The Orange Philosophy
Maximizing Life's Opportunities
“Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Orange Philosophy: Maximizing Life's Opportunities
Chasing Influence: Transformational Coaching to Build Champions for Life
Life is full of opportunities, but whether we maximize them or let them slip through our fingers is up to us. Like an orange, the more we squeeze, the more juice we get. The problem? Many people settle for a few drops when they could have had a full glass.
Too often, we approach life as spectators—acknowledging opportunities but not truly seizing them. Whether in leadership, sports, business, or personal growth, the ones who succeed are those who participate and wring every last drop out of their chances.
We see this in sports. One athlete “goes through the motions” while practicing—attending, but never really pushing. At the same time, another athlete leans in with full effort, finding ways to improve in every drill. Both have the same practice time, the same coaches, and the same resources. But by the end of the season, one has transformed, and the other has stagnated.
The difference? One squeezed the orange, while the other left juice on the table.
This princple applies to all of us! If we know it’s true in an area of perfromance, such as music or sports, what would be different about any of the skills we hone and wield? The best don't merely acknowledge opportunities—they actively seek them out, embrace challenges, and push themselves and their teams to extract the most value from every situation.
So, how can we set this habit? Here are three ways to consider to make the most of your opportunities:
1. Go All In, Every Time
Whether it's a meeting, a workout, or a conversation, be fully present. Half-hearted effort produces half-hearted results. The distinction between good and great isn't talent but the willingness to push beyond the point where others stop squeezing.
2. Turn Obstacles into Motivation
Challenges aren't roadblocks; they're just tougher oranges to squeeze. The more pressure you apply, the more you grow. By leaning into what makes you exceptional rather than just competent, you'll get juice others can't.
3. Keep Your Glass Half-Full—Then Fill It to the Top
A positive mindset sees opportunity where others see difficulty. Approach life like you're thirsty—hungry for every ounce of growth. When you bring your complete, authentic self to each moment, you'll find juice you didn't know existed.
Maybe most importantly, approach opportunities with thirst—an insatiable desire to extract every possible drop of value. In life and leadership, the difference between ordinary and extraordinary can be that little “extra” squeeze.
“Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”
- Thomas Edison
Connecting this quote to the story. Many people stop pushing just before reaching success, similar to those who fail to fully squeeze the orange and leave valuable opportunities untapped.
Chasing Influence tip: Effort is a choice. Don’t just show up—show up with purpose.
If you enjoyed this story, a series of three Chasing Influence workbooks is available. Stories are accompanied by discussion questions and answers. Each workbook contains 33 lessons to use with any team.
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©Troy Urdahl, 2025