I joined my first Mastermind Group in 2015.
If I had known about this type of group many years before, I would have jumped at the chance. I’ve been running my own business for 19 years, starting up a roofing business when my first daughter, was on her way into the world.
I had always been a big thinker and always found myself with more questions than answers.
The problem was having someone to direct those questions at. I had a great bunch of friends, but sadly none of them had ever run their own business, so asking their advice on business matters was a risky activity.
I always took the time to ask questions to other business owners whenever I got the chance, but the problem was, most business owners are way too busy to share their valuable secrets with me, I got some snippets which helped, I was also influenced by comments that were made, usually over the canteen table at lunchtime or in the pub on a Friday afternoon.
It’s amazing how comments made in these environments, when weaved into a story by the storyteller, become accepted as the truth and influence some of the most important decisions you make in your business. As you would expect most of this advice was not that valuable.
What’s the alternative? How do you sift through the BS and get to the truth?
How do you learn the hard facts and not some over exaggerated story passed on from person to person until the truth becomes distorted?
The magic happened to me in my first Entrepreneur Group back in 2013. I was a member of a 100 person google group that also participated on a phone seminar every other week with a coach or mentor facilitating the call.
The group was great, but diverse. There were others who had the same kinds of questions that I had, some who had the answers too. But it didn’t take long before I felt like I wanted more.
It was better than the pub conversations but I still found myself wondering what was relevant, true and what I could implement into my business.
When I was offered the opportunity to join a high end Mastermind Group for £1800 a month, I found myself in a bit of a dilemma. I was sold on the idea, the benefits of being part of a group of other people willing to invest in themselves at that level was irresistible. The problem was the cost. £1800 was a lot of money to find every month.
I knew I was going to be amongst high achievers who were smart, switched on and totally focused on the activities that would make a positive impact on their own, and the other group members businesses.
I plucked up the courage and took the plunge, after all, it was what I was paying a medium level member of staff and I would be getting another 7 people who thought like me, to talk to whenever I liked.
I wasn’t disappointed. After a month or so conversing on a similar google group, we all finally met up for a 3 day summit, where we spent three days discussing our businesses in great detail. We talked about our challenges, our achievements and the tips, tricks and tools we used to accelerate our growth and success.
We formed a bond that first week that would see most of us doing business with each other over the next 2 years.
I found that there were members of the group that had walked a similar path to me on their journey, and had a lot of great insights to share with me that would prevent problems, help with developing my business and give my success a huge turbo boost.
Most importantly I found myself being able to help others see their challenges from a different perspective, having one group member come back to me over a year later quoting something I had said to him that had helped him in his business was a huge compliment, I felt honoured.
Listening to the diverse challenges that each member had lifted my awareness to levels I didn’t even know existed. I was in a group with guys that had multiple businesses, 3 other guys in construction, and even one in roofing. The impact on my levels of thinking and awareness were huge, well worth the £1800 per month I was investing in myself.
The actual physical tools I picked up to implement in my business also saved me years, if not decades… checkout the list below.
We shared the ups and downs, and were there to support each other without the fear of just having ‘yes’ men who would tell you what you wanted to hear.
There was no beating around the bush, I was correctly chastised whenever I wasn’t thinking straight, I had someone to kick me back on track. What would the consequences have been if I didn’t have these people watching my back? How many months of wasted time and money would I have burned up before realising my mistakes?
The investment in myself allowed me grow my business by £500,000 per year in 3 years.
Now how do you put a price on that?
How I’ve Benefitted…
Cash Flow Forecast Tools
KPI Measurement Tools
Quoting and Estimating tools
Online Payment Methods
Web Design Advice
Marketing and Sales Training
Personality Testing Software
Values Clarification Tools
Staffing & Recruitment
Sales & Marketing
The Responsibilities of a Managing Director
Investments
Business Systems
Business Modelling
Finance & Cashflow Management
Mindset & Self Development
