Why Your Business Needs A Peer-Led MasterMind Group
Friday, November 17, 2006
My friend Ken, who teaches at the National College of
Naturopathic Medicine, describes the 'Big Gulp' that most new
doctors face.
The 'Big Gulp' is what happens when the new doctor has been
through years of school, amassed a six-figure medical school
debt, and graduated with her friends and colleagues. She
excitedly rents a space to open her medical practice, hangs out
her shingle, and waits for clients.
Gulp. Big Gulp.
Even if you aren't a doctor, I bet you know the Big Gulp.
There are a lot of reasons for the Big Gulp- lack of business
knowledge, lack of marketing knowledge, fear of failure,
financial pressures, fear of failing her patients, even fear of
success.
But, as a doctor might say, those are just symptoms. They aren't
the true cause of the Big Gulp. What's really happened is our
young doctor friend has been kicked out of the nest to fly on her
own. She's spent years with mentors, colleagues, classmates,
clinics, and study groups, learning and growing the whole time.
Can you imagine becoming a doctor, a good doctor, a confident
doctor, using a home study course? The Big Gulp is really about
isolation and lack of support. The trouble is that while there
are many different ways to get support, only certain kinds of
support really work to move you forward. The support that many
business owners end up getting falls into one of two categories:
* Knowledge acquisition.
This includes books, CDs, even live classes. But it's all
information, and doesn't actually give you the support to
integrate knowledge and follow-through with it.
* Maintenance support.
Maintenance support is a shoulder to cry on, friends who will
commiserate with you about your situation, an empathetic
colleague.
I'm a big believer in both of these- you should get plenty of
them. But, on their own, they won't move your business forward.
So, what will?
Enter: The MasterMind
A MasterMind is a peer-led group that comes together to combine
some elements of information and maintenance support, but also
has what I call 'Progressive Support.' Progressive support
includes a critical element: compassionate accountability.
Compassionate accountability comes from folks you trust enough to
be able to tell you the truth, to nudge you forward, to support
you moving into uncomfortable areas of learning and application.
Compassionate accountability is NOT what drill sergeants dish
out, nor is it what your nightmare coach from whatever high
school sport you tortured yourself with did to you. :)
You can get Progressive Support from certain types of classes,
and I recommend taking those classes (heck, that's why I offer
them myself. Plus, I'm taking one with another teacher, too.)
But, don't rely on classes as the be-all, end-all. Instead, you
want a peer-led MasterMind group.
There are three simple reasons why you want a MasterMind group as
a foundation in your business.
1. It's free.
Classes cost money. Money is an important element in any
business, and there are many things you need to invest in. But,
getting your basic, foundational support for free as a give and
take with trusted colleagues builds a whole different level of
relationship.
2. It can last forever.
What if a class you are taking ends and you don't find another
one? A Mastermind group can last for years, and provide
consistency and perspective no matter what you are learning, or
what your business is needing.
3. It's peer-led.
In a class situation, you are paying someone to lead. But, as a
business owner, you need certain strengths in leadership. A
peer-led group gives you the opportunity to both lead and be led.
It develops needed aspects that may never come up when you are
paying someone to lead you.
My MasterMind group is the biggest key to why my business has
been so successful. Without my MasterMind, I can name at least a
dozen major successes (including finishing my book, and getting
the Business Oasis up and running) that wouldn't have happened,
or would've taken a LOT longer without that support.
So, I hope I've convinced you. Let me give you some pointers to
starting your own Mastermind
Keys to a Powerful Mastermind
Although the MasterMind for the Heart booklet goes into much more
detail, here are some starting points.
* The People
Obviously, without members, you aren't anywhere. You don't need
more than four, and you should look for the following
characteristics:
1. You like them.
2. Their business is in -roughly- (very roughly) the same place
as yours.
3. They have skills, abilities and knowledge that are outside
your experience.
* The Commitment
You will want to make at least a one-year initial commitment. A
MasterMind is a living, breathing organic structure, and it will
take time to get through the bumps. Don't expect miracles from
the get-go.
But, by making a one-year commitment, you'll be able to get into
a groove with each other.
* The Structure
My own MasterMind combines partnering up one-on-one for
individual help, as well as our group conference calls. And the
daily check-in done on a private forum.
Incorporate those three structures: group meetings, individual
one-on-one time, and a convenient place for a quick daily
check-in, and you've got a lot of the basics in place.
Now, stop doing it all alone, and go ye forth and MasterMind.
My very best to you and your business,
Mark Silver
----------------------------------------------------------
Mark Silver is the author of Unveiling the Heart of Your
Business: How Money, Marketing and Sales can Deepen Your
Heart, Heal the World, and Still Add to Your Bottom Line.
He has helped hundreds of small business owners around
the globe succeed in business without losing their
hearts. Get three free chapters of the book online:
http://www.heartofbusiness.com
posted by Dennis Cheesman @ 2:51 PM,
