🧂The trait that can change the world: opportunistic mindset

Hey there, happy Saturday! Today, I want to share how small actions and shifts in perspective can lead to meaningful growth and impact.

Back in 2015, I was a young design professor at a university in the southern U.S.

I loved teaching, but I felt there was a gap in my knowledge—something only hands-on industry experience could fill.

Determined to bridge that gap, I reached out to my network and was introduced to the founder of a design agency in the Midwest.

Eager to learn, I took a leap of faith and proposed working with his agency for three months during my summer break.

I wasn’t a student anymore, so we called it a fellowship.

Truthfully, I was nervous. I worried that my lack of industry experience might create unnecessary challenges for their team.

But the founder didn’t see it that way.

Instead of focusing on potential difficulties, he saw an opportunity.

Together, we established what became an official fellowship program for his agency—a program that went on to attract emerging design talent year after year.

They didn’t just welcome me for the summer; they went above and beyond, offering free housing, a stipend, and creating unique learning experiences designed to help me grow.

What began as a single, uncertain inquiry transformed into a program that thrived for years, until the founder eventually sold his agency.

The Opportunistic Mindset: How Great Founders Think

That experience taught me a profound lesson: great founders don’t see challenges or inquiries as problems. They see them as opportunities to create impact.

Over the years, I’ve seen this mindset repeatedly in successful entrepreneurs who turn obstacles into breakthroughs.

Here’s what we can learn from their approach:

Flip the script: 

Instead of dwelling on the inconvenience or risk of a challenge, ask, "How can I turn this into value?" For example, Airbnb was born when its founders couldn’t afford rent. Instead of giving up, they rented out their apartment as a short-term rental and launched a billion-dollar industry.

Test small, think big: 

A small initiative can often grow into something far larger, like the fellowship program at the design agency. Similarly, Mailchimp began as a side project to help small businesses with email marketing. Today, it’s a household name.

Create lasting impact: 

Great founders think long-term. What they build often leaves a legacy, impacting not just themselves but everyone they touch. Oprah Winfrey turned her personal challenges into platforms that empower millions worldwide.

Founders who succeed don’t just solve problems—they see every challenge as an invitation to innovate and improve lives.

What started as my personal desire for industry experience turned into a program that has empowered countless design fellows.

That transformation wouldn’t have been possible without the opportunistic mindset of the agency founder.

It’s a reminder that whether you’re a founder, a designer, or someone navigating life, the greatest opportunities often come disguised as challenges.

So, the next time you face a hurdle, don’t focus on what could go wrong.

Instead, ask yourself, “What opportunity is hidden here?” You just might create something remarkable.

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