In life, we often find ourselves waiting—for opportunities, for recognition, for that one moment when everything will fall into place. But what we don’t always realize is that opportunity rarely knocks twice , and when it does, it doesn’t wait around forever. Let me share a moment from my own journey that taught me this the hard way. The High of Recognition It was 2014. I was 30 years old and had the rare chance to work directly with one of the most senior bureaucrats in the state government. We were organizing a premier, high-profile event. It demanded precision, coordination, long hours—and a whole lot of ownership. I was fully immersed—managing teams, anticipating challenges, and supporting my boss every step of the way. The event was a success. And once it wrapped up, I felt a strong sense of pride, not just for myself but for the team. What happened next felt like validation. Two mid-level officers who had seen me in action came up to me. They said: “We need young profess...