My Critique of B-School
Don’t Wait Another Year!
I’ve already shared how much I gained from the program (over and over), so I am going to take a few minutes to do a “no holds barred” critique of her program. It is a lot of money to invest, so understandably, you may have a few questions about how it works. Plus, I am going to address some faqs.
When you enroll, you get a bunch of bonus material – it is all good. She added a new one last year – a recording of one of her live talks. IIN students and grads get this concept – that was our classroom. The most valuable beginner “Freebie” could be a course in itself….”Start the Right Business”. You get this before you begin the modules. We didn’t; I think it was just being developed. It is very intense and very helpful. The year I started, they were just developing it, so it came a little late. You will have this before class starts, and it will be very helpful.
Marie is pretty excited this year because she’s added material, podcast and a 12 month payment plan! It will be an all new experience with the same fundamental pillars she has set up.
Sign up here for more information and an invitation to sign up for our “opening day webinar.”
Cathy Sykora
Founder, The Health Coach Group
FAQ’s
Is it worth the money? The price is $1999 – I think it costs enough. It is more valuable than that. She has enough people in her classes, I guess she doesn’t need to charge more – but she could and it would be worth it. That is one of the things that I like to emulate – she ALWAYS gives you more than what you pay for. IIN did the same. I think that if you learn one lesson about having a sustainable, valuable business – it is to always give more than what your customer can reasonably expect. That she does.
Do I need it if I take Immersion through IIN? Yes. You get a treasure box full of information from IIN’s immersion. B-School helps you to put all that into perspective.
Should I take B-School? If you can afford it – you should take it. I didn’t tell my husband how much it cost. I paid it out of an account that he wouldn’t see. I made payments thinking if I had to – I would take advantage of the refund policy. I made my money back by module 2. 1 year later my husband asked me how much I spent for b-school and I told him. He said it was worth EVERY penny. Haha…he doesn’t say that very often.
Should I get involved in the Facebook Group? How many Facebook groups do you get into that last for years…and keep accumulating members? She just closed the old Facebook Group “B-School Babes” and opened a new group “B-Schoolers” for a few reasons- one was that there are more and more men – the men say they can be babes too…. The old members were moved over to the new group by request. This was just a few weeks ago and there are over 6000 members in the group. We stay active in the group. I went through b-school 2 years ago and I posted there today. I was sorry to see the old group go because that is where I grew my business. My first post was to introduce myself…my second post asked whether I should use A-Weber, Mailchimp or Constant Contact – lol, how many times since have I seen others with the same post? They all get tons of heartfelt answers.
Can you guarantee I will make 6 figures? These are the numbers. You have a better chance of being in the top 6% if you take b-school. (My opinion). – There are 8.6 million women owned firms in the US – 88% of them generate less than $100k in annual revenues – 75% of ALL businesses generate less than 100k in annual revenues – Highest concentration of women owned businesses are in the health care & social assistance industry followed by education – 4% of women owned businesses generate more than $500k – 2% top the million dollar mark. Amex “State of Women Owned Businesses” (United States)
How do I enroll? The cart opens February 22, 2017. Be sure to use my link so you get my bonuses.
There are lots of people with links – why should I use yours? I am offering: 1 free year membership ($1287 – but worth more) to The Inner Circle (new or extension to your existing) Building Abundance – The Business Plan for Health Coaches ($1197 – but worth more) – Finishes off Immersion+ B-School with incredible “linear” learning. 3 Months of FREE DSD ($880 your online business with website, membership site and e-commerce), . Free Facebook Mentoring Group – Marie Forleo + Me + YOU PLUS – this year Marie is adding Personal Business Coaching! This coaching has been an incredible addition to Building Abundance and will be a game changer for your experience in B-School.
Module 1 – Profit Clarity
These concepts are fundamental business concepts that are as important for a successful brick and mortar business as an online business. Most beneficial, in my opinion, is figuring out where your income is coming from and getting to know your ideal client. Then, it goes into separating yourself from the competition.
