You’ll gain critical insights on how life works and learn practical ways to live in the most fulfilling manner. 

In Secrets to Success I, you will learn about the cards nature deals us . . . human nature . . . how to detect your purpose, form desirable habits, and break undesirable ones. . . the tremendous role parents, teachers, coaches, mentors, and experiences play in your development . . . how to reframe your thoughts, elevate your self-talk, and develop executive function . . . how to eat well, maintain a desirable weight, and be healthy . . . how to increase our upside, limit our downside, and become financially independent, and . . . how to affiliate, be a team player, lead people, and continuously learn and improve.

In Secrets to Success II, you will learn about the practices that will help you have a successful marriage . . . raise well-adjusted children . . . give your children an excellent education . . . work for an outstanding company . . . be a better-informed citizen . . . and make a difference in your community and country.

Each class will have about 15 students. Students watch a video and do an assigned reading before coming to class. The video and reading are discussed in class.

Every aspect of this course is relevant to your life. The course is taught by a successful business and community leader, author, and voracious learner who has read, studied, and traveled throughout the country and world.

Yes, students who successfully complete Secrets to Success I with a B or better are guaranteed admission to Secrets to Success II. This allows you to continue your transformative journey, building on the foundations of the first course and further enhancing your skills and perspectives for a thriving future.

The courses are led by Professor Bitz, a successful entrepreneur, author, and community leader. He is a graduate of Purdue, Cornell, and Harvard Universities, and a lifelong student of evolution, science, history, culture, government, economics, business, investing, and leadership. He is well-read, educated, entrepreneurial, close to nature, thoughtful, and practical. He has traveled to all 50 states and over 50 countries and 200 cities. He was named among the “CNY 40 Under 40” and is the recipient of the Purdue University Alumni of Distinction Award. Flourish: Practices that Elevate Everyone’s Life is Mark’s fourth book and used in two courses he teaches at Florida Gulf Coast University. 

Working his way up to president, Professor Bitz owned and operated Plainville Turkey Farm, Inc. between 1991 and 2007. Under his leadership, the company pioneered an all-natural-ingredient deli line, animal-friendly practices, and turkeys grown on a vegetarian diet and without antibiotics. The business was the first turkey company to receive the American Humane Association’s “Free Farmed” Certification, and it also won the Onondaga County Conservation Farm of the Year Award, the American Culinary Institute Best Taste Award, and the New York State Agricultural Society Business of the Year. Professor Bitz founded a feed company in 1990 that he and one of his sons currently own, and he co-founded a crop company in 2005 that was the largest organic crop operation in the Northeast for several years.

Professor Bitz has coached youth soccer and basketball, was instrumental in building the Northwest YMCA in Baldwinsville, New York, and has served on numerous boards. He chaired the Empire State Young Presidents Organization (YPO), Northwest YMCA in Baldwinsville, and New York State 4-H Foundation. He was a director of the Greater Syracuse YMCA, Syracuse Metropolitan Development Association, New York State Business Council, National Turkey Federation, and Chief Executives Organization (CEO). Professor Bitz served on the Cornell Agriculture and Life Science Advisory Board and the Cornell University Council. He was Education Chair of the Chief Executives Organization for 6 years, founded the CEO Stanford President’s Seminar, and was a trustee of the Florida Nature Conservancy. He and his wife of 43 years.