Guest Article by Ryan Lewis of Flagline Strategy and Opportunity Knocks Board Member It’s 2023. If you are 40 or older like myself, we’ve had quite the professional career. 3 recessions, 1 pandemic, countless innovations that have turned industries upside down, and so many other externalities have made stability a

Guest Article by Ryan Lewis, Flagline Strategy & Opportunity Knocks Board Member In today’s fast-paced and fiercely competitive business landscape, the pursuit of increased company value has become paramount. As someone that has sold their business and been involved with several transactions, I am here to share insightful strategies that

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

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,

About this Event Pivoting a company’s business model is not new. It has been an integral part of business innovation for many years. Some companies are forced to pivot defensively because their original models are doomed. Other companies pivot proactively when they see opportunities to change the competitive environment and

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  Executive Director Opportunity Knocks (opp-knocks.com) Bend, OR You are outgoing, naturally curious and a born collaborator, but you also love a good spreadsheet, a clear process and quantifiable results. If connecting the dots — and people — is your passion, we’d love to meet you! Opportunity Knocks (OK) is

“It’s the hunger to write a new story that drives them to overcome their limited circumstances,” writes Carmine Gallo in his book, “The Storyteller’s Secret.” As I read this sentence—about how individuals change for the better and achieve greatness in their lives—I realized it had broader implications: It’s the hunger to

Greetings OK Community and friends! We hope this finds you very well, happy and enjoying spring. Thanks to all of you who made it out to our March Happy Hour at Spoken Moto. Click the image to see more photos 🙂 June Happy Hour Are you curious about Opportunity Knocks?

What traits does one need in order to be a successful entrepreneur, to choreograph employees, bankers, consultants, customers and others? What personal characteristics are needed to build a business created of vision, heart, desire, and good old blood, sweat and tears? To learn about the top 10 personal characteristics of successful

Through my own business exploits and being lucky enough to be around really smart business people and investors over the years, I learned that assessing a company can be easily summarized by using the letter M. I am not sure who originally simplified business tactics into “M’s”, but there are

In this article by OK facilitator Eric Meade, learn what it means to be a true leader in your company. “As your company grows and matures, only through awareness, letting go, delegating and monitoring will it actually thrive.” Click to read more…

There are just a few things that successful people, leaders, and purposeful achievers have in common. One is that they read, and read, and read some more, to find inspiration and wisdom to move them forward. If you are looking for motivation and want a jolt of it now, consider one of

  Every company should have a clear road map of where it is going. Does yours? This blog articulates clearly how to set-up strategic planning for success, define your non-negotiables and how to put it all into action. Read more….

Welcome to 2016! This is YOUR year! What do you want to accomplish this year? In reflecting upon the past year, how can you do things differently for a better outcome this year? These are some of the questions I anticipate on New Year’s Eve and I’m eager to answer

Employees want what you want: to be treated kindly, to be given opportunities to flourish, to feel appreciated, to be connected to something that matters, to be happy and have some fun, and to be part of a culture that enables rather than limits their excellence. Like all of us

In a pattern that repeated itself daily for tens of thousands of years, our ancient predecessors pursued prey or herded livestock, fed their children and watched them laugh and play, ate the fruits of their labor, crawled under a rawhide blanket with their mate, made love, and fell asleep. They

“We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly, we shall all hang separately” – Ben Franklin It’s easy to get advice about your business challenges. Generally, either you can buy advice from an expert with the copious excess funds in your business that weren’t previously allocated elsewhere, or you

Brett Mills story is definitely, Local Boy Makes Good. Real good. Mills business, RES Equine Products, won the coveted Bend Venture Conference $250,000 grant prize in 2011. Mills developed and patented a closure mechanism for protective gear used on horses legs during rodeo events like barrel racing and team roping.