Self-leadership is about understanding who we are, what drives us, and harnessing our strengths and aspirations to maximise the impact of everything we do.

The Art of Opportunity is a practical framework I developed to help nurture self-leadership skills. This essentially involves cultivating a questioning mindset to allow us to turn visions into actions.

This approach consists of five key invitations to guide you on your journey. The key word is “guide”. Each person is unique so change it in any way that serves you.

The 5 Invitations Underpinning the Art of Opportunity

1) Think Big and tap into your creative potential to identify fresh possibility.

  • What might your world look like in 25 years? 5 years? 1 year?
  • Who do you see yourself becoming?
  • Let’s play: Imagine you can magically make the vision a reality right now, what does it look like? What feelings and emotions are you experiencing?

Stepping further back, how might your vision contribute not only to your work and business, family and friends but also to your community and beyond?

2) Craft a Living Vision that grows with you, always open to change and new opportunities. Having a flexible and adaptable vision is essential to continuously challenging yourself as your world grows bigger and staying mindful of the fact that we are always part of something bigger. This ongoing iterative process also enables you to develop strategies to bring parts of your vision to life in the present.

3) Act with Intent by establishing daily practices that prioritise the essential and leverage your strengths. Focusing on what truly matters helps you stay aligned with your vision and values, even amidst distractions and competing demands. Prioritising activities conserves energy and attention, whilst also enhancing decision-making. By intentionally designing your days, you maximise purpose and fulfilment, transforming the journey itself into a series of meaningful daily destinations. Remember, today is the only day we ever truly live.

4) Remain Curious and learn to ask bigger questions and experiment with new ideas to unlock new perspectives and remove barriers that stand in your way. Curiosity is in truth what defines us. Without questions, who are we? This is where ongoing coaching support can be truly transformational in uncovering hidden horizons and new ways of engaging with the world.

5) Build Communities around you that share your values and help keep you energised and motivated. I know from personal experience that such external support can be critical in truly embedding the learning and continually nudging us to stay on the path to mastery. I have a Coaching Community with whom I meet every second Monday and their support and energy have been a critical part of my world over the past number of years. The truth is that we only truly know who we are in the company of others. Communities thus serve as a mirror and as a lens into who we might become.


Short Case Study

Meet John: A business owner launching a new venture, stretched thin and seeking balance.

When we started working together, John had just launched his new business and was struggling to find balance across his life. So, we started dreaming big and built a vision for his business and life outside of work. I challenged John to ask bigger questions about purpose, productivity and profitability.

As a result, John discovered that his business was simply a tool serving a larger purpose. By intentionally focusing on activities that had the biggest impact, he was able to dedicate more time to his family and personal pursuits while still keeping his business on track. We continue to work to ensure John doesn’t lose sight of the bigger picture and stays intentional and strategic in his decision-making. Ultimately, it is not just about doing more but rather more of what matters and less of what doesn’t.