If I had a nickel …

How do you recognize opportunity?

When founders (of companies) tell their stories, they often mention either a single event in time when they realized there was a lack in a market. Or they keep hearing or noticing something that no one else seems to notice and they capitalize on that.

Have you ever noticed that when people use the phrase “If I had a nickel … “, and then go on to explain that they’d be rich because they hear that so often, that they never actually get that nickel?

They’re recognizing a trend but they’re not taking action. Sure, maybe there is no action to take, but these people often say the same thing about the same nickel so there’s got to be something to it.

If I had a nickel … for every time someone said, “If I had a nickel … “

What do you notice all the time that you wished you had a nickel for? How could you turn that around to actually get that nickel? Are you the only one who notices it? Is it something that’s particular to you? Rather than saying it, could you charge a nickel? Or a dollar? Or more?

Think about it next time you or someone else says, “If I had a nickel … “