About Us
Peter Messervy
Peter Messervy is an energetic writer, instructional designer, facilitator, and business leadership coach. For over 25 years, Peter has practiced and taught business development, project management and system development, with a solid history of successful engagements that meet or exceed client requirements. A continuing cycle of practice, research and teaching keep all subjects fresh and up to date. He is a member of the Business Coach Academy and the Business Architect Association. Peter has created and delivered training courses and workshops for many of the Fortune 500 corporations as well as three universities. He has worked with a variety of projects and industries around the world including NATO Defence, Oil & Gas, health care, banking, insurance, and manufacturing. He also has a solid grounding and experience in software development. Much of Peter’s experience comes from building several of his own businesses and learning from his mistakes as well as his successes. As the CEO of Opus Magnum Inc. He currently practices in Canada, USA, and UK. Peter is something of a thought leader and visionary in business development and has contributed to the strategic planning for a number of organizations large and small. He has a knack for identifying efficiencies and opportunities for improvement. His facilitation skills have won accolades from around the world.
Our History
Opus Magnum was created in 1982 in Calgary, Canada and initially served the local business community with system analysis and design services and systems development. In 1986 the training branch was added. Courses and workshops were delivered to universities and businesses across Canada dealing with systems analysis and design, requirements management, and business process design. In 1992 the company expanded into the US and provided coaching and mentoring across North America. The US company was formed in 1997. In 2011 the UK company was opened to service its US clients with branches in the UK and has steadily increased its UK client base by providing coaching and mentoring services to all sizes of business from individual startups to large corporations.
Experience
Peter began his career as a project management specialist, he worked for a few years with various projects in construction, Oil & Gas and NATO Defence. During this time he developed a passion for systems and methodologies. Peter continued his education in Information Technology and trained in system development and business analysis. The evolution of small computers created a niche for systems in small and medium businesses and Peter started his own software development company. Peter was able to use his analysis and design skills to create solutions for many different types of business. Peter was invited to teach at two universities. This led to the growth of a training business where he developed courses and taught business analysis, system design, and project management subjects, also providing coaching to large and small organisations around the world.
Frequently Asked Question
WHY WOULD I NEED A BUSINESS COACH?
Your coach is a brutally honest friend and confidant who will help you find you strengths, weaknesses, and potential. Your coach is a part time board member who will listen to you and offer feedback and suggestions. Your coach will enable you to reach levels that you would be unlikely to achieve on your own.
HOW DOES THE COACHING PROCESS WORK?
The first step is to evaluate you and your business against a set of criteria that will enable you to see clearly what is needed. Your coach will help you identify the specific activities and learning that you will need to achieve your goals. The next step is to mutually agree a programme that will work for you, to establish priorities and build an action plan. Once this is done, the action plan is entered in your calendar and then executed.
You will agree to carry out the activities in the plan with diligence and the coach will hold you to your commitment and guide you in terms of mindset, time management, and focus.
At each scheduled meeting, the coach will evaluate what is done, set the activities for the next period and provide any guidance or mentoring that you need. Each activity is measured for results and the plan adjusted if required. The coach will provide you with continual support, answer questions, brainstorm issues with you, and find possible solutions to needs that arise.
The coaching process is run on a ninety-day cycle. At the end of each cycle there is a full evaluation of progress and the detailed plan for the next cycle is prepared.
HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE TO COMMIT TO THIS PROCESS?
You must be prepared to spend some time working on your business. The initial evaluation will establish your habits and behaviour patterns and the action plan is then based on your agreed availability. Naturally you must agree to spend a meaningful amount of time or you will not see progress.
Generally, about 4 hours a week is appropriate, and some of this is work you might already be doing for your business. All of the work you do will contribute to your personal and business growth.
HOW CAN I JUSTIFY THE EXPENSE?
First of all, it is an investment not an expense. You will almost certainly get a return on your investment, usually enough to cover a year of coaching in 3 to 6 months. Then the returns will keep increasing as you apply the lessons and strategies to your business. Our clients have discovered that the coaching is virtually free.
MY BUSINESS IS DIFFERENT, HOW WILL IT WORK FOR ME?
The 1 to 1 coaching is tailored for each client through a comprehensive alignment session before the coaching begins. The appropriate subject areas are identified and the priorities set so each client gets exactly what is needed for the specific business.
WHAT IF IT ISN’T WORKING FOR ME?
Sometimes a particular style of coach is not quite right for you. There are two options, one is to select another coach better matched to your needs. But you can also cancel the arrangement at any time. There is no binding contract, there is an agreement to work together which can be terminated without any penalty.