From Isolation to Group Think

Guest Contributor: Debbie Lousberg
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The power of just what masterminding can do really came through with a recent comment from a member of my Career Transition Club. She's been out of work for several months and just joined this group of mid-level professionals looking for positive change in their work lives. She said during her introduction that she looks forward to coming to the meetings because before now, she was so isolated and cut off from anyone in the same situation that could really understand her predicament. Now she comes to the weekly meetings knowing she'll be surrounded by fellow job seekers who can relate to her, offer sound advice, and have her best interests at heart. Just knowing that others are cheering her on and want her to succeed makes all the difference to her.

Wow. When I formed this group, I knew that bringing people together to talk about the challenges of being unemployed, overqualified, and having to search for work in a tough job market would at least benefit by hearing what others are going through at the same time. What I continue to realize each week is that the benefits go even deeper than that. There's solace in being with people, perhaps strangers at first, who have a common bond of living with the same set of circumstances. There's a powerful camaraderie that comes from connecting with others outside of our usual circle of family and friends - objective outsiders looking in on us with fresh eyes seeing things we may not.

What I witness each week that far outweighs my original intention is the spirit of masterminding at its finest. A group of people otherwise feeling isolated and without resources while in the uncomfortable place of seeking work walk out of the meeting chatting, laughing, and sharing ideas with each other about what they might do next. I watch in quiet admiration at the evolution of these individuals as they develop into that supportive uplifting cohesive group that accomplishes so much together because they were drawn out of their isolation into a much better place.