Not every door that presents itself to you is an opportunity, some are traps. This is why you need to evaluate opportunities before you jump into them. I used to hear people say that "when opportunities knock at your door, open the door." It is true that some doors can lead to blessings and good things of life. But you should also know that some doors are not leading to good places, so look well before you leap. The key to living a successful life and having peace of mind is to be able to distinguish between the door of opportunities and trap. Remember that everything that something glitters does not mean that it is gold.
You will be surprised to know that sometimes, what may appear like a golden opportunity might just be a distraction in the real sense. Something may offer a quick gain or temporary happiness, but in the long-term, it may not be as it appears. This is why you need to pause, think, and evaluate any step before taking it or before undertaking an action. That something is new is not an automatic guarantee that it will be good. So always evaluate any step you want to take - like in your career, your personal life, even in your relationship with people. The decisions you make should be born out of wisdom, not on just face value.
Some years back, there was a particular ponzi scheme that made the round of news in this part of the world. It was a scheme that, when you put in money, within the same month, they will pay you almost double of the same amount that you have put in as initial investment. The offer looked too good and looked like an opportunity to make 2x my initial capital in less than 1 month, which I can still compound over time. However, I decided to make my research instead of just jumping into the business. Some of my friends joined and were trying to drag me in. It was when I was doing my research that I got to find some unusual things about it, so I did not invest. It was not up to 2 weeks from that time, the company folded with people's money.
This also reminded me the story a friend told me. When he finished from university, he got two job offers. The first company's pay was higher and juicy, but they are known for a very poor staff welfare, and would take their whole time. The second company did not pay as much, but they provided a conducive environment necessary for growth. He was tempted to go for the first offer because of the pay, but he told himself that money is not everything. He chose the second one instead. Within a few years of being at the second job, he grew his skills and confidence so much that he started his own company. If he had gone for the first company, he may have still remained at a spot.
You have to understand that every step you take will have its own effects. Every decision you take is like opening a door. Any door will lead somewhere - either forward or backwards. So you have to know where it leads before you even enter. There are some principles that I have learnt over time, which has helped me so much, and I will share them. the first one is; before you take a decision, pause to think. This is because, haste can be an enemy sometimes. A lot of things can be exposed by the waiting. The second one is; ask questions when in doubt, probe deeper, listen to your intuition and your instincts, then check for facts. The third one is to proceed wisely. If something is not right with you, then there may not be any point proceeding with it.
It is worthy to note that by saying "no" to the wrong opportunity, you are directly saying a strong "yes" to the right opportunity. Some opportunities may look good on the outside and temporarily, but on the long run, they may not be good. You have to know that true success does not come by collecting every chance that comes your way, but by making the right choice of the right chances. Also know that a door may not be bad totally, but may not be too good for you. That is, something may work for someone else but may not work for another person. This is why you have a duty to determine what works for you and what does not.
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Thanks friend @riyat