Last weekend I got up at 4am and jumped on a plane to Palm Springs, CA. This meetup was an idea from founders, Sandy Sidhu and Jules Taggart, who created a female entrepreneur group called Thrive Hive.
It started out as a paid Facebook group and has morphed into something much more! The sense of community, support and encouragement in this group has been life-changing for me.
Thanks to Sandy and Jules’ amazing vision, this business retreat in Palm Springs was the first of many. If you’re unsure about investing the time and money to attend a mastermind retreat, I hope my experience will change your mind.
1. Quality is Far Better Than Quantity
Most business owners underestimate the value of going to a smaller retreat versus a large conference, like World Domination Summit. I mean, having access to 3,000 people should bring in more contacts and more business than a small group of 15 women right?
Not exactly! A smaller group is better suited for you if you’re an introvert, or a HSP (Highly Sensitive Person). I’m both of these things, so when I’m in a large crowd of people I’m easily overwhelmed.
The quality of the women at this retreat was far better than any experience I’ve had in the past. I was able to really connect, on a personal and professional level, with each one of them. And I’ve come away from this experience with some real life friendships.
2. Introductions Are Made Online, Relationships Are Built Offline
The internet is the perfect place to make new connections and keep in touch with those you’ve already met. But never forget the value and importance of going offline to connect with people in real life.
Not everyone is on Facebook (which I learned from meeting one of the most interesting business woman ever), and some people don’t read blogs or spend all day on social media (gasp!). Put the online world into perspective and don’t spend all your time and focus on just that.
Introductions are made online, but relationships are built offline, so don’t neglect the people who surround and support you everyday. (Click to tweet this idea!)
3. Beware of the Second Thought
This is a roadblock we all face: We have this great idea, we’re super excited and ready to change the world, but then we have a second thought. “What will people think?” “Will my idea get rejected?” “What if I fail?”
“It’s within this second thought process where ideas and inspiration die,” says business coach J. Shoop. Your thoughts are organized impulses of energy, so once you learn to harness them in a positive way, you will literally be unstoppable.
Small tweaks in your mindset, like ignoring the doubt from the second thought, can change your life and your business.
Sometimes you can’t see yourself clearly until you see yourself through the eyes of others. ~ Ellen DeGeneres
4. Indulge in Creativity
One of my favorite presentations was from Srini Rao, who is someone I’ve followed and looked up to since I started my online business two years ago. What I love about his approach to business is that he believes today’s business owners aren’t the traditional storefront owners, they’re artists!
As you know, artists tend to approach things in a much different way than us analytical, number-crunchers. But in order to be a successful online entrepreneur you’ve got to stretch your creativity outside of your industry.
If you aren’t proud enough of your work to sign it, like a real artist signs their masterpieces, then it might be time to rethink your direction. Real artists put their signature on their work!
“When you let go of how is supposed to be, you get to experience life how it’s meant to be.” ~ Srini Rao
Side note: little known fact about me, I was accepted into Art School before I decided to become an accountant. But being an artist wasn’t going to make me a lot of money, so I decided to go the “safe” route. After this weekend retreat, one of my big rules going forward is to indulge in more creativity, while becoming a “Financial Artist”.
5. Match Your To-Do List to Your Values
I love talking about to-do lists, productivity and anything organization related, so when Alaia Williams spoke to us about systems, I was basically in heaven. Your systems are the foundation for all you do. The only way to build a successful business is to make sure your foundation is secure, and that starts with your operations processes.
Alexis Grant has talked about this in regards to how she runs her online business, and since I’m one of her team members, I get to see the importance of having systems at work everyday.
Each Friday during the last month, I’ve set aside time to write down my list of accomplishments for the week. I do this for two reasons:
- It keeps me focused on the positive things going on
- It also reminds me of how far I’ve come each week
It’s all too easy to see what you didn’t get done each week, instead of realizing the massive list of things you actually crossed off. Sometimes it’s better to create a DON’T list, to align with your priorities.
In order for your business to succeed, you have to pay the bills, answer phone calls and do client work, but in order for YOU to succeed, you have to eat, sleep and spend time with family.
A DON’T list will remind you to take care of yourself first, and your business second.
6. Mastermind Groups Will Strike and Ignite
Like iron sharpens iron so does a group of people who can push you outside your comfort zone. My first experience with this mini-mastermind group was mindset-altering, to say the least. My dad used to say, “surround yourself with those who will strike and ignite”.
That’s exactly what happened this weekend. One idea sparked another, and another, and before we knew it our passion was on fire!
“Be green and growing, not ripe and rottening.” ~ Jim Rohn
This type of retreat is a safe zone for fostering ideas, hashing out issues and taking massive action. I highly encourage any who’s thinking of going to a smaller retreat (or heading up their own) to go for it!