To succeed, seize opportunities and watch them multiply.

In 1972, George McGovern was running for President against Richard Nixon. At the Democratic convention, McGovern learned that his running mate Tom Eagleton had been treated for depression. McGovern dumped him.

What happened to all the seemingly worthless McGovern-Eagleton bumper stickers, signs, and buttons that celebrated the campaign?

According to Insight from the World's Greatest Entrepreneur (1998), the story goes that a bright 16-year-old congressional page bought all the campaign paraphernalia for five cents each. Later, the young entrepreneur resold the items as valuable memorabilia for up to $25 apiece.

The young visionary who seized the opportunity? Bill Gates.

Every day, try to keep the spin positive and look for opportunities amid problems. "I always tried to turn every disaster into an opportunity," explained John D. Rockefeller, another self-made millionaire.

And if the opportunity doesn't seem that big, that's okay. As the great Greek orator Demosthenes said: "Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises."

Seize opportunities and watch them multiply.