Registration for 2019 has closed.
Thank you to the amazing and talented folks who signed up for Marie Forleo’s B-School this year. I am grateful for your trust in my recommendation and I’ll see you class!
B-School registration happens just once a year! If you’d like to find out more about B-School for 2020, sign up via my weekly newsletter and click the B-School option. There's no obligation and you can opt out an any time.
B-School BASICS
B-School is an 8-week interactive online video-based training program
It includes 6 weekly modules with training videos and audio, templates, resource lists, worksheets, private B-School member site, live group coaching calls and a really strong and supportive online community
There are 2 implementation weeks to work on what you're learning
It is really effective to take the course "live" with other students, but you can take it at your own pace if necessary
Once you've purchased B-School, you can access it year after year with no additional cost—and Marie has updated and upgraded the content year after year. I've accessed the course annually to refresh and reconnect (and to see what's new in the content and how Marie presents it! It's really top notch production.)
The cost of the 8 weeks of B-School is $1999 USD but you can repeat it as often as you like, and year after year.
Registration for the course begins in February 2020.
B-School experiences from other UPPERCASE readers
Heather Reinhardt
illustrated clothing
B-School 2018
I single-handedly run a silk-screened apparel company called Mumble Tease using my own original artwork and ideas which I silk-screen by hand onto a colourful variety of apparel for men, women and kiddos of all ages.
I began my creative business very much from the creative side of things and have stumbled my way through the business side for close to ten years. And while that's worked out fairly well so far, I recognize that to take things to the next level, I need to learn about and embrace things like marketing (a term I didn't understand and was revolted by, prior to B-School), profit plans (planning?!) and communication plans (wait, more planning?!). I was hoping to gain knowledge that would help me to grow and expand my business in a way that was right for me.
I've learned a whole lot about marketing, something that I really didn't understand prior to taking B-School. One of the most helpful things I took away was the importance of sending a regular newsletter and gaining subscribers, and of how to do those things in an effective and classy way. I also watched a few videos on productivity that really changed the way I thought about and approached my daily habits and that helped me examine why I was doing the things I was doing, and how I was spending my time. It's definitely still a work in progress, but most days I feel like I'm using my time effectively, and that feels good!
Throughout the course there were some really big questions that I was asking myself, which could be very uncomfortable. But starting to think about those questions, and to work on answers, will lead me to more meaningful work on the things that I value and in the way that makes sense to me.
I found it to be a useful program, and would recommend it to other creative businesses. With so many new ideas and things to implement, I'm still working on my list of things to do from last year's B-School!
“B-School added a level of organization to both my life and business that was much needed. Being part of the program also gave me a new perspective on my own professionalism. And it added a ton to my to-do list!”
Claire Dibble
photographer
b-school 2012
Crystal Reynolds
graphic designer and publisher of paper planners
The clear amount of information and insight is plenty and being able to dig into where I have the most need is appreciated. The B-School community is wonderful for feedback and support. I kept up with each week's release and dabbled in each video's worksheets. I liked waking up early each day to put in a good hour focusing on the course. It put me in the right mindset to start each day.
Catherine Ruddell
printmaker teacher
B-School 2012
I discovered Marie Forleo in 2011 on my lunch breaks at my boring office job. At the time I was dreaming of a creative career that would feel more fulfilling, so I combined my tax return and my annual bonus and joined B-School in spring of 2012. I purchased B-School for the online business components - to gain clarity around my business model as a textile artist, learn who my customer was, and how to communicate and connect with them on the internet.
But I would say the most impactful part of joining the program and community was the shift in my mindset and the greater vision for my life.
Before B-School I had not been exposed to personal or professional development outside of traditional education or career paths, and it was incredibly empowering to find tools to build a vision for my life and business from a very personal perspective, rather than presumptions/appearances.
I would recommend other creatives invest in B-School because it is life time access and you can take it over again when your vision for your life and creative work evolves (because it will!) The principles in B-School have helped me navigate each stage of my creative evolution, and each year there are more bonuses and changes made in the program to keep pace with the changes in the online world.
