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Mark Arteaga - RedBit Development
"One of my biggest challenges with running a business is who do you turn to when facing a business challenge? Who do you turn to when you want advice? The best source is other entrepreneurs who are willing to share their past experiences and challenges. That's what you get at the Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group. The group always has feedback on business issues and has given me the opportunity to critically think on strategies to grow my business, set goals and be accountable for those goals."

Louis Trahan - Last Minute Training
"Being part of the Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group connects me to advice and expertise of other professionals who really CARE about my success. Mentorship groups like these are an indispensable part of starting a business today."

Mark Ellwood - Pace Productivity
"I have always believed that the people I know contribute to my success. The Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group has allowed me to expand my network and meet some very successful entrepreneurs."

Raye Ackerman - ITS Dispatch
"Since becoming involved with the Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group, it has truly been an eye opening experience to see that other business owners like myself, are struggling with the same daily challenges. Our group is quite balanced and we have some members that have already dealt with many of my current issues and offer great input and advice on how to work through them. Ultimately, the group acts as a great motivator to keep me on track and accountable for financial targets and to ensure that issues that I plan on dealing with are dealt with... (No later than the next meeting!)"

Max Kalles - Orange Digital Marketing Inc
“The Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group gives me the ability to interact, share, and learn from fellow business owners who have the same problems and challenges that I face as an entrepreneur on a daily basis. The group helps me to set goals and an action plan for my business, and then holds me accountable for achieving those goals.”

Gary Shouldis - The Little Gym
"Being a part of theToronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group is like having my own private council of great business minds ready to help me work through any business challenge I face.  Each month I leave the meetings feeling refreshed and excited to tackle the challenges and opportunities that wait for me.  I never would have met such a wonderful group of business minds on my own, great work organizing it Evan!"

Kim Gans - Sweet Flour
"The Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group has been a tremendous asset in helping me turn my entrepreneurial goals into reality. The group has helped me think through business issues and has been a great sounding board for new ideas. I appreciate the group’s openness and diversity of thinking, as they are not afraid to challenge me. It is these rich discussions that help me become a better entrepreneur."

Simon Payn - Ready to Go Newsletters
"I have made thousands of dollars by being part of the Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group. Why? Because when I go there I get great ideas followed by a swift kick to the butt to put those ideas into action. I added a major product line to my business at the start of the year after the group reinforced and prompted me to implement an idea that had been knocking around my head for months. That product will probably become 50% of my revenue in the next year. This is the great thing about meeting regularly with a group of smart business people: the members bring street-savvy advice to your business that comes from a perspective that is outside your business. To anyone walking the lonely road of entrepreneurship, that kind of input is extraordinarily valuable."

Michael Nguyen - Sprezzatura
"The Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group is a place where successful entrepreneurs in different industries can leverage their different knowledge set. It is a place where I go to discuss and formulate ideas."

Suky Sodhi - Professional Selection, Inc
"Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group provides a unique personal forum to gain a broad range of unbiased, independent, very high quality perspectives on issues you face and ideas on how to overcome challenges. The Group idea is special and valuable as you contribute and grow as a group."

Steven Albiani - The Haunn Group
"TheToronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group has to date has been a positive experience for me and my business to be a part of. It is rare to have the opportunity to meet on a regular basis with individuals that share the same passion for building something beyond themselves. The group has given me a network to critically think about opportunities and issues providing a proactive approach to my business strategy. I appreciate being held accountable for the goals that I set in my business by the group because the end result is seeing those come to fruition quicker."

Alfredo Arias - Flash Fog Security
"My experience with the Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group has been wonderful. Our business has evolved in important ways from insights discussed at a meeting. The members really complement each other, and at the end you get refined ideas that you can put to use immediately"

Mark Drager - Phanta Media
“As an Entrepreneur, who do you turn to for advice? Family members? Friends? Ex Co-workers? In most cases they don't understand the challenges I'm facing because they haven't been there. The Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group is made up of Entrepreneurs who HAVE been there – they've faced the challenges that lay ahead of me and through shared camaraderie will help me overcome them.”

