Learn about the program

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Mid-career professionals and small business owners who know there is more out there but need some direction, support and motivation to learn new ideas and make improvements. If you are good at what you do and know that you can do more, earn more, have greater influence or  growth  your organization, this program is for you. 

Send an email to FBS@northeastforests.com, telling a bit about yourself in your work. Steve Bick will get back to you and arrange for a phone call to help gauge if this is right for you. n answer to this item.

The 2022-2023 six month essential sessions are FREE to accepted applicants.  Participants are responsible for obtaining required reading or listening material, usually through Audible or local libraries.   All assigned podcasts are free.

About six months, with a one-hour live video session almost every week for a group discussion of assigned readings or audiobooks, or podcasts.  There are occasional bye weeks around holidays.

 Mid-career people lead full lives and this is bound to come up now and then. Each weekly session is recorded so any participants who have to miss it can view or listen to it later. Those who miss an occasional session are encouraged to be in touch with the instructor or other group members to discuss aspects of the most recent study topics. 

 No. There is no emphasis on assessing how much you learn or what you are good at memorizing. Instead, there are occasional participant evaluation surveys about the program, along with internal feedback between participants and the instructor about what is working or what additional resources might be helpful to individuals.  Participants test themselves by applying the concepts we discussed in their work. 

No.

 FBS emphasizes learning for professional growth and for financial gains in your business. We do not follow the traditional model of trading your time for credits or other proof of attendance. This is about learning. 

 Past participants have experienced improvements in their work and life, along with an increased network of similar professionals. If you want these things, active participation in this program will bring them to you. 

 FBS accepts participants from anywhere, though there is one six-month session that is exclusively for VT residents or those who work for Vermont-based businesses.   A second weekly session includes people from all over the Northeastern US.   A couple of spots are reserved for exceptional people from any location who can make substantial contributions to group discussions. 

While much of the material focuses on business ownership, FBS participants include key employees, aspiring business owners and public agency professionals

 You will never be asked to write a paper or report or fill out a worksheet. There are regular reading and/or audio assignments (books and podcasts) that inform our group discussions.   There is an expectation that you will participate in group discussions.

No, but you will get a handsome certificate for completing the program.

 Yes. Credits are not emphasized or used as a selling point for the program, but they CFE credits are arranged with SAF and any documentation required will be supplied to you in if you need to apply for credits with other groups.  

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If you are just a few years into your career or are close to retiring, there are other programs out there better suited to your needs.   If you a preparing to run a hobby business in your retirement, this isn't a good fit for you.

If you are curious about this program because need continuing education credits, there are quicker and easier ways to get them (check out some of the offerings on the terrific www.forestrywebinars.netwebsite).

Also, if you have many reasons why you can not try new things or make any changes or are good at recognizing that many concepts are good for others but probably don’t apply to you, there is no need for you to enroll in FBS.