--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I have to choose between opportunity…" description: "\"“If I have to choose between opportunity and preparation, I’d choose preparation, without it opportunity is useless.”\" — Saji Ijiyemi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/saji-ijiyemi-20400_opportunity_if-i-have-to-choose-between-opportunity_1241780.jpg" --- # If I have to choose between opportunity and preparation… ![“If I have to choose between opportunity and preparation, I’d choose preparation, without it opportunity is useless.” quote by Saji Ijiyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/saji-ijiyemi-20400_opportunity_if-i-have-to-choose-between-opportunity_1241780.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/saji-ijiyemi-20400_opportunity_if-i-have-to-choose-between-opportunity_1241780.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/saji-ijiyemi-20400_opportunity_if-i-have-to-choose-between-opportunity_1241780.jpg) > ““If I have to choose between opportunity and preparation, I’d choose preparation, without it opportunity is useless.”” [Saji Ijiyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saji-ijiyemi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates that preparation is the foundation that makes opportunities valuable and actionable. **In simple terms:** Preparation makes opportunities useful. Key Takeaway Invest in preparation before seeking chances. Themes preparation opportunity strategy Mood determined pragmatic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - job interview - business launch - exam study - investment Key Concepts risk management skill development Questions to Reflect On - What preparation can you improve now? - How do you balance preparation with action? A Different Perspective Over‑preparation can cause missed chances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Preparation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preparation/) ## Related quotes > [I think all of the decisions I make about my life and writing are the preparation - what I choose to write about and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quiara-alegria-hudes/i-think-all-of-the-decisions-i-make-about-my-life-and-writing-are-the/) [Quiara Alegria Hudes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quiara-alegria-hudes/) > [Basketball is just something else to do, another facet of life. 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If it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nonito-donaire/for-punches-i-never-really-choose-i-take-whatever-opportunity-is/) [Nonito Donaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nonito-donaire/) > [“You can see opposition and imposition or you can see an opportunity. As a part of the Slytherin House, I choose to see opportunity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-megan-varnadore/you-can-see-opposition-and-imposition-or-you-can-see-an-opportunity/) [Jennifer Megan Varnadore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-megan-varnadore/) > [I've learned the truth in these sayings: 'Luck is when opportunity meets preparation' and 'The right project will find you'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-oller/i-ve-learned-the-truth-in-these-sayings-luck-is-when-opportunity/) [Tony Oller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-oller/) > [If it didn't happen, it wasn't the right timing. 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Everyone is well prepared in the big things, but only the winners perfect the little things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/little-things-make-the-difference-everyone-is-well-prepared-in-the/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [Erase from your mind that your preparation must be perfect. Hard work + dedication = a shot at your dreams. Keep believing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-goucher/erase-from-your-mind-that-your-preparation-must-be-perfect-hard-work/) [Kara Goucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-goucher/) ## More by Saji Ijiyemi > [“Information is power. Information empowers. Information is powerless if not applied.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saji-ijiyemi/information-is-power-information-empowers-information-is-powerless-if/) [Saji Ijiyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saji-ijiyemi/) > [“Life is going to throw you some blocks. You will decide if they are going to be your stumbling blocks or your building blocks”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saji-ijiyemi/life-is-going-to-throw-you-some-blocks-you-will-decide-if-they-are/) [Saji Ijiyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saji-ijiyemi/) > [“There is an oak tree is inside the acorn seed, but the acorn seed will never become an oak tree unless it is willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saji-ijiyemi/there-is-an-oak-tree-is-inside-the-acorn-seed-but-the-acorn-seed-will/) [Saji Ijiyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saji-ijiyemi/) > [“Great leadership is not about giving orders, it's about taking others”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saji-ijiyemi/great-leadership-is-not-about-giving-orders-it-s-about-taking-others/) [Saji Ijiyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saji-ijiyemi/) > [“You are either supporting the vision or supporting division”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saji-ijiyemi/you-are-either-supporting-the-vision-or-supporting-division/) [Saji Ijiyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saji-ijiyemi/) > [“Not everyone in school is learning. Not everyone learning is in school”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saji-ijiyemi/not-everyone-in-school-is-learning-not-everyone-learning-is-in-school/) [Saji Ijiyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saji-ijiyemi/) > [“I am not worried about dying, what I am worried about is not living”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saji-ijiyemi/i-am-not-worried-about-dying-what-i-am-worried-about-is-not-living/) [Saji Ijiyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saji-ijiyemi/) > [“Your ability will not help if you do not give your availability.