A World of Opportunity — Your Checklist for a Fulfilling Year

At the end of each year, I revisit something I created more than two decades ago: my “World of Opportunity Checklist.”

It isn’t a list of resolutions.
It’s a personal compass — a set of principles for being my best self, both in business and in life.

Every year, I read through it, refine it, and recommit to it. It’s how I stay grounded and intentional in a world that’s constantly moving faster.

This year, my focus is on two simple goals: writing and publishing two books, and improving my strength and fitness. But the deeper mission is the same — to keep growing, learning, and living with purpose.

Here’s my Opportunity Checklist — and I hope it inspires you to create your own version.

The Opportunity Checklist

• Accept full responsibility for my life and my fate.
• Make the most out of every day. (Each day is a gift.)
• Test and strengthen my willpower.
• Improve my mind.
• Volunteer for a cause.
• Improve my health, strength, and muscle tone.
• Create my destiny.
• Travel near and far — see cultures through fresh eyes.
• Save and invest for the right opportunity.
• Read more of the classics and the ideas of brilliant thinkers.
• Write — my thoughts, ideas, and experiences.
• Focus on the positives in my life and in my world.
• Touch someone’s life in a meaningful way.
• Be forgiven. Forgive.
• Think creatively.
• Replace a bad habit with a good one.
• See the world’s negatives as opportunities for change.
• Step away from routine to seek inspiration.
• Love — and be worthy of love.
• Learn something new.
• Spend more time with friends and give unconditional support.
• Make a positive and meaningful difference in others’ lives.
• Become and remain my best self.
• Be opportunity-minded — don’t dwell on problems, focus on solutions.
• Be an invaluable coach to my clients.
• Act decisively.
• Say thank you.

Five Principles of Opportunity

If you look closely, every opportunity in life rests on five simple truths:

1. Open doors — one door opens others.
2. Preparation + opportunity = success.
3. Problems are the fertile soil from which opportunities emerge.
4. Opportunities are everywhere.
5. The greatest opportunities are within us.

Final Thought

We often talk about growth in terms of strategy, systems, or profit. But growth is also deeply personal.

As leaders, entrepreneurs, and human beings, our job is to keep learning — to keep opening doors, for ourselves and others.

So here’s my challenge to you:

• Which of these principles will you focus on this year to create your own “world of opportunity”?

Want to help your team unlock their potential and build a culture of growth?

Contact me at tedb@strategyandexecution.com.au to schedule a free 30-minute discovery meeting.

TED BONEL, SCALING UP PRACTITIONER – STRATEGY & EXECUTION BUSINESS ADVISORS

Are you looking to scale your business and execute strategy with clarity and impact? I help CEOs and founders turn big ideas into real-world results, guiding small to mid-market companies through tailored strategic insights that drive growth.

My expertise lies in simplifying complexity – bridging high-level strategic frameworks with the practical realities of running a business. Unlike many consultants who focus solely on theory or execution, I specialise in both—translating strategy into actionable, transformative steps that deliver lasting results.

Want to help your team unlock their potential and build a culture of growth?

Contact me at tedb@strategyandexecution.com.au to schedule a free 30-minute discovery meeting.

ABOUT STRATEGY & EXECUTION

For over 20 years, Strategy & Execution has supported leaders and organisations in developing and executing winning strategies. We provide expert facilitation, executive education, and hands-on consulting to help businesses refine their strategic direction and implement it effectively.

Using proven methodologies like Scaling Up, E-Myth Mastery, Outthinker, and more, we challenge conventional thinking and equip organisations with the tools to accelerate growth. Our approach is dynamic—combining deep business experience with practical execution. We don’t just advise; we roll up our sleeves and work alongside you to make strategy happen.