In today’s highly competitive business landscape, partnering with the right businesses and organizations can play a significant role in the success of any entity. The right strategic partner can provide access to new and potential customers, increase revenue streams, boost business capabilities, and help build relationships and credibility within the

What is it “OK” to do at OK (Opportunity Knocks)? Before being bold. Before taking risks. Before embracing leadership. Before all of that, the members of our executive peer mentoring group say the most important thing to do when working with their peers to become better leaders of their business

Listen. Advise. Review. Repeat. This may sound like an Opportunity Knocks facilitator’s opening remarks, but in fact it is not–it is the advice of another organization in Central Oregon that focuses on growth and financial acceleration of the local business community: Miller Ferrari Wealth Management. With a goal to help

Running a business means wearing several hats. We are often overloaded with staffing tasks, financial tasks, inventory tasks–it’s hard to find time to focus on the product or service your company actually provides! And then, after the sixtieth hour of the  week, you get a ping on your phone or

Growth is the theme of everything we do at Opportunity Knocks. Individual growth. Organizational growth. Growth of our community. Growth of our program. Every time one of these grows, it has a direct impact on the growth of the other three, which is why improving our services, attracting more members,

Strategy. It’s coming up with a plan, and then choosing to move forward with it. What makes it “strategy” is the follow through–turning a wish list or a vision into actionable items that can be achieved. We know from experience that strategic planning means making goals that are SMART (Specific,

“If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there”. – Lewis Carroll Strategic planning. It’s the difference between letting things happen and making things happen. It’s your road map, navigation, car lights, and gasoline that get you to the destination you want–not just the place you

What is peer mentoring? It is inspiring. It is productive. It is proven. It is an opportunity for success. And it is what you make of it. But there are a few things it is also, not. It is not a guarantee for success, it is not passive, it is

I remember walking into orientation on my first day of work just after finishing college, the pages of well-thought-out rhetoric outlining everything the company was, is, and wanted to be. Innovative, yet traditional. Efficient, yet thorough. Kind, yet firm. Adaptable, but experienced. Hard working but also balanced. It was overwhelming,

Ten Values in Dynamic Mentor/Mentee Relationships. Have you ever gone to a networking coffee event and felt that they were more interested in counting coffee grounds on the counter than hearing what you had to say?  Or, on the flip side, have you ever been asked to mentor or have