We all only have twenty-four hours in a day. And building a brand can eat up many of those hours. Are the Live Q&As really worth blocking out your limited hours for? Once a month, Annie Schiffmann hosts a group to learn business and marketing strategies with best-selling authors in a Live Q&A. Afterward, participants get small group coaching from Annie to personalize the material to their brands. Here’s a breakdown of what those events look like so you can decide if it’s worthwhile for you and your brand.

For every second of the day there are hundreds of courses, webinars, or events to attend. Choose the wrong ones and you’ve wasted time and money. Choose the right ones, and you can propel your brand to the next level. I’ve spent hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars in these online trainings and can easily say that the Business Made Simple Live Q&As offer solid information in a short amount of time, with tools and resources you can access later on. I’ve seen lightbulbs turn on over people’s heads as they connect concepts they’ve learned to their businesses.

The format each month is the same. (Ah, don’t you just love consistency?) So here’s what you can expect.

Who Can Attend and Costs

The Live Q&As are a part of the Business Made Simple subscription. But you don’t have to have one in order to join. As a StoryBrand Certified Guide, I can host small groups on my own. To that end, I try to keep the groups consisting of clients, arts-based business owners, or creatives so we can have targeted, relevant discussions.

Clients are able to attend for free. All others can join for only $25.

Note: If you are a Business Made Simple subscriber, you can watch the Live Q&A on your own, but you won’t be able to join the live coaching with Annie Schiffmann. If you’d like to be placed in my small group for the talk-back, you’ll have to reserve a spot.

Topics, Speakers, and Group Coaching

Although it changes from month to month, what’s covered in the Live Q&As is a marketing or business concept of some sort. Recent topics have covered recession-proofing your business, growing your list with a lead generator, and fine-tuning your mission statement. They are led by either Donald Miller (Business Made Simple and Building a StoryBrand) or JJ Peterson (Marketing Made Simple).

After the presentation, we will break into a small group and I’ll lead a small group coaching. Although I’m not business expert, I have facilitated workshops for companies like American Express, Crayola, Twitch, and pretty much every pharmaceutical company you can think of. You’ll be able to evaluate your business by being guided by someone who knows how to ask the open ended questions that help you form your own conclusions. And you’ll always go home with a few action steps to take.

Time Commitment and Format

Here’s a breakdown of how timing works. Note: all times are in East Coast time.

10:45am: Welcome. Meet in small group. Introductions.

11:00am: Presentation begins.

11:45am: Host (Miller, Peterson) gives live coaching to an attendee

12:00pm: Small group meets and facilitation begins.

12:30pm: Session ends.

The total time commitment is one hour and forty-five minutes. And Live Q&As usually occur on Thursdays.

The event begins with us saying hello so we can understand the work that we’re doing. And so I can help make the content relevant to your brand. Many times creatives will say that they’re not really “in business” but if you get paid to do something, then you are. Are there are concepts that will work for you, if you know how to see them.

At the top of the hour the presentation with the host begins. It includes about forty-five minutes teaching on the subject, and then taking calls from participants to get their questions answered. When you register with me, you have the opportunity to submit your question and be coached by either Donald Miller or JJ Peterson.

Then when we meet up in a small group, I’ll ask questions to help filter the content through the lens of the work that you do. This is a great opportunity to network with other people, and understand how the struggles and aha moments they have can benefit you. We only have thirty minute together, so I like to cap the small group at only eight people to make sure that everyone gets enough individual attention.

Focus On Your Business Once a Month

Too often we are so busy doing all the things that we don’t take stock to actually improve our business. These Live Q&As become an easy way to set aside a little time each month to get better at what you do. The goal is to constantly make the process smoother. So that your audience can understand what you do, how it can make their lives better, and how they can get.

Join the Next Live Q&A

Reserve your spot for the next Live Q&A. There is limited space, so you’ll want to make sure you grab your spot now.