We're not alone: How my mastermind group taught me it doesn't have to be lonely at the top

Last week was very special. The mastermind group I’ve hosted for more than three years gathered in Houston. We meet virtually every month, and last year, we started the tradition of meeting in person annually, so this was our second time doing that!

Let me backup a bit and give some context for how this group came to be. It’s modeled after a group I was part of when I was just beginning my journey as an entrepreneur.

When I was just starting out, I didn't know any other entrepreneurs. I was in my early 20s and often felt alone. My friends couldn’t relate to the challenges I faced: While they were at football games, I was wondering how I would make payroll. I was constantly running into challenges and didn’t know where to turn for help, and it was so isolating and oftentimes defeating.

At the time, I was going to every single networking event I could find, and I had become a member of the local chamber of commerce. It was at a chamber event that I was lucky enough to meet Rich, who would become one of my first mentors. He told me he was putting together a group of entrepreneurs from all kinds of industries whose businesses were all in the early stages. The idea was that he would bring the group together once a month to talk about what was going well and what wasn’t so that people could ask for and offer advice as needed. He said he would love for me to be a part of it, and I immediately said yes. It sounded like exactly what I needed.?

And it was. In fact, it was incredible. Every month, we would meet for three, four, five hours, sometimes even more. In order to create a really safe space, we had a deal that what was said in the room stayed in the room. Not only would we share what was weighing on us as leaders and business owners, but we would also talk about our personal challenges and obstacles outside of our work. The thought was that it was all connected, so we shared all of it. We supported each other, validated each other, and gave each other advice and perspective. We walked alongside each other through all the ups and downs of building our businesses.?

That group was invaluable to my growth as a leader and entrepreneur, and I’m forever grateful to Rich for bringing me in. I always knew that one day I would want to do what Rich had done and create a similar experience for others.

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