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saji-ijiyemi/your-ability-will-not-help-if-you-do-not-give-your-availability/) [Saji Ijiyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saji-ijiyemi/) > [“Your organization needs you to be the lead, not the lid. 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If you want to make this year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saji-ijiyemi/your-minute-is-your-hour-is-your-day-is-your-week-is-your-month-is/) [Saji Ijiyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saji-ijiyemi/) [Explore all 31 Saji Ijiyemi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saji-ijiyemi/) ## More Opportunity quotes > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [So many times in television, you get cancelled arbitrarily as a result of your ratings in the off season, and you don't have an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-wyle/so-many-times-in-television-you-get-cancelled-arbitrarily-as-a-result/) [Noah Wyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-wyle/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [On stage, you can bring all those strong emotions that you don't have the opportunity to live. You don't want to die for love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvie-guillem/on-stage-you-can-bring-all-those-strong-emotions-that-you-don-t-have/) [Sylvie Guillem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvie-guillem/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [Opportunities change, strategies change, but people and psychology do not change. If trend-following systems don’t work well, something else will. There’s always money being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-blake/opportunities-change-strategies-change-but-people-and-psychology-do/) [Gil Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-blake/) > [People in great groups have blinders on. Their work is all they see. They value failures as learning opportunities. They are optimistic, not realistic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/people-in-great-groups-have-blinders-on-their-work-is-all-they-see/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [I was contacted by Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, MP, through the Pune Film Institute and offered the post in the NFDC. I accepted it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suresh-gopi/i-was-contacted-by-rajyavardhan-singh-rathore-mp-through-the-pune/) [Suresh Gopi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suresh-gopi/) > [I was really excited to have the opportunity to make Fiddler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/i-was-really-excited-to-have-the-opportunity-to-make-fiddler/) [Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/) > [I feel excited about getting older as an actress, too. I think there are some amazing opportunities around the corner and I don't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sutton-foster/i-feel-excited-about-getting-older-as-an-actress-too-i-think-there/) [Sutton Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sutton-foster/) > [If someone has the opportunity to become a model, I would say, 'Do it.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-russell/if-someone-has-the-opportunity-to-become-a-model-i-would-say-do-it/) [Cameron Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-russell/) > [I struggled and I did theater for 10 years, for 15 years, I tried to get little parts here and there in TV shows.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-tupper/i-struggled-and-i-did-theater-for-10-years-for-15-years-i-tried-to/) [James Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-tupper/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [There's a richness that reading gives you, an opportunity to probe more than any other medium I know of. Reading is about not being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/there-s-a-richness-that-reading-gives-you-an-opportunity-to-probe/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) [Browse all 14,820 Opportunity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If I have to choose between opportunity and preparation, I’d choose preparation, without it opportunity is useless.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Saji Ijiyemi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saji-ijiyemi/if-i-have-to-choose-between-opportunity-and-preparation-i-d-choose/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Opportunity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saji-ijiyemi/if-i-have-to-choose-between-opportunity-and-preparation-i-d-choose/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/saji-ijiyemi-20400_opportunity_if-i-have-to-choose-between-opportunity_1241780.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/saji-ijiyemi-20400_opportunity_if-i-have-to-choose-between-opportunity_1241780.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/saji-ijiyemi-20400_opportunity_if-i-have-to-choose-between-opportunity_1241780.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I have to choose between opportunity and preparation, I’d choose preparation, without it opportunity is…” — Saji Ijiyemi", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Saji Ijiyemi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saji-ijiyemi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“If I have to choose between...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saji-ijiyemi/if-i-have-to-choose-between-opportunity-and-preparation-i-d-choose/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saji-ijiyemi/if-i-have-to-choose-between-opportunity-and-preparation-i-d-choose/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```