Having bootstrapped four successful businesses over a 40-year, Minneapolis-based career, Jim Schell is a serial entrepreneur.  

Following the sale of his fourth business, Jim began a writing career and has authored eleven books, including co-authoring Small Business for Dummies, one of the nation’s leading sellers in that category.   

Since Jim moved to Bend in 1994, he founded Opportunity Knocks, CO 2-1-1, Volunteer Connect, TEDxBend, and Looking Forward.   

He also led turnarounds at the Humane Society, the Partnership to End Poverty, and the Boys & Girls Club, and currently mentors several dozen people. He is a past member of the Governor’s Council on Small Business.  

At 83 years old, this guy has seen it all, and he shares some incredible insight such as: 

💥 The difference between wisdom and knowledge 

💥 Good niches vs. bad niches 

💥 The best question he's EVER been asked 

💥 The loneliest profession in the world 

💥 Why you need a naysayer 

💥 What it's like to get old

 Between the stories and the advice, it's certainly worth a listen.