This has been an interesting year so far and it's just underway. We've expanded to 7 members and we are still figuring out how to reorganize while still growing in our individual projects. Ira has gotten his multi-million dollar business started. And the reason it will succeed is that it will save lives, making life safer for over a million kids a year. Sandy has re-organized his holistic health center and is busier than ever... Mark has booked significantly more business so far this year than ever before. Ron and Doug are more creative than ever and Mike has just landed a brand new job. I've had an emotionally difficult year, but I am attracting more and more good things into my life.
We are now looking to invent or discover a new project that we can all work on together - not as easy as it sounds. We are in three different states so geography is definitely a consideration. I think a first step will be to have a face to face day-long meeting. I'll keep you posted.
Guest Contributor: Michelle Rumney Michelle's Posts - Michelle's Blog I'm starting yet another new group next month. Is there any end in sight? How on earth am I going to fit it all into normal working hours? Do I have a strange addiction to formal arenas for communicating?
No, it's because I consistently experience the Value in forming and joining and participating in these amazing groups. It doesn't matter who the members are, or what walks of life or experience they come from, you will always learn from others in meeting, exchanging opinions, ideas, points of view and advice. Always.
I now 'belong' to three such groups, one of which was started by someone else, one of which was started by a friend and one of which I started myself. And I'm just about to start a fourth. All are unique, all are incredibly valuable on both a personal and a business level, and all of them demand a commitment in order to reap these benefits - the simple commitment to show up whenever they're on.
So, just as you think your schedule is maxed out and almost bursting at the seams, I challenge you to take another look at it and ask yourself when you could create an hour somewhere within it - maybe monthly, or every two months, maybe weekly or fortnightly - to network, exchange and think with others. It will pay you back tenfold - to step outside yourself and your own universe for just an hour, which is nothing in the Big Scheme of things - and see what comes.
Make your own contribution to solutions to the Global Crisis by co-creating something new, something that has never existed before -totally unique fresh ideas, using a combination perhaps of wisdom, experience (this isn't the first time there's been a crisis), enthusiasm, naive-ity, curiosity, objectivity, listening, questioning, business acumen, creativity, marketing, thinking out of the box, and too many others to mention...
So, even if you're already in a Mastermind group, or running one, think again... Are we there yet? Thank goodness, no.
Guest Contributor: KayleenReusser Kayleen's Posts - Kayleen's Blog It seems the downturn of the US economy is affecting everything. My husband is losing his job because his place of work is closing. Our family has had to make changes which, in turn, will affect my MasterMind group.
My MasterMind group currently meets on a weekday morning. I've been working part-time since we began, which has enabled me to meet monthly with my MasterMind group. Now I'm looking for a full-time job which may require me to work during the regular weekday.
If I find a job that meets during our MasterMind time, I may have to drop out of the group. Being a small group (3), this may affect the group greatly. I would hate to see them disband because I could not be there. Hopefully they could find other members to take my place and continue to meet. I think enough of them to wish them the best. But at this point I can't make attending the meetings a priority. Earning steady money and hopefully finding a job with benefits is my most important task. I know they understand this.
My outlook for a job is not certain. Thus, I will continue to meet with my MasterMind group. Each time we get together the others encourage me. It seems like those two hours we spend together are some of the best of my month. We laugh a lot and tease each other and eventually get down to serious business. At this point they are some of my best friends. Leaving the group would be a sad thing for me. But necessity speaks loudly, especially when it means helping to keep our family financially solvent.
I'm praying about the matter and know God will lead me to the right job. Has the economy affected your MasterMind group? If so, how are you dealing with it?
Our Mastermind Business Group was recently on the cover of a local business magazine. We were so fortunate to have the opportunity to share our story and the importance of surrounding yourself with successful people in order to achieve your highest potential. An exciting upside of being on a magazine cover is that many people will know our names when we randomly meet them. "Oh! Anne-Marie ... Aren't you in that ... Group? I read about you. Tell me more." This is a wonderful way to make new friends and to spread the good news about a Mastermind group.
Another positive thing that came out of the business magazine cover is that we have a list of people that would like to get into the group. It's nice to have a waiting list of interested, qualified applicants who would like to join our group when there is an opening that comes up.
If you are running a successful Mastermind group, getting press is a natural progression for your group. After all, who doesn't love good press? And since most people in a Mastermind group are in business as well, any press in about a smart business decision or group business success is helpful.
We landed our cover by simply asking. We got one of our group members to write to the publisher of the magazine with the message: "Hey! We've got a great story for you. What about the idea of profiling a group of six successful businesswomen who all work in conjunction to help support and grow their businesses in a formal way? Are you interested?" We were thrilled when we received a positive answer on our first pitch.
In addition to the other positive results mentioned above, the best result from this cover story is that three or four Mastermind Business Groups have been set up as a direct result of people being inspired after reading our experiences.
What are you waiting for? Go get you and your Mastermind Group some great press to increase your visibility and help to spread the news about this wonderful business tool.
Most business owners are very good at making goals. Unfortunately business goals often end up like New Year's resolutions... great ideas that never get done.
In many ways business owners are not like those that are employees. But when it comes to follow through on a plan versus winging it, they are just like every other person if not worse. Call it entrepreneurial spirit or what it really is; wearing too many hats to follow a structure and instead getting it done as time permits while putting out fires.
We all fall into this trap and the real reason is because the only people we have to answer to is our clients. Now of course businesses that have a board of advisors sort of have people to answer to. And those that have boards and others that are actually investors definitely have people to answer to.
This seemingly insignificant factor makes a huge difference in how an entrepreneur handles a business. There are a number of solutions to this problem that also solve many other issues that business owners face.
For those that like 1-on-1 problem solving, hiring a paid coach/advisor is the way to go. If you prefer a group setting with peers and a coach as a facilitator, then a business mastermind group is often a solution to the problem of being lonely at the top.
The name of the game with setting and reaching goals is accountability. No journal, computer program, etc will actually force you to do what it takes to make a goal a reality.
For this to happen three things need to be in place. First you need to set down realistic goals with a time line and measureable results. Next you need to structure a plan to reach those goals. And most importantly, you need to take action and follow the plan to make the goal a reality.
Most do part one. Some do part two. And almost nobody does part three unless they have accountability attached to it. Mastermind groups force the accountability into action. The facilitator makes sure your goals are feasible. But the group as a whole adds assistance, encouragement, and good old embarrassment for you not doing what you said you would.
This all ties together to give you the confidence, encouragement, resources and drive to get it done. Now you have multiple people to answer to and get help from instead of living on an island. Nobody survives on an island by themselves.
The bottom line; goals are very difficult to bring to fruition with out accountability. So set them, structure the plan, and utilize a business mastermind group to help you put them into action.
EvanCarmichael.com is the world's #1 website for small business motivation and strategies. Evan also runs a series of successful Mastermind Groups in Toronto for entrepreneurs.
Guest Contributor: Michael Lipp
