VISIONS & VALUES
QUESTIONS & answers
WHAT EXACTLY IS A VISION HANDBOOK AND WHY DO I NEED ONE?
Your Vision Handbook contains the vision for your company. We created this course after writing our own Vision Handbook for Sister and finding it to be a powerful process that resulted in a valuable document. Through writing our handbook, we were able to imagine new possibilities and think outside of the box to chart our own path in business, one that honors our specific values and vision. Sister’s Vision Handbook is something we share with our collaborators, employees, and stakeholders to give them a wholistic picture of our purpose and who we are, as a company. It also contains ideas and possibilities for the future, providing us ongoing inspiration. We return to it when we are feeling disconnected from our original vision; it quickly reconnects us with what we are doing and why it matters.
If you are familiar with Sister’s Trimester Theory, this course corresponds with the Visioning stage of business development. In this stage, you flesh out your concept and clarify what your business will look like. The purpose of the Visioning stage is to give you time and space to cultivate your imagination and entertain all ideas before barreling headlong into launch. We created this course to support you in working through the Visioning stage.
IS THIS THE SAME THING AS WRITING A BUSINESS PLAN?
A Vision Handbook tells the story of what and why for your business, but it does not explain how your business will work. When you write a business plan, you are in the Engineering stage, solving problems and designing systems to support your business and ensure it will thrive. The Engineering stage comes after the Visioning stage in our approach. Your Vision Handbook is an important precursor to writing your business plan because it clarifies what business you are creating, so that when it’s time to develop your systems and budget and materials, you know exactly what you’re creating them for.
If you are already up-and-running in your business and not intending to write a business plan, your Vision Handbook will reinvigorate your business as you imagine new possibilities for your next stage of growth and reconnect you with the excitement and enthusiasm you felt when you first started your venture.
I DON'T HAVE A BUSINESS YET, I JUST HAVE AN IDEA. IS THIS COURSE RIGHT FOR ME?
No, if you are new to business, you will need to take Concepts & Conception before enrolling in Visions & Values. If you have taken Concepts & Conception and are ready for the Visioning stage, this is for you.
I'M ALREADY IN BUSINESS. IS THIS COURSE GOING TO BE USEFUL?
YES! Visions & Values is designed for entrepreneurs ready to cultivate a vibrant vision for their company, founded on feminine and feminist principles.
If you have been in business for a while and are feeling bored, stuck, burned out, needing to pivot, or ready to have a greater social impact, V&V will give you the tools to re-imagine your offerings, reconnect with your purpose, or reposition your entire business.
If you are a solopreneur (meaning, you are your business’s only employee), this course will support you in developing a vision for the future where you can make more without having to work more.
I AM NOT A BUSINESS OWNER, I'M AN INTRAPRANEUR/MANAGER/LEADER WITHIN MY COMPANY AND VERY INTERESTED IN V&V, IS THIS FOR ME?
I'M NOT A FULL-TIME ENTREPRENEUR AND DON'T PLAN ON BECOMING ONE, BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THESE IDEAS. CAN I JOIN YOU?
V&V provides a valuable community for those engaged with the challenging and emotional work of entrepreneurship. It is not designed for employees wanting to bring these concepts into their workplace nor is it appropriate for those with primarily an intellectual interest in the material (academics, press, writers, researchers). Please consider our publications for deeper engagement.
I'M INTERESTED IN THIS COURSE BUT I'M A NORMAL HUMAN WITH SOME STUFF GOING ON (LIFE/WORK/KIDS/HOLIDAYS). WHAT DAYS/TIMES OF THE WEEK DOES THIS HAPPEN?
We like to set our own hours too! This course + community is housed on Mighty Networks. Every Tuesday you will get a new bundle of materials to engage with throughout the week. Participants should expect to devote 3 hours weekly during the 8-week course. We interact with you via the online discussion posts and live videos. Please note that most of the content requires an active internet connection to view.
There is a kick-off call on April 8 at 12pm PDT, and there are four 90-minute live video classes to give you the opportunity to ask questions from the curriculum and get advice directly from Jenn & Amelia. These take place on Zoom.us. If you can't attend these, don't worry! We will record the videos and post them online within 24 hours for you to view.
90-Minute Live Classes
Week 3: April 22 at 12pm PDT (Los Angeles time zone)
Week 6: May 20 at 12pm PDT
Week 7: May 27 at 12pm PDT
Week 8: June 3 at 12pm PDT
There will also be bi-monthly community video support calls in June, July and August. Tentative dates for those are: June 17, July 1, July 22, August 12, and August 26. Time TBD.
WHAT KIND OF INVOLVEMENT/SUPPORT DOES SISTER PROVIDE?
Throughout the 5 months, we create posts, monitor and participate in the online discussion threads on Mighty Networks to answer your questions, provide clarity, and cheer you on. We guide the 8-week course by posting new materials every week in the community, engaging with the discussion threads on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and hosting 4 live Zoom classes. After the 8 week course is completed, we host 2 videos calls a month for 3 months to offer you ongoing support. We do not take phone calls and we do not offer individualized feedback on the materials via email. If you need help or want to engage more deeply with materials, we ask you to post your question in the community or pose it in a video class so that we can explore it together, as a group.
IF I DECIDE TO LEAVE/QUIT/ABANDON THE COURSE, WILL I GET MY MONEY BACK?
All sales are final. If you choose to pay monthly and you quit or abandon the course, your card will continue to be charged until your tuition has been paid in-full. We do not offer refunds. If you want to ensure that V&V is right for you before making a commitment, we are happy to hop on the phone with you for a 15-minute fit call to help you determine if it will meet your needs.
I WANT TO SHARE THIS MATERIAL WITH MY BUSINESS/LIFE PARTNER/TEAM. IS THAT OKAY?
All prices are per person, not per business (or partnership). If you have registered with the intention of sharing with someone who is not enrolled, they will need to pay the full tuition amount in order to use these materials. Any accounts that are shared or logged into by users other than the enrolled participant will be terminated without refund. If you want to enroll with a partner, reach out to us for a discount.
DO YOU OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS?
Yes! We offer up to 6 partial scholarships, with priority given to womxn of color who demonstrate financial need. Learn more and apply here.
If you are capable of paying full price, please do not apply. These are for those who cannot otherwise participate. If you do not qualify for a scholarship but still need financial support, we offer a monthly payment plan.
I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS.
Please email us and we will arrange a short phone call to help you determine if this course is a good fit for your needs.
I'M IN. WHERE DO I SIGN UP?