Is opportunist a dirty word?
As with most things, it depends. The classical definition of an opportunist is one who adheres to the practice of adapting actions and decisions to expediency or effectiveness without regards to principles or consequences.
This definition, unfortunately, buries a gem of business commonsense beneath a mound of moralism.
A more current and less flattering portrayal of an opportunist is that of a person flitting from one business opportunity to another, staying with each one only long enough to become dissatisfied with the lack of financial gain.
In the first sense, opportunists exploit current trends or conditions in the marketplace. Sales of so-called green products take advantage of consumers’ environmental sensitivity. Ticket-scalpers exploit the expediency of sold-out events to profit from their possession of a desired commodity. The principles and consequences of these activities may offend some, but the capitalistic reasoning behind each is sound.
On the other hand, opportunists of the second degree churn the money-making marketplace, whipping rapidly through islands of unrelated business opportunities, depositing fortunes like debris on hurricane-swept beaches. Whether or not the business opportunity is legitimate, these opportunists rarely make any money. Their very disenchantment is the fuel which propels them toward the next enticement.
To distinguish the two groups, I’ll refer to the first as “robber barons” and the second as “opp-hoppers”. This is not meant to disparage either group, though I deliberately chose my terms provocatively. I think it is also important to disclose that I write this solely from the perspective of a reformed opp-hopper.
Having studied the business marketplace extensively, I find it ironic that the intersection of these two classes of opportunists creates a perfect storm of cash: flowing from one group to the other. There seems to be no end of business opportunities for the robber barons to exploit, and there is an ever-green supply of opp-hoppers to sample the offerings.
Opp-hoppers don’t want an ordinary existence. We are drawn to many of the perceived trappings of so-called successful people: fine cars, beautiful homes, luxurious living and a fistful of cash. There are intangibles as well, such as being stress-free, debt-free and financially independent. We compare our current situation with our desires and are intensely dissatisfied. This uncomfortable state of affairs makes us prime candidates for exploitation.
Robber barons understand the principles of wealth accumulation. They know that it is not necessary to please every customer. They also know that they can operate with impunity as long as they don’t overtly violate the laws of the jurisdiction from which they operate. (Even if they do, many of those laws are tough to enforce.)
Finally, robber barons understand their customers. This is not the same as caring about them, although caring or pretending to do so certainly increases the lifetime value of each customer.
One thing that robber barons understand about opp-hoppers is that many want to become robber barons. This one facet, this single conceptual gust of entrepreneurial wind, has created an awesome cataclysm in the marketplace. The evanescent germ of this idea began with the direct selling of “How-to” brochures. When opp-hoppers responded to “How-to” advertisements in business opportunity classifieds, they typically received a blueprint for creating advertising and repeating the process on their own.
Eventually, robber barons became more sophisticated. The “How-to” evolved into a complete kit, with which the opp-hopper could sell the robber baron’s system to other opp-hoppers. Depending on the business model, the opp-hopper became part of either a franchise system, multi-level marketing scheme or a direct sales affiliate program.
Concurrently, a coaching trend emerged. Robber barons supplemented their “How-to” kits with one-on-one training, seminars and boot-camps. This trend has proved to be so lucrative that the most successful robber barons developed generalized courses that applied to different niches in the business opportunity marketplace. Now, instead of mastering one specific product or service, opp-hoppers could learn the secrets of affiliate marketing and successfully promote hundreds of niche products. Maybe we could join the elite group of eBay drop-shippers, or importer/exporters. How about the wonderful world of info-product creation, using secret sources of public domain materials?
The pinnacle of this exploitation is the system for promoting business opportunities. If robber barons can sell to the opp-hoppers the idea of building a publishing empire, the circle will be complete and the maelstrom will continue, unabated.
In fact, I subscribe to not one, but two of these ultimate sources of business opportunities. I love them! Not only do they keep me abreast of the trends, they also are the proof of this entire thesis.
Without prejudice and, with no remuneration, I invite you to study the future of the Internet:
StrategicProfits.com
I don’t agree with everything Rich Schefren says, but his Internet Business Manifesto
was the mirror into my opp-hopper’s soul. The businesses that he promotes speak to my inner robber baron.
EarlyToRise.com
Early to Rise is one of Rich Schefren’s “promotions”. Agora Publishing, the producers of Early to Rise, invited Schefren to speak at their fall Internet Conference in 2006. Before he even agreed to participate, Schefren was so impressed that he profiled them. Click here to read the whole story.
