In my freetime, I enjoy coaching German high school kids and
unemployed in Germany. Often in our discussions, I hear from them that
they do not have any opportunity (in German: keine Chance). Now, I am
looking for definitions of the word opportunity. I am not looking for
illustrations like 'the health care market is an opportunity' or
'China offers opportunities'. I am looking for abstract definitions
like from Mr. Stevenson from Harward 'opportunity is: a desired future
and the belief that achievement of that state is possible'. In a later
step, I will ask another question about how opportunities can be
turned into reality = management of opportunities. At this moment, I
am only interested in a choice of definitions and references to
explanations to those definitions - regardless of the subject area.
Thank you very much for a couple of leads beyond those of the major
dictionaries.

One of my favorite quotes on opportunity comes from Thomas Edison who
said "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in
overalls and looks like work."

Some good definitions courtesy of Googles' definitions of opportunity
on the web:  ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oi=defmore&q=define:opportunity

A favourable occasion for grasping a disappointment. 
thinks.com/words/bierce.htm


A favourable set of conditions that limit barriers or provide rewards. p. 761 
users.wbs.warwick.ac.uk/dibb_simkin/student/glossary/ch24.html

Coach says:  ?A scoring opportunity is any time you and your teammates
get in a position to score a goal.  Passing and dribbling skills are
like the ingredients for making a cake, the scoring opportunity is
like having an oven available.  The scoring opportunity is what
everyone must be thinking about at all times.  If you don?t start
thinking about the scoring opportunity until they get the ball, it?s
too late.?
www.kcslsoccer.org/glossary.htm


A risk with a positive outcome.  See Risk 
www.lesrisk.com/glossary.htm