Below are Frequently Asked Questions that should provide a better understanding of Apogee Academy and what it can do for you and your business. If you’re committed to getting the most from your business and your life, fill out a no-obligation Interest Form and find out what Apogee Academy can do for you.
- What is Apogee Academy?
- What is Apogee Academy’s mission?
- What is a roundtable?
- Why should I invest in Apogee Academy?
- Are membership in Apogee Academy and individual coaching mutually exclusive?
- How can I expect to benefit?
- Are there different types of roundtables?
- What happens at a roundtable meeting?
- What is the cost to become an Apogee Academy member?
- Are there any perks that come with being an Apogee Academy member??
- How does the application process work?
- Must I commit to a specific membership period?
- Am I well suited for membership?
- If I apply, am I guaranteed membership?
- Are their rules for the roundtable meetings?
- Why can’t I just create my own roundtable? Why do I need a facilitator/coach?
What is Apogee Academy?
Apogee Academy is a membership service designed to increase the effectiveness of your business and your life through participation in business roundtables.
What is Apogee Academy’s mission?
To encourage, support and improve the business and personal success of our members.
What is a roundtable?
Roundtables are monthly group meetings where you will partner with non-competing peer business leaders in a confidential environment to learn new strategies and tactics, solve problems, share expertise and reach effective solutions for improving business and personal success. If you are already familiar with the concept of Mastermind Groups, CEO Roundtables, or Peer Advisory Groups, then you have a general idea.
Why should I invest in Apogee Academy?
Like one-on-one coaching, roundtables are designed to assist you in maximizing your personal and business potential. If you recognize that “none of us is as smart as all of us”, then you realize that going it alone in today’s highly interconnected world and challenging economic times is not the optimal path to success. Participation in Apogee Academy will provide you with opportunities for constant growth and the means to reaching your goals more quickly and effectively.
Are membership in Apogee Academy and individual coaching mutually exclusive?
No. While roundtables can not approach the level of individual coaching in terms of customization and focus, individual coaching can not provide the variety of ideas, diverse feedback and multi-dimensional support you’ll find in business roundtables. Depending on your needs, desired outcomes and timetable for accomplishing goals, you may find that Apogee Academy, individual coaching or both might be best.
How can I expect to benefit?
Support and Encouragement – While you may garner various types of support (e.g., board of directors, consultants, trade associations, family and friends, etc.), each of these supporters has a particular agenda as well as differing levels of understanding, focus, and interest with regards to your business. The peers in your roundtable will strategically focus on improving the success of your business via honest, unbiased feedback and consistent encouragement.
Growth – You’ve probably heard the saying “if you’re not growing you’re dying.” For business leaders it should further read “if you’re not growing your business is dying”. Here, we are not just referring to top or bottom line growth of your business, but also your personal growth and that of your employees. Apogee Academy provide an environment that fosters and expects continuous growth.
Safe Haven – By engaging with a group of hand selected, similar but non-competing peers in an environment of mutually agreed to confidentiality, a trusted circle develops. You can expect to forge long-lasting relationships with other members that will continue to enrich your business and personal life outside of monthly meetings and even beyond membership in the Academy.
Unbiased Feedback – Where else can you currently go to consistently get unbiased feedback from a diverse group of similar business owners regarding your toughest business issues and decisions?
Advice/Guidance – Within your roundtable you will have the opportunity to learn from others who have gone before you in some areas as well as provide guidance in other areas where you have specific knowledge and experience.
Creativity Factory – Even in those instances where you are not able to directly benefit from the experiences of other members, you can certainly benefit from the creativity and diversity of ideas generated through brainstorming and sharing opportunities.
Group Wisdom – In addition to the conventional and common sense wisdom of “two heads are better than one”, research is proving that a multitude of decisions and forecasts are better performed by groups than individuals. What better way to tap into group wisdom than to have your own team of trusted advisors?
Group Learning – While you will bring your most pressing opportunities and challenges to each meeting, you will learn as much, or more, by listening to and supporting other members in addressing their opportunities and challenges. Every topic or discussion represents an opportunity to learn or support learning.
Accountability – Regardless of any governing bodies or stakeholders to which you are accountable, consistently maintaining and demonstrating personal accountability is a hallmark of an effective business leader. Your roundtable peers will support this by helping you maintain focus and follow through on your commitments.
Strategic Sanctuary – Business leaders rarely make sufficient time for strategic thinking. But in your roundtable, topics tend to be, and are intended to be, more strategic in nature. Think of it as a place apart where your focus can be working on your business, rather than in it.
Sharing Resources – Just as you are aware of exceptional partners, suppliers, tools, technologies and educational resources, so are your peers. By sharing your best resources with other members of your roundtable, everyone benefits.
