When You See A Chance,Take It

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When You See a Chance, Take it.  Steve Winwood.  

You see, I knew that one.  I have recently joined a trivia league.  We have a great team,  There is only one problem.  We suck at music.  Music is 40 points out of 100.  We would be leading the league if not for music.  We are trying to get better. 

Yesterday, I saw a chance and I took it.  I met a young man working at my favorite coffee shop.  In the few minutes that it takes to order a latte and pay for it, I found him very interesting.  I told him that I found him interesting and decided to take a chance to see if he would talk to me for a blog entry.  He was willing and let me "Take a Chance on Me".  ABBA.  Sorry, I am really trying to get better at music trivia.  

This young man was so interesting because he was all about seeing a chance and taking it.  He had a rough start in life but when he had an opportunity in his late teens to turn things around, he took it.  In effect, he was taking a chance but investing in himself.  It inspired others to take a chance on him.  He took him a while to get his grounding and he found work at a restaurant.  He got a girlfiend and his girlfriend was working at the current coffee shop.  They were looking for part-time help, and he took a chance at a second job.  He was working full-time and the restaurant and part-time at the coffee shop and then gradually over time, that reversed itself.  

He found our transit system lacking when it came to efficiency and he was spending too much time commuting.  He bought a car.  A small problem relating to the car but more to do with bureaucracy caused him to have small debt.  He was uncomfortable with this debt.  While working at a coffee shop and being out-going and not afraid of talking to people, he found out about another job working in a factory.  He started last week. They like him and he likes the job.  He now starts his day at 5:30 am and he doesn't finish his second job until 9:30 pm.  He is not minding the long hours because he will have his debt paid off soon.  

He also doesn't mind adversity. He has the philosophy that wasn't doesn't kill you makes you stronger.  He wants to be stronger, so bring adversity on.  He has gotten through lots of it and is not afraid.  

Charming.  Hard-working.  Progressive.  Industrious.  If this is the youth of Winnipeg, we are in great hands.  We need to take more chances talking to our youth, we might have ourselves more inspired.  

I asked him if he was following the civic election.  Well, no, I don't have time for those things, but I want to buy a house in the next 5 years, so I am very interested in impact fees and property taxes.  Mayor and City Councilor candidates are having forums, debates, town halls, etc, where groups of people are listening to them.  Maybe more candidates need to be going to coffee shops and taking chances and talking to people.  Many people.  Find out what the city can do to help others see chances and remove barriers so that they can take them.  Seems like common sense to me.  

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