Article - The Top 13 Reasons Not To Join A Mastermind Group
READ: 2 mins
AUTHOR: Robert Craven
“I don’t want to share my business secret sauce with the competition”
My reply:
Excellent. Is it such a secret? Is it that special? Are you that unique?
In all honesty,
We are all running different races: different technologies/platforms/niches/goals/personal ambitions/definitions of success/expectations of the journey/cultural background/fear of failure /fear of success/bogeymen on our shoulder/family pressure/geographical uniqueness/market specialisation* so the pressure is more about how we can help each other in each of our unique journeys to be the first/last/fastest/richest/nicest/rudest/best/only* agency in our sector.
*delete as necessary
There are business basics we are trying to nail and we learn more by listening to others.
“Why should I trust the others?”
My reply:
You will be joining a small unique club, committed to helping each other out. In fact, everyone in the group must be happy for you to join. Anyone can veto your application. Chatham House Rule applies – one slip and you are out.
One thing we need to learn is to show vulnerability. Check out this TED Talk from Brene Brown, The Power of Vulnerability. Vulnerability creates opportunities to learn.
“I don’t have the time”
My reply:
Do you have the time not to do this? It will help you save 10% of your time, stop you making dumb mistakes and make you understand what you are doing and why you are doing it. It will help you focus on the important stuff and drop the irrelevant stuff. And all this for a couple of hours a week.
“I am not a good listener. I like to tell people what to do. End off”
My reply:
You are probably in the wrong place.
“Covid has killed us. We are going to the wall. We might last two more weeks, maybe a month.”
My reply:
You are in the wrong place. I am deeply sorry for the issues you are facing. Call me and I can make some recommendations, but Mastermind is not for you.
“Not right now, I have something too important on right now”
My reply:
Before you invest even more money and time in your incredibly important project, might it be worthwhile to sense-check that this is the best and most effective use of your time? A stitch in time, etc.
“Covid has been awesome, sales and growth are through the roof. No time for chit-chat”
My reply:
See the answer above.
“I can’t commit to attending all the sessions”
My reply:
Maybe now is not the right time.
Maybe you don’t value the process enough. Maybe you shouldn’t attend!
The whole process depends on high levels of attendance. Not for you but to support the others. If you are not there for them, why should they be there for you?
“I already have a coach/mastermind group/consultant/training program*”
*delete as necessary
My reply:
Yes, many of us have some form of business intervention already. No one intervention style gives you all the support you are looking for at a particular time; they all offer different benefits. No single intervention is the universal antidote to all issues in a business.
Sometimes the tool(s) you have been using has exhausted its usefulness… sometimes there is a window of opportunity when you need one type of intervention. That’s for you to figure out. Or talk to the potential business partners and get an understanding of how their offer will benefit your situation.
“I can’t see how I will benefit”
My reply:
If you want to travel quickly, go alone. If you want to travel far, go with others. The insights others will give you will turbocharge your business performance. You will be among people who have been there and done it – all helping each other to grow by sharing and challenging and by holding each other accountable.
Check out case studies. Talk to existing members. Do not sign up unless you are happy.
“To be honest I am a lone wolf”
My reply:
Mastermind combats the loneliness of running an agency. The loneliness of not being able to share what’s driving you mad…The loneliness of not having people to talk to who understand the dilemmas you face and how difficult it is to resolve them.
“How will this make me do things and deliver?”
My reply:
Mastermind will give you accountability to the other members. You say you are going to do something, and they will ask if you have done it. Sometimes accountability will be recorded weekly or monthly, it depends on your group. Sometimes we will share business plans and monthly KPIs. Or long-term goals. What’s better than maintaining your professional pride in front of your peers to ensure you deliver on your promises and action plans?
“I don’t need another program; I need to get on with the implementation”
My reply:
Maybe you need some peers to sense check that you are doing the best and cleverest thing in the best and cleverest way? Or maybe you know all the answers? (I joke.)