The Opportunities Right Over the Fence (That You Don’t Even See Yet)

Most business owners are sitting right next to opportunity

Matilda, my step-daughter, will be in high school next year and it’s made me think about my own high school years.

I went to an all-girls public boarding school in New Zealand. Partly because I had to (we lived on a farm), and partly because it was what our family did. My Pop went, my Dad went, my aunties went and since I was the eldest, so it was on me to get in first so my sisters could follow. I even ended up working there as a (young) matron at the boarding hostel 2 nights a week when I was at university - I loved it that much!

At the time, it just felt like the next step and nothing particularly life-changing (apart from feeling like you’re on school-camp with your 20 best girlfriends for 5 years) as it was something we’d always grown up with knowing that we’d go away. My high school years were some of the best years of my life - I truly loved high school!

Looking back now, some 25 years later, I can see how much it shaped in my future life and opportunities.

The people who were there all along

Two of my closest friends today, in 2026, lived over the fence from me during high school, yes, over the side fence. They both went to the boarding school next door to mine and yet, I didn’t know either of them back then. Now, one lives in Hong Kong and spent the school holidays back in New Zealand with her family, walking her kids through the places that were important to her, including her boarding school, right next to mine, showing where Aunty Liz lived during high school. The other friend now splits her time between Roma and Brisbane.

Different lives. Different paths.

And somehow, we all ended up deeply connected through different opportunities. Sometimes the most important connections are already around you and you just don’t recognise them yet.

How one decision shapes more than you expect

When I think about boarding school now, I don’t just think about netball, maths, friends, classes or routines, I also think about the massive ripple effect. The independence it built, the resilience it forced, and the environments we were in. Even the people we were surrounded by, including the ones we didn’t meet at the time. Back then, it felt like something I had (and wanted) to do.

Now, I can see it shaped who I became, and who I’d eventually connect with, the decisions that feel routine at the time often have the biggest long-term impact.

Most business owners are sitting next to opportunity

This is the part that really hits me now, because I see the same pattern in business every day - most small business owners and not-for-profits are sitting right next to opportunity and don’t even realise it. Grants, funding, support, and programs designed to help them grow, hire, expand, or stabilise are already out there. They do exist - I promise. The opportunities are often closer than people think, but they’re not seen or they’re misunderstood or they feel like they’re meant for someone else. Grants and opportunities aren’t rare, it’s just that they’re not visible to most people.

Why grants feel out of reach (even when they’re not)

It’s not that people aren’t capable of accessing funding, it’s that the system feels confusing, time-consuming, and difficult to navigate. The rules don’t always feel clear, and the process can seem overwhelming before you even begin. So instead of exploring what might be possible, most people opt out early (which is completely fair enough). They don’t opt out early because access opportunities, but because they don’t think to look properly. Just like I never walked next door - not because I couldn’t, but because it didn’t occur to me and I was too busy living my own life and doing my own thing. What door are you not opening or walking through this week?

What changes when you can actually see the opportunities

Everything shifts when someone helps you see what’s actually there. When you understand what you might be eligible for, how your business or organisation fits, and where the real opportunities are, things start to feel possible. The thinking changes. Instead of assuming there’s nothing available, you begin to see where you could fit and what might actually be worth pursuing. When you can see and understand opportunities, you’re far more likely to act on them.

What might be sitting right next to you right now?

That’s the question I keep coming back to, because 25 years ago, I had no idea the people who would become such a big part of my life were right there, close enough to wave to over the fence (even if it was a rival all-girls school).

In business, I see it all the time. Opportunities sitting just out of view. Not because they’re hidden, but because no one’s pointed them out yet.

Let’s find your opportunities just over the fence

If you’ve ever felt like there’s probably nothing out there for you, or you wouldn’t even know where to start, or that grants just feel too hard, this is exactly where a Pick My Brain session comes in. It’s a practical, straight-forward conversation where we look at your business or organisation, identify real funding opportunities, and talk through what’s actually worth pursuing. It’s about cutting through the noise and giving you clarity on what’s possible.

And ask yourself this - What door are you not opening or walking through this week?

👉 Book your Pick My Brain session with Liz and start seeing what’s actually available to you

The opportunities that shape your life aren’t always the obvious ones, sometimes they’re the ones sitting right next to you. We’ve all got these stories to share.

You just need someone to help you see them. Here’s the booking link here