Kris Schantz - Happy Worker
“The Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group is a cross between a league of entrepreneurial superheroes and a no-nonsense support group. My own strengths and weaknesses are checked by my group mates, who actively support and motivate me to meet my targets, be a better entrepreneur and a better person. Before I joined the group I was a 150-pound business weakling… now look at me! Beefcake. Beefcake!!”

Karim Ismail - Keep Any Promise
"My fellow entrepreneurs at the Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group have provided me with great insight with a new business venture I am launching, providing much more clarity regarding my vision and how best to execute a launch plan. They have also provided invaluable CEO level contacts through their networks that I would have never been able to reach. At VERY meeting, the learning on the part of all members is staggering, with very helpful suggestions around difficult issues faced by entrepreneurs."

Dr. Anna B. Baranowsky - Traumatology Institute
"As a Clinical Psychologist, my background did not provide me with any business training. In the Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group I have found a tremendous resource of people who are willing to discuss all aspects of running a business. There is such diversity among the members who range in their professions as well in the development of their businesses. So we all learn about every stage of business development and the idea generation for complex problems is an enjoyable and worthwhile exercise every time. Bravo Evan for putting together such an terrific program."

John Carter - Real Estate Entrepreneur
"Ever feel like you’re nuts being an Entrepreneur? Like you have no-one who understandings the challenges you face, and to share in your successes? The Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group is a group of like-minded, equally successful entrepreneurs that are equally open to share feedback and ideas on my businesses as they are open to my input. I wouldn’t be an entrepreneur without a group like this."

 
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Mastermind Meeting

Mastermind Meeting

You may have come across the term Mastermind Group online or through entrepreneurial contacts. The popularity of these groups are growing in abundance due to the “two heads are better than one” philosophy or running a successful business. Mastermind meetings involve a group of entrepreneurs, preferably from different sectors, getting together on a regular basis to discuss their business, issues and challenges and share best practices, advice and skills.

Mastermind meetings started when Napolean Hill created the concept and documented it in his book Think and Grow Rich. He called the concept Mastermind Alliance and discussed how joining forces with other like-minded individuals can help achieve both those individual's goals and objectives.

Since then Mastermind meetings have quickly gained popularity. They are a great deal less expensive than retaining a private business coach and allow entrepreneurs to network, build contacts and use the resources and skills of a group as opposed to one sole mentor or coach.

Think about how many contact you have personally and professionally. Now consider an average mastermind group which has anywhere from four to twelve participants. Multiply your contacts by that amount and you can see that attending Mastermind meetings can really open your contact and networking circle and give you the opportunity to get first hand referrals. For example, if you are just starting your business and require an accountant, you may be lucky enough to get several great referrals from your group members, directing you to accountants that they have personally used as well as their network of contacts.

There is definitely an accountability factor to attending a regular Mastermind meeting monthly or bi-weekly. Completing your goals when someone is waiting and expecting to hear the outcome becomes a priority to many entrepreneurs. They don't want to seem unorganized or lazy in front of others and they want to celebrate their successes. It is a great motivator to have that sense of accountability.

If you are shopping for the right Mastermind group you need ask the right questions. What kind of experience and background does the facilitator have and what is their involvement with the group? How often are Mastermind meetings scheduled and is there additional follow up during the month? How expensive is membership and are the additional hidden costs? Is there a social aspect to the meetings or is it strictly professional? Is there attention given to the sectors that the group members are experienced in and do they act in a complimentary way?

Successful Mastermind meetings involve a group of complimenting members. It is ideal if you can join a group that has experience in several of the areas you are lacking. For example, a group that has an expert in Systems or Information Technology with another expert in sales and another in marketing, will add value to a start up entrepreneur. Ensure that you ask the right questions and have an opportunity to try one Mastermind meeting before signing up.

 

Learn more about the Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Groups here.