The Power of Being an Opportunity Generator

How small actions of creativity and collective spirit can increase your Opportunity Flywheel for Success

In 2014, I started my blog, MBASchooled. At the time, it was a space to share reflections on my MBA experience and my thoughts on career and leadership development.

As an MBA student at UNC-Chapel Hill, I often found myself in conversations about these topics with classmates, mentors, and peers. These discussions were deeply enriching, and I wanted to extend them beyond my immediate circle. Starting a blog seemed like the perfect way to share what I had learned and ideas with a broader audience.

When I launched MBASchooled, I told everyone in my immediate network. Most were excited and supportive, thinking it was cool that I was creating something on my own.

Sharing knowledge, learnings and ideas has always been my core principle—a reflection of my personal mantra, Learn and Teach. The blog felt like a natural extension of this value.

Initially, the blog gained traction within my immediate circle but didn’t extend much further. I feel old for saying this, but social media existed in 2014, but it wasn’t as interconnected as it is today, and it is certainly nowhere near as algorithmic and scalable. I knew I needed to take a different approach if I wanted the blog to grow. Instead of only sharing my stories and ideas, I decided to feature the experiences and insights of others.

With 500 classmates in my MBA program and a network of friends and colleagues at other schools, I saw an opportunity. What if I interviewed them about their MBA experiences and their thoughts on career and leadership development? Could this broaden the blog’s reach?

Giving Others an Opportunity - A Turning Point

I contacted about ten friends from different MBA programs, asking if they’d be willing to share their stories. Many said yes, and soon, MBASchooled evolved from being a personal blog to a platform that amplified diverse voices. Featuring others turned out to be a game-changer. Those I interviewed began sharing their articles with classmates, friends, and networks. This word-of-mouth growth was organic and powerful.

I knew I was onto something when I started receiving emails from people around the world. They wanted to contribute their ideas or learn more about the blog. Over time, MBASchooled became a go-to resource for MBA students, alumni, and aspirants seeking career and leadership insights.

After graduating from business school, I continued writing for the blog all while working a full-time day job. As the blog’s reach expanded, schools and companies began inviting me to speak at events and conduct workshops on professional development. What had started as a hobby turned into a meaningful side hustle, which I built up year over year.

My first paid speaking opportunity in 2016

This side hustle opened unexpected doors. The blog led to my first book, the launch of a podcast, and through that and other opportunities, ultimately the decision to pursue entrepreneurship and start my leadership development consulting practice.

To this day, MBASchooled has featured hundreds of MBA students and alumni, sharing their stories, advice, and lessons learned. It’s a testament to how a small idea can become an opportunity and become something much bigger than myself.

The Power of Generating Opportunities

Reflecting on this journey, I realize the pivotal moment was when I invited others to share their stories. This act expanded the blog’s reach and taught me a valuable lesson about creating opportunities—for myself and others. While generosity played a role, the impact went beyond altruism. Here’s why creating opportunities for others is so powerful:

1. Building Trust and Goodwill: When you go out of your way to create opportunities for others, people see you as someone they know, like, and trust. This strengthens your relationships and builds a positive reputation.

2. Expanding the Pie: In negotiation research, there’s a concept called “growing the pie.” Instead of dividing limited resources, you create more value for everyone. Helping others doesn’t diminish your opportunities—it amplifies them. (aka: Everybody eats!)

3. The Reciprocity Effect: The law of reciprocity states that when you do something for others, they feel inclined to return the favor. Over time, this creates a cycle of mutual support and collaboration.

4. Increasing Your Opportunity Surface Area: Generating opportunities for others often leads to unexpected opportunities for yourself. The more you create, the more possibilities emerge.

Habits for Generating Opportunities

One of the first lessons I learned in the workforce was that no one hands you opportunities—you must create them. This mindset of being a self-starter has shaped my career. Here are some small but impactful ways I’ve practiced generating opportunities:

1. Volunteering to Lead: Offering to lead a training session or onboarding a new hire is a simple yet effective way to share your expertise and gain visibility.

2. Developing “Back Pocket Ideas”: I brainstorm ideas for projects or initiatives that could significantly impact my organization each quarter. Sharing these ideas with managers and leaders has led to promotions and recognition.

3. Tracking Industry Trends: Staying informed about trends in your industry or role and sharing insights with colleagues helps you establish yourself as a thought leader.

4. Conducting Competitive Research: Synthesizing insights about competitors and sharing them with your team adds value and positions you as someone who takes initiative.

Helping Others Generate Opportunities

Just as important as creating opportunities for yourself is fostering them for others. This doesn’t require grand gestures—it starts with small actions:

1. Sharing Information: In siloed organizations, passing along useful information can help colleagues work smarter and strengthen collaboration.

2. Offering Expertise: Supporting others with your knowledge builds trust and strengthens relationships.

3. Making Connections: Sometimes, the best opportunity you can provide is introducing two people who can help each other.

4. Amplifying Others’ Work: Sharing someone else’s work with your network can lend them visibility and credibility, especially if you have influence or privilege.

The Opportunity Flywheel

Creating opportunities, whether for yourself or others, works like a flywheel. At first, it takes effort to get things moving. But over time, the momentum builds, and the cycle starts to sustain itself. Not every effort will yield immediate results, but the cumulative effect can open doors you never imagined.

The beauty of this approach is that it gives you agency over your success. Instead of waiting for luck or external validation, you take proactive steps to create opportunities. By doing so, you expand your surface area for success and luck.

Final Thoughts

When I started MBASchooled, I had no idea it would shape my career and life in the ways it has. What began as a platform to share my ideas became a springboard for writing a book, launching a podcast, and building a business. More importantly, it taught me the value of creating opportunities—not just for myself, but for others.

If there’s one takeaway from this journey, it is that opportunity generation is a skill anyone can develop. It doesn’t require extraordinary resources or influence—just a mindset of generosity, collective spirit and action. Whether sharing information, mentoring a colleague, or starting a project, every small act contributes to the Opportunity Flywheel. And once it’s in motion, you increase your chances of the success you and the opportunities you desire coming your way.

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If you’re looking for some help for your learning and development, leadership development, I’d love to work with you: Here is how I might be able to assist:

• Leadership & Learning Programs: Formal training and leadership development in your company, such as new manager or new leader training, or skill-based programs.

• Consulting & Advisory Services - Do you have a leadership development or onboarding program that needs a refresh or audit? Let’s chat about how we can improve your program.

• 1:1 Executive Coaching - Are you looking for an executive coach for 1:1 leadership support? Let’s chat about how we can work together

Feel free to contact me directly for more details!

Have a great week!

Al