The first creative business I started (painting fine art from home) felt socially isolating even though I had lots of commission work. I decided to find a bridge job, and started managing a cafe where the work was more social and dynamic, yet still fulfilling in a creative sense. When that brick & mortar business went up for sale, I was able to apply much of my knowledge from B-School to position and market the cafe as an attractive opportunity for the next potential owner. These efforts helped us successfully sell that business, and I moved on to my next venture with a sales commission too!
I now work as a print/maker, and teaching is a large component of my business because I know the social side of my personality craves that interaction. But I also know that if things change for me again, I will have the support and tools in B-School to help me evaluate opportunities and inform my next move with confidence in my decisions and my ability to adapt, rather than making hopeful bets on my dreams.
Christianna Ferguson
Felt textile artist
b-school 2018
I joined B-School because as an artist I felt as though I was floundering. My work was being well received but I knew nothing about the nuts and bolts of running a business and didn’t know where to start. I was loving the work and what I was doing but wanted to feel like it was a sustainable way to be spending my time. I was really feeling like it may not be financially responsible to continue with the work I loved to do.
Making the financial investment felt tough when I was already struggling to make my business profitable. Although in the end, I felt it was good value and a resource I could continue to tap into.
It’s difficult to be an artist and to find the time to make your work let alone do all the other things that need to be done to make your business viable. There are many days where I feel like my skills are lacking in so many areas. That being said, B-School helped me to prioritize and set manageable goals.
I would say that if you are looking for some guidance in growing your business and understanding where you should be prioritizing your time effectively B-School is a great experience and good value. One of its greatest strengths is that you can continue to revisit it again and again as you and your business continue to evolve.
Wanda Kerr
rug-hooker, dye-maker
b-school 2018
WandaWorks is a textile teaching business specializing in colour use through wool work, primarily traditional rug hooking. WandaWorks involves live and online teaching, writing for specialty publications, speechifying and the promotion of creative pursuits. WandaWorks has a subsidiary called Majic Carpet Dyes, we mix specialized colours to sell and support these colours with many methods and hundreds of formulas.
My business was floating along but with decreasing altitude. I also needed a fresh way to look at things. I wanted to feel more firmly in charge instead of being blown of course by every wayward wind or trend. I also needed a community of business owners for support and encouragement.
I set some pretty lofty goals but to my surprise achieved them. I upped my income substantially—it happened before March was over! I moved the bulk of my business out of my house—and achieved this by year-end. I am far more direct in my sales copy. These things alone have made enormous differences in my life and I’ve learned many, many more.
In this economy doing things old school doesn’t work. Scattering yourself everywhere on social media doesn’t work. Having focus, goals, a targeted audience, joy in your work by does. So does authenticity. B-School helps you gain the traction your great ideas deserve. It will mature your hopes and dreams into a profitable business.
“As a creative, the business part of working for yourself is often the hardest part to get right. B-School breaks down all the essential steps to running your own business in a way that feels manageable, applicable and exciting!”
bonnie christine
surface pattern designer
b-school 2015
Damini Celebre
healing journeys for your heart and soul
B-School 2018
B-School helped me get focused, and prioritize. I was able to get clearer on my language and rebuild my web site. I also feel like it moved me to the next step over really treating my dream like a business.
B-School will take you to the next level of making your passion(s) into a business. The program is jam-packed with information, which can be a lot of work, and quite overwhelming, at times. One of the hidden gems of B-School is that you can come back into the program year after year. I didn't realize the value of that until now: Looking back to where I was last year this time, and where I want to take my business this year. I'm really looking forward to being in the B-school's flow. One suggestion: If you can, take this program with a friend. so that you each can support each other throughout the program.
b-school affiliate
I'm an affiliate for B-School, so I will earn a generous portion of every registration that results because of my testimonials and promotional efforts. I applied to be an affiliate because B-School had such a tremendously positive effect on my business and I value what I've learned. If you decide to take B-School, please come back here for the registration link so that I'll earn your referral. Signups to Marie's free training are also tracked. B-School affiliate referrals are awarded to the "last click", meaning that the tracking link a customer clicked on LAST (and that drove them to purchase B-School) will get credit for the sale. Thank you!