Are there different types of roundtables?
Apogee Coaching hosts multiple roundtables based on business type and level. Type is primarily about the form (e.g., entrepreneurial, small business, independent service provider, tech company, etc.) and the function (e.g., service or product provider, B2B, B2C, etc.) of your business. Level is generally based on the organizational maturity of a business, but may alternatively be based on one’s own business experience, if that varies dramatically from the maturity of the business. Roundtables will typically be of a particular type, but may include individuals from varying levels.
What happens at a roundtable meeting?
While topics and discussions will vary, the lion’s share of the agenda will be dedicated to providing members with an opportunity to address their most important issues by tapping into your roundtable for ideas, feedback and decision-making. Additionally, some time will typically be allotted to key topics of interest. Finally, all meetings will close with a retrospective, to maintain a spirit of continuous improvement.
What is the cost to become an Apogee Academy member?
It depends. Apogee Academy is focused on creating a community of roundtables with pricing levels accessible and appropriate business owner of all types. Discounts are available for those who wish to pay annually. Filling out a no-obligation Interest Form will allow us to determine the right roundtable for you and your business.
Are there any perks that come with being an Apogee Academy member?
As a member of Apogee Coaching, you can participate in Academy-Only Events and receive an Apogee Academy discount on other events and services provided by Apogee Coaching and selected partners. Once you have taken part in Apogee Academy for one full year, you automatically become an Apogee Alumni, which provides you with further discounts and benefits.
How does the application process work?
- First, you fill out a no-obligation Interest Form.
- Then, we will contact you to discuss your interest and experience, as well as the program applicability, in more detail.
- If there is a shared belief that Apogee Coaching will meet your needs, you will be asked to fill out and return an Apogee Academy Application along with the initial enrollment fee.
- When a roundtable opening is available, you will be notified, and payment of your monthly dues will activate your membership.
Must I commit to a specific membership period?
We ask that each member make a firm commitment to attend their first four month’s meetings. This ensures continuity for the roundtable and provides you with sufficient time to fully experience and assess the benefits of membership. If at any time after the first four months you feel like that the Academy is not able to meet your needs, simply provide 30 days written notice of your desire to cancel (email is fine) and you will receive a pro-rata refund of any advanced payments.
Am I well suited for membership?
In general, ideal roundtable members possess or desire to possess the following attributes:
Life-Long Learning – Members who maintain a desire for continuous learning will receive the maximum benefit from the service’s offerings.
A Service First Mentality – Members who are free with their knowledge, who listen to understand, and maintain a service first mentality, will naturally attract others and find that they receive as much or more than they give.
Presence of Mind – Commitment to staying fully engaged with all members at the monthly meetings is essential to maximizing the benefits to all members.
Open Mindednessness – Maintaining consistent respect for each member’s diverse set of insights and opinions is a must. While you may resonate more with certain members, the best ideas and feedback may come from those with whom you resonate least.
Effective Communication – An effective communicator is an effective listener. Learning to listen with focus and empathy, carefully considering whether or not and how to respond, are earmarks of a skilled communicator. Monthly roundtable meetings provide an ideal opportunity to practice and hone these skills.
Success Orientation – Members should not only commit to success in their business, but also to growing both personally and interpersonally to achieve this success.
If I apply, am I guaranteed membership?
To maintain the quality and effectiveness of our roundtables, membership in Apogee Academy can not be guaranteed. Membership is at the sole discretion of Apogee Coaching.
Are there rules for roundtable meetings?
To create an ideal environment, all members must agree to The Code, before being accepted into Apogee Academy. Don’t worry, there’s no hazing. The Code is simply a set of guidelines for participation designed to maximize the quality of interactions and the effectiveness of the roundtables. You will be provided a copy of The Code with your Apogee Academy Application.
Why can’t I just create my own roundtable? Why do I need a facilitator/coach?
Of course you can create your own roundtable, but a professional facilitator is a key success criterion for a group of this nature. It is impossible to be both a fully engaged member and an effective facilitator. To realize the full potential of such a group, the proper environment must be created and maintained. This requires a professional facilitator with strong interpersonal skills who can formulate and guide the meetings, ensuring that each member is given the opportunity to contribute and benefit from the group’s dynamic, without undue bias or agenda. In addition to forming and speeding the development of a healthy, vital, effective group, facilitators provide other functions, including:
- member selection and communication
- member matching and redistribution amongst roundtables
- organization and preparation of meetings
- development of discussion topics and training
- coordination of guest speakers
- monitoring of member performance and satisfaction
- scheduling and preparation of facilities
- recording of minutes