I had lunch this week with a great guy who has a career that continues to get better with time. As we talked about the opportunities he's been given (awarded is more apt), I heard him mention what others with similar career paths incur - good timing. Timing is like luck, you put yourself in the right position and it finds you. So, how do you put yourself in the right position?

You put yourself in the right position by having a keen awareness of the moment. This can mean volunteering to take on a new project outside the main scope of your work. Or, becoming a part of an internal committee that ties you into people within other departments. Exposure to various parts of your organization can create unique opportunities and even change the perception others have of you which positions you for that timely request that expands your scope of responsibility - and comes with a promotion.

Perhaps there's a networking organization you've been hesitating to join because it's just never been something you thought you'd do. Change your thinking and join. Do something different and you may have just put yourself in the right position to meet someone who will change your life for the better. Meet with an executive recruiter to have a conversation (you had to see that coming). Opportunities don't float around all by themselves. They're always attached to people. If you feel like you have no time, choose something in your life to stop doing. Elimination can lead to creation.