Module 2 – Websites
It talks to you about how to interview a person to work on your site…and teaches you how to set up a simple website on your own. This one saved me more than the cost of the program – with Nathalie Lussier’s tutorial and all the plugin tips and tricks. Most IIN students/grads understand the importance of a good opt-in…Marie uses her partners to show you how to pull it off – psychology and conversion. This module gives you a lot of clarity in terminology and usage of websites.
Module 3 – Communication
Module 3 wasn’t as meaningful to me because of my experience – but to someone who doesn’t utilize communication in business – or is new, it will be a goldmine. I had 30 years of Newsletters (snail mail) to my clients. Brick and Mortar, you can’t send out as many mailings, it is too expensive. I sent out 30,000 newsletters four times a year and 30,000 postcards eight times a year. I had people who saved my newsletters from 1989! So, I got #3. I already had my style of writing. If you are new to business – this is what is going to cause your business to grow. It is an important module. The one thing I did get out of this…a newsletter doesn’t have to be big and fancy like the one you get from realtors or the dermatologist (or designer) monthly – It can be a regular email that looks like it is coming from your best friend. That is the big thing I appreciate about e-commerce. It is free to email weekly. So build your list and take advantage of this module. Marie has a whole different way to blog…that is a part of her “blue ocean strategy.” People wait for her blog to come out weekly – I still look forward to it, Marie TV.
Module 4 – List Building
This module teaches you how to build your list. It also gives you incredible short cuts. I was in the midst of making my “Sharing the Health” E-Book at the time I landed in module 4. It sunk in because I just got some people I thought were “big shots” to collaborate in my book when we got to the big shots worksheet. This time when I go back through B-School again, I am going to pay more attention to this module as a student instead of a victor. I know I need to work on this module.
Module 5 – Offerings
I got a little mixed up on this one. I had the problem going into b-school with one successful business and one “pie-in-the-sky” plan. I got a little derailed here. I thought up all kinds of offerings for my brick and mortar business…but got stuck here. I would recommend focusing only on what you intended to work on in b-school. (This took me off track for a couple of months). Don’t get greedy and see things that can make quick money. I derailed into a Virtual Business…I had beautiful offerings, a great team to work with (my team from Sharing the Health) and I had spent so much time not making money with The Health Coach Group – that I jumped on the “money wagon”…but every time I thought about it – it gave me a big fat headache. I did not want to do it. I also started a training module for designers at this time…that is not what was in my heart. When I finally came back around and stuck with my business for love and not money – things started to happen for me. I saw this happen to others – and some of them so far off that they derailed. Now, as you can probably tell – offerings come naturally to me. It is because I am where I am supposed to be and doing what I am meant to do. Sorry – I got off track. This module goes over what your ideal client wants, delivery, how to charge and a lot of other things that anyone in the internet business should know. Marie added actual physical products to this section a couple of years ago. I am anxious to see what she will present with her new materials this year.
Module 6 – Marketing
Great job if you have hung in there to make it to this section. There is so much material in B-School that some people never make it to this module. That is a shame. Marketing covers principles of marketing, how to write a persuasive piece, sales copywriting – timelines. Module 6 is an invaluable resource. The one thing that you want to be careful of through here…don’t change your writing personality by what you see. Marie is a natural born marketer. It is tempting to fall into her style, and that is one thing everyone would agree to, she has her style far and apart from others. Don’t let this keep you from seeing the value of what she is doing. It can be done in your style too. I think if there was one thing that could be added to all this is the distinction in styles. Most copywriter’s get it…you can compare yourself to the girl next door, the femme-fatale, the teacher, the mother, the …..well, you get what I am saying. I think that is one of the biggest struggles I see in people going through b-school – finding themselves. I feel like all the questions are there…you have to fight being overtaken by other’s success or failure. Some of the biggest failures end up with the biggest success because they have gone outside their comfort zone. I didn’t take advantage of Office Hours…I would recommend that you do. That is no longer available to me as alumnae. Community Support was B-Schools #1 Asset. There is one core group and lots of subgroups. Some of them are mine. We offer each other a lot of support and have people to bounce off. The thing I like best about Marie is her true moral compass. You see that when she speaks, in how she sets up her business and in the way she runs it. She doesn’t falter, well, I haven’t seen it.
