When I first started my business 6 years ago, I was under the mistaken impression that being self-employed meant I had to do it all by myself.
And even though I was pretty quick to get help with things like my website, when it came to sharing the challenges I was experiencing in my business, the fears and doubts that came up on a daily basis and the constant questioning about what I should do next, I kept ALL of this to myself. And it was exhausting.
I was operating in a vacuum, not letting anyone in, using pure will and guesswork to try and move forward in my business. (Sound familiar?)
Sometimes I would make progress, but then I’d hit a wall again and I’d feel like I was back at square one.
It was only when I went to a couple of business events in 2012 that I realised what it was like to be with a group of other people who were all building their own businesses.
- I heard other women talking about exactly the same challenges I had been experiencing. (Ah, so I wasn’t the only one!)
- I gleaned golden nuggets of information that I could implement straight away in my business.
- I listened to inspiring stories of women who were walking the path that I wanted to (and creating gorgeous abundance along the way).
- And I was able to ask some key questions that got me moving forwards to where I am today.
It was at one of these events that I was inspired to join my first online group mastermind. And I dived in at the deep-end. It was a year-long experience with weekly calls and to tell you the truth, it was probably a bit much for where I was at the time.
Why?
As a mastermind ‘virgin’, a whole year felt too long for me. I found myself drifting away from the group towards the end and didn’t make the most of my investment.
I wasn’t clear on my intentions for joining the mastermind. I was really inspired when I heard about the group and jumped in immediately, without thinking about what I really wanted to get out of it. So I wasn’t as focused as I could have been.
I held back from receiving the support I really needed. I was pretty sporadic in showing up for the calls, I didn’t ask for the help I actually needed (I was terrified of feedback!) and I still tried to go it alone much of the time (even though I was paying for my membership).
Saying that, when I look back, I still learned a lot from my first mastermind experience. It was the first time I’d taken my business online (and I made some sales of my first ever online programme – yay!) And I made connections that still continue to this day.
Since then, I’ve been in a number of mastermind groups and I’m a LOT more intentional about how I use them. The coaches I’ve worked with and groups I’ve been part of have been key in transitioning my business from a face-to-face hypnotherapy practice to an online business that enables me to be 100% location-independent (and that’s why Mr H and I have been able to take the opportunity to move to the States over the course of the next year).
So if you’re thinking about joining a mastermind group as your next step, here are some key points to consider:
1. How big is the group?
I’ve been in masterminds that have had thousands of members and others that have been as small as 6 people. Both have their place. In a larger group, you’re able to access a whole treasure trove of collective wisdom, but it can be challenging to make yourself heard and the faster pace of a big group can feel overwhelming. A smaller group gives the opportunity for deeper connections and can feel like a safer space where you can share more openly.
2) Is it paid or free?
Again I’ve been in both types of masterminds here and in my experience, when people invest money in a mastermind, they’re more committed to the process. Unless there’s a very clear intention, free masterminds can end up feeling unfocused.
3) Is there a clear leader?
Masterminds can either be run by one clear leader who brings the group together, or they can be more laissez-faire with the members running it themselves. Both can work well, but personally I prefer to have a leader who can maintain the focus of the group, hold a safe space, offer support, make suggestions and answer questions.
4) Is the group purely for mutual support or is there a teaching element?
Some masterminds will be a place where people working towards a similar outcome are able to share challenges with each other, ask questions and celebrate wins. Whereas others are set up with the aim of offering support and teaching the members about a specific subject – for example, my Unbound Business Mastermind has a strong teaching element where a new module is released each week to help you grow your business (and your income) in the remaining months of 2016. What do you need/want?
5) How long is the mastermind?
Masterminds can range from a short, intensive experience of, for example, four weeks, up to a year or longer. Some may run continually with people dropping in and out along the way. As I mentioned above, for my first mastermind experience a year felt like too long, but at the moment I’m part of a group that’s going to be running for around 9 months and it’s perfect for where I am right now. How about you? You want the group to run for long enough to feel that you can get stuff done and not so long that you lose focus and momentum.
6) What’s the structure of the mastermind?
Some masterminds can simply be a Facebook group where people are free to share challenges and ask questions. Others are more structured and may include all or some of the following:
- Online forum
- Group calls
- Hot-seat coaching
- Q&A
- Educational content
- Accountability
Personally I love to have more structure. I have a natural tendency to ‘go with the flow’, which is fine but but not when it comes to getting stuff done! Think about what works best for your personality and intentions for joining the mastermind.
7) Is the group set at the beginning or can people join at any time?
For most masterminds that are due to run for a set period of time, the group will be selected at outset and no-one can join once it’s started. This helps to build trust and connection within the group and creates a safe space. In other more open-ended masterminds, members may join or leave at any time, so it feels more free-flowing. This means that you have the opportunity to connect with different people at different times. Think about what would work best for you right now.
So there you are – 7 key points to consider when you’re thinking about joining a mastermind.
