I get asked frequently ‘What’s up with the mastermind group?’.

It’s one of my proudest achievements in the last couple of years - launching and running the first cohort - and want to see other people thrive in the space that I have brought to life. So, I’ve put together as many questions and answers as I can think of to get to the bottom of any curiosities you might have before jumping in with both feet.

After all, this is real investment in yourself and your business; today, tomorrow, and beyond.

What IS the mastermind group?

The masterminds are small groups for people who want to surround themselves with like-minded individuals who have a breadth of experience and perspective. With 4-6 people in each group the sessions are geared towards purposeful sharing, positive challenge, and the kind of support you get only from others who are ‘living it’ with you.

The group exists because working for yourself comes at a cost. One of sociability; accountability; and support. Having a space where strucrued conversation and professional challenge is offered is something that many people who have chosen to work for themselves miss, especially when it comes to personal growth.

And what HAPPENS in it?

Each month your group will meet on Zoom for 90 minutes and, facilitated by me, checks in and shares their progress.

Two members of the group will get a ‘spotlight’ where they can share a specific challenge. The other members of the group will weigh in with challenges and questions and then solutions, offering up a new frame on the challenge. Having those fresh perspectives can be just what’s needed to forge ahead through a sticky problem that’s been in your path for a while.

The structured format of each group call is perfect for keeping everyone’s focus. Each segment is facilitated and ensure that everyone - those in and out of the spotlight that month - has time to speak, share, learn, and offer their own insights.

So… What do I get?

Joining your group costs £149/mo for a minimum of six months (likely less than you’d spend on a handful of one-off networking meetings) and gives you:

• Access to an accredited coach as your facilitator and guide
• Direct access to others who are in a similar boat (but have enough going on to bring a whole lot of New to your table
• The WhatsApp group where you communicate with your cohort and coach between calls; there are frequent check-ins and goal-accountability chats, too
• Email support if you want to take the things you are working on into a private setting with your coach (me!)
• All the tools, templates, techniques and extra workshop session that come to life during your tenure in the group.

There are often extra workshop sessions based on very niche or focussed topics, depending on what comes out of the group. People in other cohorts have access to workshops / webinars, too, giving you more chances to network with your kind of people. There is no extra cost to these additional sessions.

I’m a smart cookie - surely I can do this stuff on my own?

There’s no question that your smarts have gotten you this far. You know your business and what you want for yourself. However, having the extra viewpoints from people who have not only ‘been there’ but want to see you succeed can be an amazing way to learn and grow. After all; collaboration and community can elevate you way past the heights you might reach alone.

When you are ‘in it’ you’re so very close to the things that matter the most to you; objectivity is hard to find. The same can be said for focussing on making change happen. You’re ‘doing the do’ working in your business so, when it comes to doing good, hard work ON the business, you’ve always got an eye on the next thing that needs to happen for your clients, your marketing, or the most important thing in the world; your life.

Having people around you who can support you in finding the right next steps; the focus; and hold you accountable might be the key you need to really step up into your version of success (because nobody can tell you what THAT looks like!)

Is this only for self-employed parents?

Not at all.

Each group is put together to make sure that everyone will get on - I do a lot of ‘vibe checking’ before we begin to make sure that every individual will benefit from the experience others might bring. While my ‘ideal client’ is self-employed parents and carer, there is really no limitation on who might benefit from this environment, the community, and the group calls.

The groups running in 2024 have included one made up entirely of creative pros; each sharing their parts of that professional journey, aiding in each others’ growth.

I’ve got a lot on already and I’m not sure I have the time!

TL;DR - You do have time; something else might have to give.

You do have a lot on; you’re busy wrangling everything life has to throw at you. But, within that, what are you really spending your time on? Taking 90-minutes, once a month, to convene with other individuals who are more than likely in a very similar boat to you could be a very easy thing to accomodate if you’re putting your own growth, learning, and success as a priority on your ‘to do’ list.

Joining a mastermind peer group might not seem like an obvious way to invest in yourself or your business when you are already ‘busy’. However entering in the space and learning with the help of others can be precisely what you need to identify what can be let go and exactly how much time you really do have.

It isn’t a method or programme that requires you to go through countless hoops, exercises, or videos; that time-sink is not, and will not, be required from you. The amount of time you spend ‘active’ in the group between calls is up to you; everyone is there for the same end, though, and has likely had a similar challenge around busy’ness as you.

When are the monthly calls?

Each group will have a fixed call day / time each month which can be dictated amongst the group once the first session is out of the way. It’s important to keep the session cadence the same to help you (and the group) build routine, structure, and consistency in what you’re doing.

I can’t make it live; are the calls recorded?

Every session is recorded using Fathom - the note-taking function is worth its weight in gold so everyone, me included, can stay present in the session. It’s preferable that everyone make the sessions. However everyone in your group also acknowledges that life happens! If you can’t make it you’ll still get the session notes and the check-ins that month with all the accountability and support you’d get if you were in the session live.

These are not webinars and the real value comes from being in the room with others; riffing on ideas and co-creating new potential futures. Even when you’re not in the spotlight you’ll find that seeds of ideas will sprout for you.

Do I get 1:1 time with you?

Yes and no. Everyone in the group has an intro call with me to get familiar with how the groups work and so I can get to know you better as a person and what you feel you need from this environment right now. After that, we’re into group calls plus message groups on WhatsApp and email.

If you want to have a 1:1 session with me to pick up something outside of the group you can book a one-hour consultation for £149 where we can deep-dive into anything you want to explore.

Why do the groups run for a minimum of six months?

It’s important to ‘have skin in the game’ when you invest in something like this. I don’t offer a ‘trial’ or ‘one off’ session to see if you’ll enjoy the group. Partly because I do a lot of work up front to ensure each cohort of 4-6 people is as well-matched as I can make it. Additionally, to benefit from the group and the space you need to be in it.

You need to be active; both contributing and consuming.

Holding a commitment to the space for at least six months will see you grow your relationships, learn from your peers, and form new ideas yourself. You’ll make and break habits with the help of your facilitating coach (That’s me!). You’ll be able to spend over an hour in the spotlight with a wrapt audience who are there solely to help you move forward with your challenge.

Building this kind of safe, non-judgemental space with a group of individuals takes time which is why I ask all masterminders to commit to a minimum of six months in their group.

I get it, Tom. But is it really worth it?

What expditure do you have in your business for which you see little return? Subscriptions or programmes you’ve spent money on that have either been total garbage or you’ve just not used them… How much do you spend on networking groups or communities that require so much from you but don’t really serve what you need?

What’s the value for you in doing all of your learning, growth, and progress-making on your own? It’s a pretty vacuous void to keep hurling your energy in to, isn’t it.

What price would you put on something which will really - like really-really - help you move forward and bring you the support of others?

What would you invest if you could unlock a whole world of new experiences, perspectives, and insights with people that only want to see you succeed?

What is that worth to you?

(Of course I will say that it’s worth it and that’s with my least biased hat on! I have been part of mastermind groups and coaching circles in the past and without a doubt the improvements and progress I have made in my business, as an individual, have been massive. Well worth it! - Tom)

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How does this sound to you now? Ready to start making BIG steps forward for yourself and your business in 2025?

Drop me a line on the DMs or email hello@tomjepsoncreative.com and we'll get to talking.

I'm Tom Jepson; ICF-accredited coach and your supporter. I'm here to help frazzled self-employed parent, carers, and creatives build the structures they need to make their ideas happen. I offer a safe, structured space to tackle the deep-rooted challenges, helping my clients get from 'Now' to 'Next'.