Most entrepreneurs spend lots of time working solo as they struggle to get their business up and running. But that lack of social interaction comes with plenty of challenges – something that the rising number of remote workers has noticed. Enter mastermind groups. A mastermind group offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to meet with other founders and small business owners to share their experiences. This collaboration doesn’t just provide extra social interaction, it also allows members to share insights, keep each other accountable, and ultimately, focused on the goals they have for their organization. We think every entrepreneur needs one! Here’s why:
Accountability
While you’re swapping tips and sharing stories, you’ll also be sharing your business goals. Publicly identifying our goals keeps us better accountable for their execution – especially when you know your group mates will be following up!
Insight
Mastermind groups allow you to benefit from a wide range of experiences. The successes and failures of those in your mastermind group could ultimately help your organization to overcome roadblocks or discover a new path to success. These valuable insights can help you to save time and money whenever you need to uncover a new solution.
Inspiration
There’s nothing like speaking with other business owners to get your creativity flowing! A comment or suggestion from someone in the group could inspire a new way of looking at a particular problem in your business. That sudden jolt of inspiration is more likely to occur when socializing with others than in the solitude of your home office.
Growth
By connecting with other entrepreneurs, a mastermind group can really help to grow your business network. Not only are you forging a bond with the people in your group, they’ll also likely connect you with relevant individuals in their networks should the need arise.
Motivation
It’s one thing to be excited about your idea. It’s another thing completely to see other people get excited about your idea. Sharing your thoughts with others can be incredibly motivating – use the feedback you get from a mastermind group to help keep you focused on your business goals.
Collaboration
People enjoy working with individuals they like. That’s a no brainer. So if you’re in a mastermind group with fellow entrepreneurs, it’s a fairly natural progression to move from hearing about someone’s idea to working with them. You and your business will be top of mind should they need those services to help their company move forward.
Feedback
For solo entrepreneurs, the ability to get a second, third, or fourth opinion on an idea by others in their field is something they can only dream of! A mastermind group makes this possible. Leverage the various skillsets in your group to get constructive feedback prior to launching new campaigns, products, or services.
Learning
The honest discussion of potential challenges and opportunities in a variety of different businesses make learning inevitable in a mastermind group. In fact, the discussions in these groups often lead members to consider new ideas, or new ways of doing business that they hadn’t considered before and could potentially implement in their own ventures.
Encouragement
Successful entrepreneurs have a pretty strong history of failure. In fact, most entrepreneurs have failed a lot. While that certainly makes a career in entrepreneurship challenging, mastermind groups can help keep you positive through those darker days. You’ll be able to get encouragement from others who are facing similar struggles.
Fun
Let’s face it. It’s a lot easier to be successful at work when you’re enjoying it. Your mastermind group mates will quickly become friends, and the fun that you have during meetings can help keep you moving forward. Most entrepreneurs relish the chance to be social – and mastermind groups allow you to do just that, combining work and fun while growing your network.
There are plenty of opportunities to create your own mastermind group. Reach out to colleagues in your industry, or join a co-working space and connect with fellow entrepreneurs! You’ll be glad you did.