Mentoring groups, sometimes known as mastermind groups, offer more than your average message board or forum. These groups are made up of various business owners who all have common goals in mind. The particular goals can vary, but the point of most mentoring groups is to bring business owners together to help them grow their business.
There are lots of forums that focus on business. Here are some ways to help you find the one that is right for you:
Look for people with interests the same as yours. If the other members do not understand your business goals, it will be hard for them to offer you any advice.
Find a group that offers resources to help you in your business. Many groups will offer Mp3 recordings, pdf files, etc
Look for groups who are constantly updating their resources and not just posting old resources.
If you know who any of the group’s members are, look for signs of their growth. Have they started a new business or added to their existing business? If they seem like they are branching out, that’s a good sign that the group is helping them learn new things.
Look for members who are willing to share their thoughts, criticisms, and knowledge willingly. You don’t want a group of mentors who refuse to help newer members. Remember it’s called mentoring for a reason.
The difference between a serious business group and a regular old forum is that there is usually a monthly charge for access to the mastermind group Find a membership that fits in your budget, but remember that price isn’t everything.
Look for groups that offers lifetime membership. You may find that after a certain amount of time or after you’ve completed certain steps you will be offered a discounted or possibly even free membership.
Look for a group who not only allows members to ask questions, but encourages it. However, don’t expect the mentors to always just give you the answers you need, they should also be encouraging you to think for yourself, as well as find answers for yourself.
If you can’t find a group you feel is right for you or that fits your budget just yet, try to find someone that you can follow and learn from. Research their “story” and find out what they did to get to the point they are at now. Once your business picks up and you have more money, try to find a mentoring group that suits you. The things you learn from the group can more than pay for the membership costs.