How to choose what to do first

determine your destiny (1)In business, as a solo or small business owner it’s hard to know what to do first.  There are so many things to do, how do you know where to start?

Do you spend time finding clients or putting your ducks in a row?  Do you go out to networking events or build your website first?  It’s truly a quandary for some business owners.

Then, of course, there is the dilemma of the how to do it once you finally figure out what to do.  Business owners sometimes forget about that.

Being in that uncertain space creates a lot of stress, frustration and overwhelm, not to mention all those fears that show up.  It can cause you to come to a screeching halt in your business.

One amazing way I know to combat those problems is to be a part of a Mastermind.  You get access to others who can assist you out of that place I call “no-man’s-land” (well, in many cases it’s “no woman’s-land”) and into the place of knowing exactly what to do first.  This puts you into action, which leads to getting results, which leads to feeling really great about yourself.

A Mastermind is a collective brain. It’s a group of like-minded business owners who support each other in all aspects of their business.  It is usually run by a coach, who has similar business experience, to help the members through trainings, laser coaching and facilitating the group.

I believe a Mastermind is a key component in any business.  Comprised of individuals who are not directly related to your business, they hear and see things differently and therefore can offer a new perspective.  In addition, mastermind members are available to support you when you run into areas in which you need help.

In a recent Mastermind that I run, one of the business owners was struggling with making a decision.  When she brought this to the group, another member spoke up and said “It sounds like you aren’t really on board with this idea” and that allowed the struggling member to truly see what she already knew… but was ignoring. It gave her the confidence to make the decision to say ‘no’ in quick time and move on to something else she would be on board with.

Afterward, she told me that without the support from the group, too much time and money would have been spent trying to figure out what to do.

If you are interested in joining a Mastermind, there are still spots available in my 2016 Prosperous Business Mastery Group.  Click here to learn more or simply email me and I’ll be happy to talk with you about how being a part in the Mastermind can benefit you.

Do you feel like you are all alone?

Video conference with coworkers from abroadDo you consider yourself a master of your business? Master in this case meaning: somebody controlling or influencing events or other things, or somebody who is highly skilled.I am not keen on the word ‘controlling’. I really prefer the word ‘influencing’. To me, influence means to have an effect on something – such as an outcome. So from this point on, let’s talk about being masterful in your business from an influential point of view.

If you are a master in and of your business, then you would be able to create results that you want. Sounds powerful, right?

It is. In fact, this is what many business owners ultimately want for themselves. My clients won’t tell you that they started out wanting to be influential to themselves or others, but what they will tell you is that they knew something was missing. They knew something was holding them back from reaching their goals and from making the money they wanted to make (and often needed to keep their business open).

As a business owner, to be influential (or if you prefer “in control”) you need to do certain things in a certain way. In order to influence others to work with you and to be a part of your success, you need to be masterful.

How does one become masterful? There are many ways, but one that works beautifully and will put you on the fast-track is to mastermind with other like-minded individuals.

What is a mastermind? Napoleon Hill defines the “Master Mind” “as coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people for the attainment of a definite purpose.” When you join a mastermind group, you have more than one brain (you know the saying “Two brains are better than one”?) to help you in your endeavor of becoming masterful at your business.

Here are several examples of areas where you might gain knowledge and how a mastermind can help you:

  1. Mindset. We can get caught up in a negative way of thinking (mindset) that can hold us back. Being a part of a mastermind will allow others to share their perspective on your challenge that will help you see it in a new light so you can continue moving forward.
  2. Business Activities. Such as sales, marketing, managing team and such. My current mastermind group consists of women from all areas of business, internet-based as well as brick and mortar, and they each possess unique talents and skills that others in the group learn from.
  3. Support and Community. Because your mastermind group is not attached to the outcome of your decisions, they are able to be completely 100% honest with you about what they hear you say. Your mastermind group will challenge you to make bold commitments you might not otherwise make on your own.
  4. Accountability. Hopefully you will be stepping up in powerful and authentic ways in your business. Part of that growth and success is walking your talk and follow through. The beauty of a mastermind group is that they will hold you accountable to what you say you will do.

I’ve been a part of a mastermind in one shape or another since I began my business. I believe being a part of one has been a driving force in my learning and growth (as well as the power behind being motivated to accomplish what I say I will).

The goal of a mastermind is to provide a safe place for you to share your vulnerabilities (we all have them) and to ask for what you need. It’s a tool to grow beyond your wildest imagination and become more powerful than you even believe you are.

I will have a mastermind group forming in the near future; if you’d like more information about, drop me a line.

If you have experienced the benefits of a mastermind, I’d love to hear what you love best about it. Be sure to drop me a note at kim@kimravida.com. Or if you wish to share with a larger audience, post to my blog below!