"I'm Worried About The Economy"

It has been fun to welcome the new members as they come in during the current 48-hour registration opening. But I've also had several notes like this one in response to my last message (I'll omit the name since I certainly don't want to embarrass the author):

Randy
Thanks so much for keeping me posted. Unfortunately, I think I have to pass this time. I'm happy to say my husband still has his job, surviving both rounds of layoffs at his company. My [home] business is still going pretty well, though it has slowed down with the recession. As a result, we are tightening our belts and I hope that next time you open registration, things will be better and I can join the Insiders. Until then, I'm worried about the economy.

I understand that completely: I'm worried about the economy too! That's part of why I am pushing forward with this project. In my announcement of this round of recruitment for the Insiders, I described some of the people who are already in the group, including two doctors -- one specifically worried about what will happen with "Health Care Reform" and what that will do to his future.

"The doctor who sees changes in his profession's future," I said, "really intrigues me. He's pretty smart to start thinking about that, and preparing for it, wouldn't you say?! Here's something to think about: what profession or business is not resistant to change? If being a doctor isn't stable, what is? That's right: none of our businesses and professions are set in stone. The economy has been stuck in neutral (or reverse!) since 2007 (for me, anyway), and it doesn't look to get better anytime soon. Can you think of a better way to prepare yourself for future success than to gather the most brilliant people you can find that are like you that can help you get there? I sure can't."

I've definitely seen my own business slow down, starting well before the "financial crisis". Yet my lifestyle hasn't taken a hit. Why not? Part of that is because I "live below my means," and part of that is I spent several years aggressively paying off all my debt, and retired it all (except for my mortgage). That strategy is a direct dividend of my own Mastermind group: it was their advice to work to cut expenses and get ready for some rough times ahead. (And debt reduction strategies is the main business of one of my group members!) My group didn't "know" a recession was looming, but there was a heads up that something was off-kilter, and I listened.

Once the recession did hit, we talked about ways to not just survive, but thrive, in the face of economic turmoil. In other words, my Mastermind group has helped me reduce the impact of the economy on my business. And sure enough, even though I've taken a hit in gross income, I've been able to continue finding more efficient ways of doing things, eliminating some costs altogether, and employing other strategies to actually increase my bottom-line profits. It took a lot of work, but boy was it worth it!

It's not magic, it's the power of having surrounded myself with several dozen brilliant businessmen and -women who are dedicated to helping each other thrive, and actively participating in the brainstorming and ideas presented so that we could all do far better than we could by ourselves.

That is what a Mastermind group is all about.

The mantra in my group this year hasn't been the obvious -- "it's not over yet" -- but rather "This is a time of great opportunity." And we've spent months talking about how to seize it.

At an in-person conference of my group in Albuquerque in April, it all really came together for me: everyone who has a serious business or professional occupation could benefit from the same kind of help I've had all these years. Everyone who is serious about their career and doesn't just want to take what's handed to them -- the people who are willing to work for success -- should be in a Mastermind group like mine.

I briefed a couple of my group members about my insight. They thought it was a good idea too, except that "most groups fail." That's true: most Mastermind groups do fail, just as most businesses fail. Some very quickly, some after a few years. Not too many are doing well after a decade. But my group hasn't failed: it's in its 12th year now, and it's a major reason my business didn't fail -- it's still thriving in its 17th year. "Yes," they agreed, "you do have a knack for Mastermind groups!"

When I got home, I got to work on the 14 articles that make up the e-mail course (and #15 is in the works). I registered MastermindSource.com and (with the help of the marketing experts in my group!) started planning how I was going to bring my ideas to the public.

The response has been amazing: more than 2,500 people have seen the potential of my idea and signed up for the free e-mail course. And most of you are still here, waiting to know what's next. Well, over time, more articles will be coming, but right now I'm concentrating my effort on the people who are really serious about moving forward -- the people who have joined the Insiders group.

And here we are.

Yes, the economy is a worry. It's either going to stay the same, get worse, or get better. There are no other options. If it gets worse, I'll continue to work with my group on how to not just survive it, but grab some of the opportunity it presents. If it stays the same, I'm good: I've been dealing with it for about three years now ...and my income is increasing again, thanks to the help from my group. If it gets better, then yippee! My group will help me capitalize on that economic growth.

And the constant will be no matter what happens, I have dozens of brilliant colleagues to help me through it: my Mastermind group.

That is the power of a Mastermind group. Don't you wish you had one these past several years to help you get through this economy? Well, those years are gone now: all you can do is plan for the uncertain future. Dozens of Mastermind Source members have already made the decision to work to get what I have had since the 1990s, the "secret to my success" that has allowed me to live where I want, do the job I want, and still have time to volunteer in my community.

If you're having a hard time paying your mortgage or putting food on your table, by all means: attend to that first, and I hope you can join us later. But if you're tired of the status quo and want to work toward more opportunities and more success no matter what the economy does, give careful thought to your next step.

If that involves a Mastermind group, join us before 2:00 Mountain time (my time, or 4:00 p.m. New York time, or 1:00 p.m. California time) Thursday, when registration closes again: http://insiders.MastermindSource.com

--Randy