I have a couple of updates in addition to the main topic here. But first....
The Dues Report
I'm really appreciating your feedback on the free Mastermind Source Dues Report -- a concept that so many of you said you wanted to understand more about.
There was some confusion about it being free. It really is free! You do have to download it via my shopping cart, but you do not have to go through any sort of registration or checkout process to get it: you can download it directly from the description page. Several people were confused by it because they didn't actually read the page. Trust me: if you simply read the information there you can't possibly misunderstand it. It's right here.
The report explains in significant detail how it's possible for a Mastermind group leader to not only get the incredible benefits of being in a Mastermind group, but also be paid -- perhaps very well -- to lead the group. More importantly, it's not just "possible", it actually makes for a better group so that everyone succeeds all the more. It's critical that potential group leaders really understand this.
A warning, though: while this very meaty report is free at this time, I'm absolutely not guaranteeing that it will always be free. Go get it, and read it, soon! Again, this is the link: http://go.MastermindSource.com/mmdues.
If you've already read it, I'd really like to know your reaction, either on the page where I announced it or below. Is it more (or less) than you expected? Do you have questions about the concept?
The PDF of the "Core Articles" from the e-mail series (which you can buy if you want to go faster, simply want them all in one place, wish to print them out or load on your Kindle or other book reader, etc.) now has a fixed price, as suggested by the early buyers, who paid up to $50 for it. It's now just $25 and available for immediate download here.
Looking for a Few Leaders
While I paused my task of looking at the surveys so I could write the dues report, I did notice that some of you aren't just interested in joining (or starting) a Mastermind group, some of you are already in or leading them. Terrific!
I'm planning some special resources for those who are leading groups. If you're leading a group, or already have decided that you simply must start one, please contact me to let me know what your situation is (or plans are). A good Mastermind group makes its members more successful. My goal with what I have in mind will make your group more successful so that it can accomplish its mission, rather than fail as most groups do.
More on this in the next few posts.
Duplicate Messages (and a Milestone)
A few of you have reported getting duplicate e-mail messages in the past week, such as a second copy of one of the articles. Turns out that was my fault -- sorry! -- I didn't do it right when I was trying to get the last posting out. This is the first time I've used AWeber (the list service provider) for a lengthy "sequenced" series of articles. If you haven't seen a duplicate, it's possible you still will, but I think it's all worked out of the system now.
We are now up to more than 2,000 members -- people subscribed to the core article series to learn about Mastermind groups. Awesome! Welcome, and I look forward to helping you achieve the success you've dreamed of.
Now: back to looking at the Survey results -- I've got a backlog!
After having read the Dues Report, it makes more sense to me, Randy. I can even understand now, how the group's members would want you to accept a higher fee, in order to ensure you didn't hit a "burn-out" point, and leave them hanging.
One thought occurs to me. I am giving a lot of thought to starting a new group (my first), and as far as I know, none of the candidates I intend to invite have had any prior contact with such a group. If there was some sort of a brief that we could pass on to those candidates that express interest, but are still hesitant, which coming from someone with multiple successes in groups (like you ;) ), would carry more weight, it might give more impetus to get things started.
---
While I think this is a good idea, and I'll file the idea to work on it later, it's not really necessary: I certainly didn't hand out any such briefing when I started my group. Nor did I even use the word "Mastermind", which I agree many people don't know. Pretty much, I just said I was starting a group of like-minded people to help each other succeed, and they quickly joined. -rc
I understand and agree with your assessment on dues/membership fees. There is value in a group, and it should be articulated to prospects. I understand the idea of a free trial period.
I thought the report was PERFECT! It answered all the questions I didn't know enough to ask. I downloaded and read it while connected to my server via RDC so didn't have a convenient place to save it at the time. Then my work-week came apart at the seams (self-imposed deadlines were missed and the money we needed for pay-day didn't arrive) leaving me scrambling to cover the gap. Oh well...this too shall pass. So I'm hanging it up for today and hoping to get back to it sometime tomorrow.
The report was well thought-out and thorough as well as being easy to understand. I appreciate all the work you put into it. I know it's worth much more than $1 so will go back to pay for it when the inspiration (and funds arrive) to pay for it.
Thanks again, Randy.
---
Perfect?! Then there's no room for me to improve it! (I'm joking -- but also serious. If you think of anything I missed, do let me know so I can consider an update.) -rc
Your point about requiring dues to be paid is excellent. I have tried providing product (a training course) to someone who claimed to have great need but couldn't pay. They never even finished the first lesson! What people get, they tend to value according to its cost. If they get it free, then it's worth nothing at all. In the case of a startup list, I can see a reduced fee schedule or free for the first year, of course. You've got to provide value first.
The report was all I had hoped for and more (as usual, coming from you)! I truly appreciate the effort and thought put into the report. You answered many questions regarding dues, such as the purpose, when to charge, when to raise the dues, and who to charge dues to.
Of course, it also raises more questions. Not so much around dues now, but more around membership. I know you are getting to that next, so I am being patient. I also know that I don't have to be patient, as I can get the whole thing now. But it works quite well for it to come in small doses for me right now. It gives me time to rattle it around and take hold of it better!
Thank you again, and it is definitely worth paying for, which I shall do. (And probably do again the more it settles in!)
Good report. I enjoyed it very much - enough to have read it through three times now.
That does leave me wondering how much more successful my own Mastermind would have been back in the 1980s when I did organize and run such a group with a set of real estate office broker/owners if I had charged money to participate. I wrote about this experience elsewhere on this site.
The group was a success and went on for several years benefiting all of our respective separate companies. But upon exposure to your own epiphany about charging, I now think that it is very possible that would have enhanced the results we obtained. Interesting concept.
Looking forward to the rest of the series arriving by email. This old dog is ready to learn some more new tricks. Thanks for doing this.
Rich said, "This old dog is ready to learn some more new tricks." That is he says he's ready to be educated, ready to change his mind. This changes my mind too. I recently claimed that it's not time to be discussing pedagogy, the theory of teaching, but it is. It always is. Learning (and teaching) is the cardinal feature of this species of animal and is central to our success, such as it is, on the planet we inhabit.
The main point of a MasterMind group is to support highly targeted, just in time, learning (and therefor teaching). If you aren't changing your mind, every day, even every hour, then I think you aren't learning, or at least aren't learning as fast as you can. Indeed, I believe that if you aren't failing often, then you aren't learning as fast as you can. I don't mean that you should try to fail, or even accept failure, but I do mean that you should embrace the failures as opportunities to learn faster.
Instead of being discouraged by failing, be annoyed, even distressed, but use that energy of disappointment to fuel the search for the reasons for that failure. Explain what you did and what happened to the rest of the MasterMind group of yours which is most appropriate to the intention you had when you tried the thing that didn't work. Yes, that's embarrassing, but these are the folks you trust who are committed to helping you with your efforts. Use them. That's not unfair, you want to help them too, and you expect to be used by them. That's why you joined (or started) the group.
One reason I so boldly claim to understand this is to invite your criticism to correct my own understandings, so don't hesitate to tell me exactly where I have it all wrong. I am an old dog too, and too set in my ways, but I'm another Rich and also trying to be ready to learn new tricks.
---
You are, of course, correct. Some of the most valuable posts in my group aren't "What I know," but "What I learned" -- whether that learning is the result of success or failure. Failure is more emotionally powerful, and therefore those lessons can sink in more. The teller gets something from it too: support, and ideas for reversing or fixing the failure. It's a great win-win. -rc