I can’t stand some of the promotions we see promising “Make a Million” doing this, that or whatever. In fact, usually I don’t even believe the person promoting the event has ever seen a million, forget making a million.
As for me, I’m a multi-thousandaire … and happy. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t mind becoming a millionaire. I’m just a realist. Truth is, most speakers and consultants I know are more like me in the money department. That said, I love to hang around with people who are much smarter, richer and funner than me. Funner? Is that even a word? It should be if it isn’t.
This brings me to masterminding! Being in a mastermind group is one of the best decisions I have ever made. There are four in my group. We all live in St. Louis. We meet typically once a month for a few hours. Each January, we retreat overnight and have a longer meeting discussing our goals for the coming year, etc.
I consider my group my quasi “Board of Directors”. Truth is, I don’t make a major move in my business without discussing it with the group. Call it “collective wisdom”, or merely being a chicken, it gives me confidence.
There are some important considerations when forming a group. Size – too big and everyone may not have time to talk about their concerns each month. To small and you may not have the amount of feedback you wish for.. A big consideration is this – is everyone at or near the same place/level in their business? By that I mean, same experience. If I joined a group of veteran speakers and I’m a newbie it would be all “take” on my end. I wouldn’t have much to offer them.
Members in my group include:
Kathleen Passanisi, CSP, CPAE (for those of you who are not members of NSA it means she’s in the Speaker Hall of Fame … big deal!) Kathy speaks on therapeutic humor. Incredibly, we were sorority sisters in college and reconnected years later!
Pam Vaccaro, CSP. Pam is a Certified Speaking Professional, a certified designation earned from the National Speakers Association. She speaks on time management, and is a real thought leader with her program on “FDD”. Focus Deficit Disorder. Don’t you just love that?
Nancy Wegge, PHD. Nancy has a doctorate in adult education and speaks on service and motivation. I have asked her on occasion to prescribe medication. She won’t. She insists she’s not that kind of doctor. Oh well …
As I said, I like to hang out with people who are smarter, richer, more fun… and they are!
We have been together for ten years. We know each other’s businesses very well. In fact, four years ago I got quite ill quite suddenly. (Eight weeks in the hospital … I was afraid someone from my health insurance plan would come “in the night” and put a pillow over my head! I’m fully recovered.) My group was terrific. They were able to get my schedule and take care of things I could not. (I would add here, my husband still doesn’t really understand what I do so I couldn’t leave it up to him. Further, I wanted him to suffer along with me … and he did!) Important stuff. After 9-11 we discussed one month what to do if someone suddenly needed help. Little did I know it would be me.
In our meetings, we take a few minutes of personal time for updates, etc. Then we each take the time we need to discuss whatever it is we want to bring to the group. For example, last month I had the group review and offer feedback on a marketing piece I was creating. We’ve talked about problem clients, how to word contracts, proposals, book titles, etc. Anything and everything that comes with having a speaking/consulting practice.
We do something else that many mastermind groups do not do. We refer to each other. Since our topics/expertise does not compete, we have the benefit of being able to refer business to each other on occasion. We even put up a small website offering information. http://www.TheSpeakersAlliance.com for those of you who want to see it.
Owning a small business like ours can be a lonely enterprise. I have found it to be valuable beyond words to have the support of these three, special, talented, smarter, richer and more fun women. I love them all.
Want to grow your business and be a multi-thousandaire like me? Consider starting or joining a mastermind group!
—
Lois Creamer, Book More Business. Lois works with professional speakers who want to book more business, make more money and avoid costly mistakes. She can be reached at lois@bookmorebusiness.com, http://www.BookMoreBusiness.com, and at 314.822.8225.
