By Michael Chatman,YOUNG MONEY columnist
11 March 2004

It happened during the summer break of my junior year in college. It was 15 minutes before I was scheduled to speak to 300 high school seniors, when I realized that my notes were still in my hotel room on the eighth floor.

I sprinted to the elevator and leaped through the doors like a movie stunt man just as they closed. As I whirled to face the front, I frantically pressed the button for the eighth floor. Then I crouched, panting like a predatory cat, poised to spring through the doors the second they opened.

The elevator finally reached my floor and stopped. But the door didn’t open. There was a sound like the door had opened. There was that little convulsive shake an elevator makes when the door opens. But the door didn’t open.

My imagination went wild. What if I was trapped in here for weeks? Maybe archaeologists would pry the door open sometime in the future, only to find my skeleton slumped in a corner. In a panic, I pressed the"Open Door" button. Each time I pressed, the elevator would make a sound and shake as if the door were opening. But the door didn’t open.

The profanity that had tried to escape my lips the day I stumped my toe against the wall made it all the way out this time. I kicked the door. I wasn’t trying to be destructive. I just figured a good kick might jar the door loose.

In the process of abusing the door, I allowed my finger to slip from the"Open Door" button and the elevator began to climb higher again. Now, I was frantic. The elevator crawled to the highest floor and stopped. Once again, it offered all the sound effects and tremors that accompany an opening door, and once again the door remained shut.

The clock was ticking - five minutes were left to avoid public humiliation before the best and brightest future leaders of tomorrow. I was ruined! I banged the door, jabbed at the elevator button, and started yelling,"Someone contact security! Call the police! The elevator door is stuck!"

From behind me, a timid voice squeaked,"No, it ain’t." I felt a cold chill. The elevator had been empty when I entered it. Was this thing haunted? Every hair on my body stood at attention.

With bulging eyes, I spun around, prepared to defend myself against some misty elevator phantom - only to face five wide-eyed elementary school kids waiting to get on.

This was one of those elevators with doors in both the front and the back. The kids just stood there frozen in place. They seemed reluctant to share a small, closed-in space with me.

Fortunately, the meeting had run long, so I arrived at the room in plenty of time for my speech. I recounted my ordeal as an illustration of how often we allow daily frustrations to affect our attitude.

I’ve recalled the incident many times. Many times I’ve stood kicking at one door, screaming because it wouldn’t open. I often fail to see open doors of opportunity all around me - doors leading to thrilling new destinations - because I want everything now.

The opportunity for me to get to my meeting was there all along, but I had my back turned. I was beating down the wrong door. How often are we blinded to the opportunities available to us to improve our financial future because of tunnel vision?

Take the time to save and invest a small amount of money each month, write out a budget and gain control of your finances. This summer, during your school break - look around for new doorways. It’s never too late to open your eyes and start building your future today.

Michael Chatman has spoken to more than two million young adults from coast to coast. As a teen and young adult financial motivator, he inspires his audiences to develop their personal greatness and take responsibility for their financial future. To contact Michael, visit MichaelChatman.com

Copyright © 2003. YOUNG MONEY®