The real winner in the presidential election wasn’t Barack Obama.

The big winner was Joe the Plumber. 

Which proves that even in an economic downturn – or worse, the dreaded “r” word, recession, there is opportunity.

Only a few short weeks ago, Joe Wurzelbacher of Ohio was, well, just your “average Joe”. The only people that knew him were his family, friends and co-workers.

Then one day, as Joe was tossing the football with his son in the front yard of his house, presidential candidate, Barack Obama, walked up the street and got into a conversation with Joe.

The rest is political history.

Joe asked Barack Obama a question.  Soon the videotape was seen around the country which quickly ignited one of the centerpieces of debate in the latter days of the presidential campaign.

And that’s really where the story starts.

The story is not only about how this chance meeting affected the presidential race or reflected the opinions of a large segment of the American people; but rather how it changed Joe’s life forever.

Fate and destiny.

Suddenly Joe is a media darling.  People want him to run for Congress.

Joe has even hired a public relations firm to represent him regarding all the offers he is receiving.

Joe has the opportunity to be a very successful person all because he was in the right place at the right time to just ask one question which changed everything in his life.

Now Joe is everywhere.  He is taking advantage, as he should, of the opportunity.

There are always opportunities to take advantage of. 

As business people, all we have to do is see those opportunities. 

For example, a customer may make a statement which leads to uncovering better ways to service and sell this customer which, in turn, furthers your relationship with the customer and makes you more valuable to them…  Or your business competition may falter by reducing sales and marketing staff or by eliminating a key sales person that will fit right into your organization…  There may be inventory that can be purchased at a reduced price because your supplier needs cash and needs to unload product…  Or there may be a business competitor to buy because they don’t know how to succeed in this business downturn. 

There will certainly be people who lose during this economic downturn.  But it doesn’t need to be so – or to include you. 

Pay attention to the opportunities.  Seize them.  And prosper.