understand how the organisation operated. It turned out that they were looking for members to be involved in their webinars etc. Since I was curious, they had their work cut out for them. Nurturing my curiosity, we can see opportunities that others might miss.

Embracing Uncertainty

It is natural to fear the unknown. But instead of treating uncertainty as a threat, viewing it as a chance for growth and discovery helps. Despite being a young society, almost every member of YOSI was still older than me. This is where pitching ideas, becomes akin to taking a shot in the dark. You never know how it will be received. However, I have grown to learn that it is these chances we take that bring us the highest return on our investment.

The Power of Networking

Opportunities often come from people - from the relationships and connections we build. Sometimes this may not even be professional networking; meaningful relationships around family and friends, mentors and peers bring in the biggest opportunities. It is important to state here that sharing what you bring to the table and how you can assist the next person is the easiest way to build your networking circle.

Conclusion?

I would be remiss if I did not mention my biggest hack to building opportunities. That is, to be a grassroots worker! Offering your services, even in the most menial tasks, shows that you are here for both the trials and tribulations in the journey. Once you inculcate this attitude, you will not only be surprised at the sheer number of things that you can do but also the number of things that you can learn.

Until next time!

Did you notice my unusually high activity on LinkedIn lately?

Read this: 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗼?

📔 Anujeet’s book journey

Currently, I am reading:

Ikigai - Hector Garcia (second read)

Azadi: Freedom. Fascism. Fiction - Arundhuti Roy

🧞‍♂️ Aggregate, the weekly quote

“Be water, my friend” - Bruce Lee

🎻 Harmony, the weekly song

Boston - Augustana