C. How BOSS Works

In order to get the most out of BOSS, you must be committed.  Think of BOSS as a marathon to launch your business.  In order to be successful, you’ll need to be dedicated and give an adequate amount of time to it.

The good news is that you are not alone.  You are surrounded by a team of people who want you to succeed.  As you work together, BOSS will help you ask the right questions, find the answers in your community, and create helpful relationships along the way.

During BOSS, you will explore your concept or business through:

• Weekly Sessions:  Each week, you will investigate some aspect of your concept or business during a three-hour session using discussions, speakers, and collaborative activities to deepen learning.  Described more fully next week, we’ll use the BOSS to help you test and hone your business ideas as they change.  Because all the information needed for each session is in your binder, make sure to bring it with you every week.
• Business is both “hard”and “soft.”  “Hard” refers to numbers and facts while “soft”refers to people; customers and workers.  We’ve tried to arrange the classes so that each week we’ll have an hour focused on something “hard”and another hour focused on something “soft.”  After each two-hour session we’ll have time for counseling, Q&A, and anything else that may need additional attention.
• Fieldwork:  Doing fieldwork activities on your own each week will move you closer to launching your business.  Most activities involve getting out and talking to people about your idea since that is the best way to find out whether or not you have a good one.  To help motivate you, we’ll award a prize to the person who talks with the most potential customers by the end of BOSS, tracking progress through gold stars and the Customer Count chart.  Each time there is an opportunity to talk with a customer, you will see the star icon.
• BOSS Site:  The BOSS Site is an online tool that provides additional resources for you.  With links to helpful articles, extra copies of illustrations, worksheets, and local recommendations for business services, the BOSS Site provides opportunities for deeper learning.
• Emails:  Each week you will get an email reminding you of what you need to do to prepare for the next session, as well as links to relevant resources from the past week.
• Pitch Night:  For our last session, we will have a party!  Invite your family and friends to hear you “pitch” your business and celebrate your accomplishments.  The purpose of Pitch Night is to tie together all you’ve learned, help you prepare for the future, and promote your new business.